King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Out of Asher his bread [shall be] fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.
Complete Jewish Bible:
"Asher's food is rich -he will provide food fit for a king.
Berean Standard Bible:
Asher’s food will be rich; he shall provide royal delicacies.
American Standard Version:
Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, And he shall yield royal dainties.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Out of Asher{H836} his bread{H3899} shall be fat{H8082}, and he shall yield{H5414} royal{H4428} dainties{H4574}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Deuteronomy 33:24
- And of Asher he said, [Let] Asher [be] blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
Deuteronomy 33:25
- Thy shoes [shall be] iron and brass; and as thy days, [so shall] thy strength [be].
Genesis 30:13
- And Leah said, Happy am I, for the daughters will call me blessed: and she called his name Asher.
Genesis 46:17
- And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel.
Joshua 19:24
- ¶ And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
Joshua 19:31
- This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 49:20
Genesis 49:20 is part of the blessings that Jacob, also known as Israel, bestows upon his sons in the final chapter of the Book of Genesis. These blessings are prophetic in nature and reflect both the characters of the sons and the future of the tribes they would father.
**Themes:**
1. **Fertility and Prosperity:** The verse suggests that Asher's tribe will be blessed with an abundance of food, indicated by the "fat" bread, which implies richness or high quality. This denotes agricultural prosperity and fertile lands.
2. **Royal Favor:** The phrase "royal dainties" suggests that Asher's tribe will provide delicacies fit for a king, indicating a close relationship with royalty or positions of influence. This could imply that the tribe will be involved in trade with royal courts or will hold a position of honor and affluence.
**Historical Context:**
- **Tribal Territory:** The tribe of Asher was allocated a region in the northwestern part of Canaan, which was known for its fertility. The area included the rich plain of Phoenicia and was well-suited for agriculture and the production of olive oil, a valuable commodity in the ancient world.
- **Geopolitical Significance:** Asher's territory bordered the Phoenician city-states, which were known for their maritime trade. This proximity could have facilitated trade and the provision of luxury items to royal households, as suggested by the verse.
- **Blessing and Prophecy:** Jacob's blessings were not only a reflection of current circumstances but also a forecast of the future. The blessing upon Asher points to the tribe's potential prosperity and significance in the nation of Israel.
In summary, Genesis 49:20 thematically emphasizes the future prosperity and influence of Asher's tribe, with a particular focus on agricultural wealth and a suggestive relationship with royalty. Historically, this reflects the fertile lands allocated to Asher and the tribe's potential involvement in trade, given its strategic location near the Phoenician coast.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H836
There are 71 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָשֵׁר
Transliteration: ʼÂshêr
Pronunciation: aw-share'
Description: from אָשַׁר,; happy; Asher, a son of Jacob, and the tribe descended from him, with its territory; also a place in Palestine; Asher - Strong's Number: H3899
There are 277 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֶחֶם
Transliteration: lechem
Pronunciation: lekh'-em
Description: from לָחַם; See also בֵּית לְעַפְרָה; food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it); (shew-) bread, [idiom] eat, food, fruit, loaf, meat, victuals. - Strong's Number: H8082
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמֵן
Transliteration: shâmên
Pronunciation: shaw-mane'
Description: from שָׁמַן; greasy, i.e. gross; figuratively, rich; fat, lusty, plenteous. - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H4428
There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: melek
Pronunciation: meh'-lek
Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal. - Strong's Number: H4574
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַעֲדָן
Transliteration: maʻădân
Pronunciation: mah-ad-awn'
Description: or (feminine) מַעֲדַנָּה; from עָדַן; a delicacy or (abstractly) pleasure (adverbially, cheerfully); dainty, delicately, delight.