Genesis 49:6

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Let me not enter their council, let my honor not be connected with their people; for in their anger they killed men, and at their whim they maimed cattle.

Berean Standard Bible:

May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim.

American Standard Version:

O my soul, come not thou into their council; Unto their assembly, my glory, be not thou united; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hocked an ox.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

O my soul^{H5315}, come^{H935} not thou into their secret^{H5475}; unto their assembly^{H6951}, mine honour^{H3519}, be not thou united^{H3161}: for in their anger^{H639} they slew^{H2026} a man^{H376}, and in their selfwill^{H7522} they digged down^{H6131} a wall^{H7794}.

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Commentary for Genesis 49:6

Genesis 49:6 is part of the larger narrative where Jacob, also known as Israel, is blessing his sons before his death. This particular verse is a segment of Jacob's prophetic blessings, which also serve as a reflection on the characters and future of his sons and their tribes. In this verse, Jacob is speaking to his son Simeon and his tribe, issuing a rebuke and a caution.

The themes present in this verse include the consequences of rash actions, the importance of self-control, and the impact of violence. Jacob refers to an incident where Simeon and his brother Levi used anger and self-will to commit a brutal act—the slaying of the men of Shechem in Genesis 34. In revenge for the rape of their sister Dinah, Simeon and Levi killed all the males of the city and plundered it, an act that Jacob considers dishonorable and outside the bounds of acceptable behavior. The "wall" mentioned in the verse may symbolize the protective boundaries of civilized conduct that were broken down by their vengeful actions.

Historically, this verse reflects the ancient cultural value of honor and the strict boundaries of acceptable violence, even in the context of avenging a wrong. Jacob's words carry a warning against impulsive anger and the dangers of taking justice into one's own hands. The verse also hints at the future of the Simeonite tribe, which eventually was assimilated into the tribe of Judah, possibly due to their diminished numbers and influence as a result of their ancestor's actions. Jacob's blessing here is a sobering reminder of the lasting effects of our actions and the importance of tempering anger with wisdom and restraint.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H5315
   There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
   Transliteration: nephesh
   Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
   Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
   
2. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
3. Strong's Number: H5475
   There are 21 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: סוֹד
   Transliteration: çôwd
   Pronunciation: sode
   Description: from יָסַד; a session, i.e. company of persons (in close deliberation); by implication, intimacy, consultation, a secret; assembly, consel, inward, secret (counsel).
   
4. Strong's Number: H6951
   There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָהָל
   Transliteration: qâhâl
   Pronunciation: kaw-hawl'
   Description: from קָהַל; assemblage (usually concretely); assembly, company, congregation, multitude.
   
5. Strong's Number: H3519
   There are 189 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כָּבוֹד
   Transliteration: kâbôwd
   Pronunciation: kaw-bode'
   Description: rarely כָּבֹד; from כָּבַד; properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness; glorious(-ly), glory, honour(-able).
   
6. Strong's Number: H3161
   There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יָחַד
   Transliteration: yâchad
   Pronunciation: yaw-khad'
   Description: a primitive root; to be (or become) one; join, unite.
   
7. Strong's Number: H639
   There are 306 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַף
   Transliteration: ʼaph
   Pronunciation: af
   Description: from אָנַף; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also (from the rapid breathing in passion) ire; anger(-gry), [phrase] before, countenance, face, [phrase] forebearing, forehead, [phrase] (long-) suffering, nose, nostril, snout, [idiom] worthy, wrath.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2026
   There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: הָרַג
   Transliteration: hârag
   Pronunciation: haw-rag'
   Description: a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely.
   
9. Strong's Number: H376
   There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אִישׁ
   Transliteration: ʼîysh
   Pronunciation: eesh
   Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה.
   
10. Strong's Number: H7522
    There are 56 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָצוֹן
    Transliteration: râtsôwn
    Pronunciation: raw-tsone'
    Description: or רָצֹן; from רָצָה; delight (especially as shown); (be) acceptable(-ance, -ed), delight, desire, favour, (good) pleasure, (own, self, voluntary) will, as...(what) would.
    
11. Strong's Number: H6131
    There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָקַר
    Transliteration: ʻâqar
    Pronunciation: aw-kar'
    Description: a primitive root; to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring; figuratively, to exterminate; dig down, hough, pluck up, root up.
    
12. Strong's Number: H7794
    There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שׁוֹר
    Transliteration: shôwr
    Pronunciation: shore
    Description: from שׁוּר; a bullock (as a traveller); bull(-ock), cow, ox, wall (by mistake for שׁוּר).