Genesis 49:6

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.

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}.

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.

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.

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.

Commentary

Commentary on Genesis 49:6 (KJV)

Genesis 49 records Jacob's prophetic blessings and pronouncements over his twelve sons before his death. This particular verse addresses Simeon and Levi, two of his sons, and stands as a strong condemnation of their past violent actions, rather than a blessing.

Context

The specific incident Jacob refers to here is detailed in Genesis chapter 34. After their sister Dinah was defiled by Shechem, the son of Hamor, Simeon and Levi, in a deceptive act of revenge, slaughtered all the males of the city of Shechem after they had agreed to be circumcised. This act was marked by extreme cruelty and deceit, going far beyond what Jacob deemed just or honorable, despite the initial wrong done to Dinah.

Key Themes

  • Disassociation from Sin: Jacob emphatically declares his soul and honor will not be associated with their violent "secret" counsel or "assembly." This highlights the importance of separating oneself from wicked schemes and destructive company.
  • Condemnation of Uncontrolled Anger: The verse explicitly states their actions were driven by "anger" and "selfwill." This serves as a stark warning against allowing unchecked emotions to lead to sin and brutality.
  • Consequences of Sin: Unlike the blessings pronounced on other sons, Simeon and Levi receive a curse due to their actions. Their tribes would later be scattered in Israel, as prophesied in Genesis 49:7.
  • Integrity and Honor: Jacob's plea, "mine honour, be not thou united," underscores the value of maintaining personal integrity and a good name, refusing to be tarnished by the sins of others, especially those within one's own family or community.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "secret" is sod (סוֹד), which can refer to a confidential counsel, a close circle, or even a conspiracy. Jacob wants no part in their malicious plotting. "Assembly" (qahal, קָהָל) refers to their gathering or congregation, emphasizing that even their collective action was abhorrent. "Honour" (kabod, כָּבוֹד) signifies Jacob's glory, dignity, or inner being. He wished his very essence to remain untainted by their deeds.

The phrase "they slew a man" refers to their massacre of the male inhabitants of Shechem. "Digged down a wall" (וּבִרְצֹנָם עִקְּרוּ־שׁוֹר) is a more debated phrase. It could literally mean they destroyed a city wall, symbolizing their complete devastation of Shechem. Alternatively, some interpretations suggest "digged down a wall" could refer to hamstringing oxen (as the Hebrew word for "wall" can also be related to "ox"), symbolizing their wanton destruction of livelihood, or more generally, the breaking of strength and order within a community.

Reflection and Application

Genesis 49:6 serves as a timeless reminder of the destructive power of uncontrolled wrath and self-serving ambition. It teaches us the importance of:

  • Discerning Companionship: Be cautious about who you align with, especially when plans involve deceit or violence. As Proverbs 4:14-15 warns, avoid the path of the wicked.
  • Mastering Anger: While anger can be a natural human emotion, allowing it to fester and lead to "selfwill" can result in devastating consequences, both for oneself and for others.
  • Upholding Integrity: Our actions reflect on our character and our "honor." Maintaining a clear conscience and separating ourselves from evil is crucial for spiritual and moral well-being.
This verse highlights that even when wronged, our response must be tempered by justice, wisdom, and God's principles, not by vengeful passion.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 34:30 (8 votes)

    And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled me to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I [being] few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

  • Psalms 26:9 (5 votes)

    Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:

  • Psalms 16:9 (4 votes)

    Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

  • Psalms 64:2 (3 votes)

    Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

  • Psalms 26:4 (3 votes)

    I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.

  • Psalms 26:5 (3 votes)

    I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked.

  • Jeremiah 15:17 (3 votes)

    I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation.