The Blessing of the Tribes

Deuteronomy 33

Before his death, Moses blesses each of the tribes of Israel in turn, then closes with a declaration of Israel's blessedness and security under the Lord's protection.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonNOW this is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God blessed the children of Israel, before his death; and he said:

BrentonAnd this is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

GreekΚαὶ αὕτη ἡ εὐλογία ἣν ηὐλόγησε Μωυσῆς ἄνθρωπος τοῦ Θεοῦ τοὺς υἱοὺς Ἰσραὴλ πρὸ τῆς τελευτῆς αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

JPSAnd this is the blessing wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

ThomsonThe Lord came from Sina And shined upon us out of Seir; He hasted from mount Paran, With myriads from Kades; His angels with Him on his right.

BrentonAnd he said, The Lord is come from Sina, and has appeared from Seir to us, and has hasted out of the mount of Pharan, with the ten thousands of Cades; on his right hand were his angels with him.

GreekΚαὶ εἶπε, Κύριος ἐκ Σινὰ ἥκει, καὶ ἐπέφανεν ἐκ Σηεὶρ ἡμῖν, καὶ κατέσπευσεν ἐξ ὄρους Φαρὰν, σὺν μυρίασι Κάδης, ἐκ δεξιῶν αὐτοῦ ἄγγελοι μετʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

JPSAnd he said: The LORD came from Sinai, And rose from Seir unto them; He shined forth from mount Paran, And He came from the myriads holy, At His right hand was a fiery law unto them.

ThomsonHe compassionated His people; All the sanctified are under thy sway, But these are immediately under thee.

BrentonAnd he spared his people, and all his sanctified ones are under thy hands; and they are under thee; and he received of his words

GreekΚαὶ ἐφείσατο τοῦ λαοῦ αὐτοῦ, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἡγιασμένοι ὑπὸ τὰς χεῖράς σου· καὶ οὗτοι ὑπὸ σέ εἰσί· καὶ ἐδέξατο ἀπὸ τῶν λόγων αὐτοῦ

KJVYea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.

JPSYea, He loveth the peoples, All His holy ones—they are in Thy hand; And they sit down at Thy feet, Receiving of Thy words.

ThomsonFrom His words Moses received the law Which he gave in charge to us, An inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob.

Brentonthe law which Moses charged us, an inheritance to the assemblies of Jacob.

Greekνόμον, ὃν ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν Μωυσῆς, κληρονομίαν συναγωγαῖς Ἰακώβ.

KJVMoses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

JPSMoses commanded us a law, An inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

ThomsonLet Him therefore be chief among the beloved. When the chiefs of peoples assemble with the tribes of Israel.

BrentonAnd he shall be prince with the beloved one, when the princes of the people are gathered together with the tribes of Israel.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐν τῷ ἠγαπημένῳ ἄρχων, συναχθέντων ἀρχόντων λαῶν ἅμα φυλαῖς Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

JPSAnd there was a king in Jeshurun, When the heads of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together.

ThomsonLet Reuben live and not die, And let him be many in number.

BrentonLet Ruben live, and not die; and let him be many in number.

GreekΖήτω Ῥουβὴν, καὶ μὴ ἀποθανέτω, καὶ ἔστω πολὺς ἐν ἀριθμῷ.

KJVLet Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.

JPSLet Reuben live, and not die In that his men become few.

ThomsonNow this was the blessing of Juda: Hear, O Lord, the voice of Juda! And until thou comest to his people; Let his hands contend for them, And he thou his help from enemies.

BrentonAnd this is the blessing of Juda; Hear, Lord, the voice of Juda, and do thou visit his people: his hands shall contend for him, and thou shalt be a help from his enemies.

GreekΚαὶ αὕτη Ἰούδα· εἰσάκουσον Κύριε φωνῆς Ἰούδα, καὶ εἰς τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἔλθοις ἄν· αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ διακρινοῦσιν αὐτῷ, καὶ βοηθὸς ἐκ τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἔσῃ.

KJVAnd this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.

JPSAnd this for Judah, and he said: Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah, And bring him in unto his people; His hands shall contend for him, And Thou shalt be a help against his adversaries.

ThomsonAnd of Levi he said: Assign ye to Levi His manifestations, And His truth to this holy man Whom they tried at Temptation, Whom they reviled at the water of Contradiction.

BrentonAnd to Levi he said, Give to Levi his manifestations, and his truth to the holy man, whom they tempted in the temptation; they reviled him at the water of strife.

GreekΚαὶ τῷ Λευὶ εἶπε, δότε Λευὶ δήλους αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀλήθειαν αὐτοῦ τῷ ἀνδρὶ τῷ ὁσίῳ, ὃν ἐπείρασαν αὐτὸν ἐν πείρᾳ· ἐλοιδόρησαν αὐτὸν ἐφʼ ὕδατος ἀντιλογίας·

KJVAnd of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

JPSAnd of Levi he said: Thy Thummim and Thy Urim be with Thy holy one, Whom Thou didst prove at Massah, With whom Thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

ThomsonWith regard to him who saith to his father and to his mother, I have not beheld thee, And hath not acknowledged his brethren, And hath renounced his own children, He it is who hath observed Thine Oracles And diligently kept Thy covenant.

BrentonWho says to his father and mother, I have not seen thee; and he knew not his brethren, and he refused to know his sons: he kept thine oracles, and observed thy covenant.

GreekὉ λέγων τῷ πατρὶ καὶ τῇ μητρὶ, οὐχ ἑώρακά σε, καὶ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ οὐκ ἐπέγνω, καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ ἀπέγνω· ἐφύλαξε τὰ λόγιά σου, καὶ τὴν διαθήκην σου διετήρησε.

KJVWho said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.

JPSWho said of his father, and of his mother: ‘I have not seen him’; Neither did he acknowledge his brethren, Nor knew he his own children; For they have observed Thy word, And keep Thy covenant.

ThomsonLet them [the Levites] explain Thy rules of rectitude for Jacob, And Thy law for Israel; Let them lay incense continually, When Thou art angry, on thine altar.

BrentonThey shall declare thine ordinances to Jacob, and thy law to Israel: they shall place incense in the time of thy wrath continually upon thine altar.

GreekΔηλώσουσι τὰ δικαιώματά σου τῷ Ἰακὼβ, καὶ τὸν νόμον σου τῷ Ἰσραήλ· ἐπιθήσουσι θυμίαμα ἐν ὀργῇ σου διαπαντὸς ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριόν σου.

KJVThey shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.

JPSThey shall teach Jacob Thine ordinances, And Israel Thy law; They shall put incense before Thee, And whole burnt-offering upon Thine altar. .

ThomsonBless, O Lord, his endeavours, And accept the works of his hands. Pierce the loins of enemies, Who have risen up against him: And let them who hate him never rise up.

BrentonBless, Lord, his strength, and accept the works of his hands; break the loins of his enemies that have risen up against him, and let not them that hate him rise up.

GreekΕὐλόγησον, Κύριε, τὴν ἰσχὺν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τὰ ἔργα τῶν χειρῶν αὐτοῦ δέξαι· κάταξον ὀσφῦν ἐχθρῶν ἐπανεστηκότων αὐτῷ, καὶ οἱ μισοῦντες αὐτὸν μὴ ἀναστήτωσαν.

KJVBless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.

JPSBless, LORD, his substance, And accept the work of his hands; Smite through the loins of them that rise up against him, And of them that hate him, that they rise not again.

ThomsonAnd of Benjamin he said: Beloved! He shall dwell securely under the Lord. God overshadoweth him continually, And hath taken up his rest between his shoulders.

BrentonAnd to Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in confidence, and God overshadows him always, and he rested between his shoulders.

GreekΚαὶ τῷ Βενιαμὶν εἶπεν, ἠγαπημένος ὑπὸ Κυρίου κατασκηνώσει πεποιθὼς, καὶ ὁ Θεὸς σκιάζει ἐπʼ αὐτῷ πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας, καὶ ἀναμέσον τῶν ὤμων αὐτοῦ κατέπαυσε.

KJVAnd of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

JPSOf Benjamin he said: The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by Him; He covereth him all the day, And He dwelleth between his shoulders.

ThomsonAnd of Joseph he said, His land is a special blessing of the Lord On account of heavenly seasons and dew, And on account of abysses of fountains from beneath,

BrentonAnd to Joseph he said, His land is of the blessing of the Lord, of the seasons of sky and dew, and of the deeps of wells below,

GreekΚαὶ τῷ Ἰωσὴφ εἶπεν, ἀπʼ εὐλογίας Κύριου ἡ γῆ αὐτοῦ, ἀπὸ ὡρῶν οὐρανοῦ, καὶ δρόσου, καὶ ἀπὸ ἀβύσσων πηγῶν κάτωθεν,

KJVAnd of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,

JPSAnd of Joseph he said: Blessed of the LORD be his land; For the precious things of heaven, for the dew, And for the deep that coucheth beneath,

ThomsonAnd on account of the productions, in due season Of the sun’s revolutions and the changes of the moon,

Brentonand of the fruits of the changes of the sun in season, and of the produce of the months,

Greekκαὶ καθʼ ὥραν γεννημάτων ἡλίου τροπῶν, καὶ ἀπὸ συνόδων μηνῶν,

KJVAnd for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,

JPSAnd for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, And for the precious things of the yield of the moons,

ThomsonAs his land of plenty is beautified With summits of ancient mountains And with summits of everlasting hills;

Brentonfrom the top of the ancient mountains, and from the top of the everlasting hills,

Greekἀπὸ κορυφῆς ὀρέων ἀρχῆς, καὶ ἀπὸ κορυφῆς βουνῶν ἀενάων,

KJVAnd for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,

JPSAnd for the tops of the ancient mountains, And for the precious things of the everlasting hills,

ThomsonSo may the things acceptable To him who appeared in the bush Come upon the head of Joseph; He indeed is glorified In being the chief over brothers.

Brentonand of the fulness of the land in season: and let the things pleasing to him that dwelt in the bush come on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of him who was glorified above his brethren.

Greekκαὶ καθʼ ὥραν γῆς πληρώσεως· καὶ τὰ δεκτὰ τῷ ὀφθέντι ἐν τῇ βάτῳ ἔλθοισαν ἐπὶ κεφαλὴν Ἰωσὴφ, καὶ ἐπὶ κορυφῆς δοξασθεὶς ἐπʼ ἀδελφοῖς.

KJVAnd for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.

JPSAnd for the precious things of the earth and the fulness thereof, And the good will of Him that dwelt in the bush; Let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, And upon the crown of the head of him that is prince among his brethren.

ThomsonHis beauty is that of a firstling bull, His horns are the horns of an unicorn, With these he will push the nations at once, Even from the limits of the land. These are the myriads of Ephraim; And these the thousands of Manasses.

BrentonHis beauty is as the firstling of his bull, his horns are the horns of a unicorn; with them he shall thrust the nations at once, even from the end of the earth: these are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and these are the thousands of Manasse.

GreekΠρωτότοκος ταύρου τὸ κάλλος αὐτοῦ, κέρατα μονοκέρωτος τὰ κέρατα αὐτοῦ· ἐν αὐτοῖς ἔθνη κερατιεῖ ἅμα, ἕως ἀπʼ ἄκρου γῆς· αὗται μυρίαδες Ἐφραὶμ, καὶ αὗται χιλιάδες Μανασσῆ.

KJVHis glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

JPSHis firstling bullock, majesty is his; And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox; With them he shall gore the peoples all of them, even the ends of the earth; And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.

ThomsonAnd of Zabulon he said: Rejoice, O Zabulon, in thine outgoings; And let Issachar rejoice in his abodes.

BrentonAnd to Zabulon he said, Rejoice, Zabulon, in thy going out, and Issachar in his tents.

GreekΚαὶ τῷ Ζαβουλὼν εἶπεν, εὐφράνθητι Ζαβουλὼν ἐν ἐξοδίᾳ σου, καὶ Ἰσσάχαρ ἐν τοῖς σκηνώμασιν αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.

JPSAnd of Zebulun he said: Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out, And, Issachar, in thy tents.

ThomsonThey shall utterly root out nations. And there you shall invoke, And there offer the sacrifice of righteousness. For the riches of the sea shall feed thee, And a commerce with the dwellers on the sea coast.

BrentonThey shall utterly destroy the nations, and ye shall call men there, and there offer the sacrifice of righteousness; for the wealth of the sea shall suckle thee, and so shall the marts of them that dwell by the sea-coast.

GreekἜθνη ἐξολοθρεύσουσι· καὶ ἐπικαλέσεσθε ἐκεῖ, καὶ θύσετε ἐκεῖ θυσίαν δικαιοσύνης· ὅτι πλοῦτος θαλάσσης θηλάσει σε, καὶ ἐμπόρια παράλιον κατοικούντων.

KJVThey shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.

JPSThey shall call peoples unto the mountain; There shall they offer sacrifices of righteousness; For they shall suck the abundance of the seas, And the hidden treasures of the sand.

ThomsonAnd of Gad he said: Blessed is he who enlargeth Gad. Like a lion he lay down to rest, Having broken an arm and a chief.

BrentonAnd to Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlarges Gad: as a lion he rested, having broken the arm and the ruler.

GreekΚαὶ τῷ Γὰδ εἶπεν, εὐλογημένος ἐμπλατύνων Γάδ· ὡς λέων ἐνεπαύσατο, συντρίψας βραχίονα καὶ ἄρχοντα.

KJVAnd of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.

JPSAnd of Gad he said: Blessed be He that enlargeth Gad; He dwelleth as a lioness, And teareth the arm, yea, the crown of the head.

ThomsonHe took a view of his portion Because land was there divided. When chiefs assembled with the leaders of tribes, The Lord executed Justice And determined his cause with Israel.

BrentonAnd he saw his first-fruits, that there the land of the princes gathered with the chiefs of the people was divided; the Lord wrought righteousness, and his judgment with Israel.

GreekΚαὶ εἶδεν ἀπαρχὴν αὐτοῦ, ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἐμερίσθη γῆ ἀρχόντων συνηγμένων ἅμα ἀρχηγοῖς λαῶν· δικαιοσύνην Κύριος ἐποίησε, καὶ κρίσιν αὐτοῦ μετὰ Ἰσραήλ.

KJVAnd he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the LORD, and his judgments with Israel.

JPSAnd he chose a first part for himself, For there a portion of a ruler was reserved; And there came the heads of the people, He executed the righteousness of the LORD, And His ordinances with Israel. .

ThomsonAnd of Dan he said: Dan is a lion’s whelp; He will make excursions beyond Basan.

BrentonAnd to Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp, and shall leap out of Basan.

GreekΚαὶ τῷ Δὰν εἶπε, Δὰν σκύμνος λέοντος, καὶ ἐκπηδήσεται ἐκ τοῦ Βασάν.

KJVAnd of Dan he said, Dan is a lion’s whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

JPSAnd of Dan he said: Dan is a lion’s whelp, That leapeth forth from Bashan.

ThomsonAnd of Nephthaleim he said: Nephthaleim hath abundance of good things; May he be filled with blessings from the Lord! He shall possess the west and the south.

BrentonAnd to Nephthali he said, Nephthali has the fulness of good things; and let him be filled with blessing from the Lord: he shall inherit the west and the south.

GreekΚαὶ τῷ Νεφθαλὶ εἶπε, Νεφθαλὶ πλησμονὴ δεκτῶν· καὶ ἐμπλησθήτω εὐλογία παρὰ Κυρίου· θάλασσαν καὶ Λίβα κληρονομήσει.

KJVAnd of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the LORD: possess thou the west and the south.

JPSAnd of Naphtali he said: O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, And full with the blessing of the LORD: Possess thou the sea and the south.

ThomsonAnd of Aser he said: Aser is blessed with children, He will be acceptable to his brethren. He shall bathe his foot in oil,

BrentonAnd to Aser he said, Aser is blessed with children; and he shall be acceptable to his brethren: he shall dip his foot in oil.

GreekΚαὶ τῷ Ἀσὴρ εἶπεν, εὐλογημένος ἀπὸ τέκνων Ἀσήρ, καὶ ἔσται δεκτὸς τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ· βάψει ἐν ἐλαίῳ τὸν πόδα αὐτοῦ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd of Asher he said: Blessed be Asher above sons; Let him be the favoured of his brethren, And let him dip his foot in oil.

ThomsonHis shoe shall be iron and brass; As thy days so shall be thy strength.

BrentonHis sandal shall be iron and brass; as thy days, so shall be thy strength.

GreekΣίδηρος καὶ χαλκὸς τὸ ὑπόδημα αὐτοῦ ἔσται· ὡς αἱ ἡμέραι σου, ἡ ἰσχύς σου.

KJVThy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

JPSIron and brass shall be thy bars; And as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

ThomsonThere is none like the God of the beloved. He who rideth on the heaven is thy helper, And he is mighty to give support.

BrentonThere is not any such as the God of the beloved; he who rides upon the heaven is thy helper, and the magnificent One of the firmament.

GreekΟὐκ ἔστιν ὥσπερ ὁ Θεὸς τοῦ ἠγαπημένου, ὁ ἐπιβαίνων ἐπὶ τὸν οὐρανὸν βοηθός σου, καὶ ὁ μεγαλοπρεπὴς τοῦ στερεώματος.

KJVThere is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

JPSThere is none like unto God, O Jeshurun, Who rideth upon the heaven as thy help, And in His excellency on the skies.

ThomsonThe governance of God will protect thee When under the power of everlasting arms, He will drive out the enemy before thee, Saying, Be devoted to destruction!

BrentonAnd the rule of God shall protect thee, and that under the strength of the everlasting arms; and he shall cast forth the enemy from before thy face, saying, Perish.

GreekΚαὶ σκεπάσει σε Θεοῦ ἀρχὴ, καὶ ὑπὸ ἰσχὺν βραχιόνων ἀενάων· καὶ ἐκβαλεῖ ἀπὸ προσώπου σου ἐχθρὸν, λέγων, ἀπόλοιο.

KJVThe eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

JPSThe eternal God is a dwelling-place, And underneath are the everlasting arms; And He thrust out the enemy from before thee, And said: ‘Destroy.’

ThomsonAnd Israel shall dwell securely alone In the land of Jacob, fed with corn and wine: And the heaven shall drop with dew for thee.

BrentonAnd Israel shall dwell in confidence alone on the land of Jacob, with corn and wine; and the sky shall be misty with dew upon thee.

GreekΚαὶ κατασκηνώσει Ἰσραὴλ πεποιθὼς, μόνος ἐπὶ γῆς Ἰακὼβ, ἐπὶ σίτῳ καὶ οἴνῳ· καὶ ὁ οὐρανός σοι συννεφὴς δρόσῳ.

KJVIsrael then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.

JPSAnd Israel dwelleth in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of corn and wine; Yea, his heavens drop down dew.

ThomsonBlessed art thou, O Israel! Who is like thee, O people saved by the Lord! Thy helper will protect thee, His sword shall be thy boast, Thine enemies shall submit to thee, And thou shalt ride upon their neck.

BrentonBlessed art thou, O Israel; who is like to thee, O people saved by the Lord? thy helper shall hold his shield over thee, and his sword is thy boast; and thine enemies shall speak falsely to thee, and thou shalt tread upon their neck.

GreekΜακάριος σὺ Ἰσραήλ· τίς ὅμοιός σοι λαὸς σωζόμενος ὑπὸ Κυρίου; ὑπερασπιεῖ ὁ βοηθός σου, καὶ ἡ μάχαιρα καύχημά σου· καὶ ψεύσονταί σε οἱ ἐχθροί σου· καὶ σὺ ἐπὶ τὸν τράχηλον αὐτῶν ἐπιβήσῃ.

KJVHappy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

JPSHappy art thou, O Israel, who is like unto thee? A people saved by the LORD, The shield of thy help, And that is the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall dwindle away before thee; And thou shalt tread upon their high places.