TRV
Translation
American Standard Version
Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, And he shall yield royal dainties.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Concerning Asher, his bread shalbe fat, and he shall giue pleasures for a king.
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In the KJVVerse 1,494 of 31,102
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Commentary on Genesis 49 verses 13–21
13 ¶ Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.
14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:
15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute.
16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel.
17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.
18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD.
19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.
20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties.
21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
Here we have Jacob's prophecy concerning six of his sons.
I. Concerning Zebulun (Gen 49:13), that his posterity should have their lot upon the seacoast, and should be merchants, and mariners, and traders at sea. This was fulfilled when, two or three hundred years after, the land of Canaan was divided by lot, and the border of Zebulun went up towards the sea, Jos 19:11. Had they chosen their lot themselves, or Joshua appointed it, we might have supposed it done with design to make Jacob's words good; but, being done by lot, it appears that it was divinely disposed, and Jacob divinely inspired. Note, The lot of God's providence exactly agrees with the plan of God's counsel, like a true copy with the original. If prophecy says, Zebulun shall be a haven of ships, Providence will so plant him. Note, 1. God appoints the bounds of our habitation. 2. It is our wisdom and duty to accommodate ourselves to our lot and to improve it. If Zebulun dwell at the haven of the sea, let him be for a haven of ships.
II. Concerning Issachar, Gen 49:14, Gen 49:15. 1. That the men of that tribe should be strong and industrious, fit for labour and inclined to labour, particularly the toil of husbandry, like the ass, that patiently carries his burden, and, by using himself to it, makes it the easier. Issachar submitted to two burdens, tillage and tribute. It was a tribe that took pains, and, thriving thereby, was called upon for rents and taxes. 2. That they should be encouraged in their labour by the goodness of the land that should fall to their lot. (1.) He saw that rest at home was good. Note, The labour of the husbandman is really rest, in comparison with that of soldiers and seamen, whose hurries and perils are such that those who tarry at home in the most constant service have no reason to envy them. (2.) He saw that the land was pleasant, yielding not only pleasant prospects to charm the eye of the curious, but pleasant fruits to recompense his toils. Many are the pleasures of a country life, abundantly sufficient to balance the inconveniences of it, if we can but persuade ourselves to think so, Issachar, in prospect of advantage, bowed his shoulders to bear: let us, with an eye of faith, see the heavenly rest to be good, and that land of promise to be pleasant; and this will make our present services easy, and encourage us to bow our shoulder to them.
III. Concerning Dan, Gen 49:16, Gen 49:17. What is said concerning Dan has reference either, 1. To that tribe in general, that though Dan was one of the sons of the concubines yet he should be a tribe governed by judges of his own as well as other tribes, and should, by art, and policy, and surprise, gain advantages against his enemies, like a serpent suddenly biting the heel of the traveller. Note, In God's spiritual Israel there is no distinction made of bond or free, Col 3:11. Dan shall be incorporated by as good a charter as any of the other tribes. Note, also, Some, like Dan, may excel in the subtlety of the serpent, as others, like Judah, in the courage of the lion; and both may do good service to the cause of God against the Canaanites. Or it may refer, 2. To Samson, who was of that tribe, and judged Israel, that is, delivered them out of the hands of the Philistines, not as the other judges, by fighting them in the field, but by the vexations and annoyances he gave them underhand: when he pulled the house down under the Philistines that were upon the roof of it, he made the horse throw his rider.
Thus was Jacob going on with his discourse; but now, being almost spent with speaking, and ready to faint and die away, he relieves himself with those words which come in as a parenthesis (Gen 49:18), I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord! as those that are fainting are helped by taking a spoonful of a cordial, or smelling at a bottle of spirits; or, if he must break off here, and his breath will not serve him to finish what he intended, with these words he pours out his soul into the bosom of his God, and even breathes it out. Note, The pious ejaculations of a warm and lively devotion, though sometimes they may be incoherent, are not therefore to be censured as impertinent; that may be uttered affectionately which does not come in methodically. It is no absurdity, when we are speaking to men, to lift up our hearts to God. The salvation he waited for was Christ, the promised seed, whom he had spoken of, Gen 49:10. Now that he was going to be gathered to his people, he breathes after him to whom the gathering of the people shall be. The salvation he waited for was also heaven, the better country, which he declared plainly that he sought (Heb 11:13, Heb 11:14), and continued seeking, now that he was in Egypt. Now that he is going to enjoy the salvation he comforts himself with this, that he had waited for the salvation. Note, It is the character of a living saint that he waits for the salvation of the Lord. Christ, as our way to heaven, is to be waited on: and heaven, as our rest in Christ, is to be waited for. Again, It is the comfort of a dying saint thus to have waited for the salvation of the Lord; for then he shall have what he has been waiting for: long-looked-for will come.
IV. Concerning Gad, Gen 49:19. He alludes to his name, which signifies a troop, foresees the character of that tribe, that it should be a warlike tribe, and so we find (Ch1 12:8); the Gadites were men of war fit for the battle. He foresees that the situation of that tribe on the other side Jordan would expose it to the incursions of its neighbours, the Moabites and Ammonites; and, that they might not be proud of their strength and valour, he foretels that the troops of their enemies should, in many skirmishes, overcome them; yet, that they might not be discouraged by their defeats, he assures them that they should overcome at the last, which was fulfilled when, in Saul's time and David's, the Moabites and Ammonites were wholly subdued: see Ch1 5:18, etc. Note, The cause of God and his people, though it may seem for a time to be baffled and run down, will yet be victorious at last. Vincimur in praelio, sed non in bello - We are foiled in a battle, but not in a campaign. Grace in the soul is often foiled in its conflicts, troops of corruption overcome it, but the cause is God's, and grace will in the issue come off conqueror, yea, more than conqueror, Rom 8:37.
V. Concerning Asher (Gen 49:20), that it should be a very rich tribe, replenished not only with bread for necessity, but with fatness, with dainties, royal dainties (for the king himself is served of the field, Ecc 5:9), and these exported out of Asher to other tribes, perhaps to other lands. Note, The God of nature has provided for us not only necessaries but dainties, that we might call him a bountiful benefactor; yet, whereas all places are competently furnished with necessaries, only some places afford dainties. Corn is more common than spices. Were the supports of luxury as universal as the supports of life, the world would be worse than it is, and that it needs not be.
VI. Concerning Naphtali (Gen 49:21), a tribe that carries struggles in its name; it signifies wrestling, and the blessing entailed upon it signifies prevailing; it is a hind let loose. Though we find not this prediction so fully answered in the event as some of the rest, yet, no doubt, it proved true that those of this tribe were, 1. As the loving hind (for that is her epithet, Pro 5:19), friendly and obliging to one another and to other tribes; their converse remarkably kind and endearing. 2. As the loosened hind, zealous for their liberty. 3. As the swift hind (Psa 18:33), quick in despatch of business; and perhaps, 4. As the trembling, timorous in times of public danger. It is rare that those that are most amiable to their friends are most formidable to their enemies. 5. That they should be affable and courteous, their language refined, and they complaisant, giving goodly words. Note, Among God's Israel there is to be found a great variety of dispositions, contrary to each other, yet all contributing to the beauty and strength of the body, Judah like a lion, Issachar like an ass, Dan like a serpent, Naphtali like a hind. Let not those of different tempers and gifts censure one another, nor envy one another, any more than those of different statures and complexions.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 13–21. Public domain.
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Hippolytus of RomeAD 235
ON THE BLESSINGS OF ISAAC AND JACOB 24
Here the prophet speaks obscurely either about the apostles, who had the duty to provide and distribute the bread of life, or about the Savior himself, since he foretells and let us know the bread descending from heaven, which is food and drink for the saints. In fact, Asher is interpreted as “richness,” as he alone was so rich that he might satiate all those who came to him. And Christ also testified about himself by saying, “I am the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died; but whoever eats of my bread will never see eternal death.”
Ambrose of MilanAD 397
On the Blessings of the Patriarchs
His bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. The Latin interpretation of Aser signifies riches. Who then is rich, unless where the height of riches is wisdom and knowledge of God? Who is rich but the Lord Jesus, who always abounds, and never fails? The poor came into this world, and has abounded to all, and has filled all. How great is he in riches, who by his poverty has made all rich! But he became poor for our sake, being rich with the Father. He became poor so that he might deliver us from poverty; as the Apostle teaches, saying: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich. His poverty enriches, heals wounds, satisfies hunger, gives life to the dead, and raises the buried. Therefore, he is a treasure, and his is the abundant bread. And whoever eats this rich bread will never hunger. He gave this bread to the apostles, so that they would distribute it to the people who believed; and today he gives us the same bread, which the priest consecrates daily with his words. Therefore, this bread has become the food of the saints.
We are able to receive the Lord Himself, who gave His flesh for us, as He Himself says: I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the desert, and they died: but this is the bread which comes down from heaven, that if any man eat of it, he may not die. And so that no one may think that He is speaking of the death which comes through the separation of soul and body, and may doubt with reason, since he knows that the holy apostles died this death, He added: I am the living bread, which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this, he will live forever: that is, I did not speak about temporal life above, nor about the death of this life, in which even if anyone dies, nevertheless if he receives my bread, he will live forever. For he who receives, proves himself: but he who receives will not die the death of a sinner, because this bread is the forgiveness of sins.
Moses also prophesied most beautifully in his blessings, saying: Blessed from the sons of Asher, and he will be accepted by his brothers; and he shall dip his foot in oil, and his shoe shall be iron and brass. And as your days are, so shall your strength be. There is none like your God, who is in heaven, your helper, and the great Lord of the firmament: and God, protecting you from the beginning, and by the strength of the mighty arms, has cast out your enemy from before your face, saying: Perish. And Israel shall dwell in confidence alone upon the land: Jacob shall have abundance of grain and wine; and the heavens shall be dewy with mist for you.
Tyrannius RufinusAD 411
THE BLESSINGS OF THE PATRIARCHS 2.21
Since Asher means “blessed,” the bread of that one whom, after being recalled from error to penitence, we lead step by step to the present state of blessedness, after his conversion, after the spiritual knowledge, after the victory over temptations, is, to be sure, called “fat.” He eats that bread “which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world,” and that bread is fat for him.
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Genesis 49:20 presents a concise and vivid prophetic blessing from Jacob to his son Asher, foretelling a future characterized by extraordinary material prosperity and abundance for the tribe. It describes a land so exceptionally fertile that its produce, particularly its staple food, would be rich and plentiful, yielding delicacies fit for royalty, thereby signifying a life of comfort, luxury, and bountiful divine provision.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Jacob's blessing on Asher employs several potent Literary Devices. Metonymy is evident in the use of "bread" to represent all forms of sustenance and agricultural produce from Asher's land, effectively summarizing the tribe's economic foundation. The phrase "his bread shall be fat" utilizes vivid Imagery, painting a picture of rich, fertile soil and abundant harvests, evoking a sense of material prosperity. Furthermore, the promise of "royal dainties" employs Hyperbole to emphasize the extraordinary quality and luxury of Asher's future produce, suggesting a surplus that goes beyond mere sustenance to include items fit for the highest social standing. This prophetic statement also functions as Foreshadowing, hinting at the historical reality of Asher's territory, which was indeed renowned for its fertile olive groves and valuable agricultural output.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 49:20 powerfully illustrates God's benevolent nature and His desire to bless His people with material abundance and comfort. This prophetic word for Asher underscores the theme of divine provision, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His covenant promises by granting specific blessings tailored to each tribe's future inheritance. It highlights that God's goodness is often manifested through the natural world, providing the resources necessary for a prosperous life. The "fat bread" and "royal dainties" serve as a tangible symbol of God's overflowing generosity, inviting His people to trust in His ability to supply all their needs and more. This blessing also implicitly raises the theological question of stewardship, suggesting that such abundance comes with a responsibility to acknowledge the Giver and utilize blessings for His glory and the good of others.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 49:20 serves as a profound reminder of God's boundless capacity and unwavering desire to provide abundantly for His people. For believers today, this ancient prophecy encourages a deep and abiding trust in God's provision, compelling us to recognize that all our material, spiritual, and relational blessings flow from His generous hand. It prompts us to reflect on the "fat bread" and "royal dainties" in our own lives—our resources, talents, opportunities, and even our daily sustenance. Are we acknowledging God as the ultimate source of these provisions, cultivating a heart of gratitude for His daily mercies? Furthermore, are we stewarding these blessings wisely, using them not only for our own enjoyment but also to bless others, alleviate suffering, and bring glory to the Giver of all good things? This verse calls us to move beyond mere subsistence living to embrace a life of grateful and responsible stewardship in the face of divine generosity, understanding that true richness is found in God's provision and our response to it.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "his bread [shall be] fat" mean in this context?
Answer: "His bread [shall be] fat" signifies that the land allotted to the tribe of Asher would be exceptionally fertile and productive. The Hebrew word shâmên (שָׁמֵן) means rich, fertile, or abundant. This implies a plentiful yield of crops and sustenance, leading to a prosperous and well-nourished existence for the tribe. It suggests that their land would consistently produce high-quality, abundant food, ensuring their well-being and prosperity.
What are "royal dainties" and what do they imply for Asher?
Answer: "Royal dainties" (מַעֲדַנֵּי מֶלֶךְ, ma'adannei melech) refer to delicacies or choice foods fit for a king. This phrase implies that the produce from Asher's territory would not only be abundant but also of superior quality, highly desirable, and luxurious. It suggests a life of comfort and enjoyment, with provisions that were considered premium and worthy of the highest status, potentially even indicating the tribe's ability to engage in profitable trade with other nations or even royalty.
How was this prophecy historically fulfilled for the tribe of Asher?
Answer: Historically, the territory allotted to the tribe of Asher in the northern coastal plain of Canaan was renowned for its fertile soil, particularly its abundant olive groves. Olive oil was a crucial commodity in the ancient world, used for food, light, and anointing, and was a significant source of wealth. This rich agricultural output, especially the "fatness" of the olive oil, directly fulfilled Jacob's prophecy of "fat bread" and "royal dainties," indicating a tribe blessed with natural bounty and the means for prosperity, as also suggested in Deuteronomy 33:24.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Genesis 49:20 speaks to Asher's material prosperity and the fertility of his earthly inheritance, its ultimate fulfillment points to the immeasurable spiritual abundance found in Christ. Just as Asher received a land yielding "fat bread" and "royal dainties," believers in Christ are promised an inheritance of spiritual riches that far surpasses any earthly provision. Jesus Himself declared, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger," signifying that He is the ultimate source of spiritual sustenance who satisfies our deepest longings. Through Him, we receive not mere earthly provisions, but "royal dainties" in the form of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, as described in Ephesians 1:3. In Christ, "all the fullness of God dwells bodily" (Colossians 2:9), and we are made complete in Him, receiving a spiritual inheritance that is incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading (1 Peter 1:4). He is the true source of life in its fullest and most abundant form, providing not just sustenance, but eternal joy, peace, and righteousness, fulfilling the promise of ultimate provision for His people (Philippians 4:19).