Genesis 49

Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Judah — praise

Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. Genesis 49:8–9

Judah is pictured as a royal lion whom his brothers will praise and bow to. The royal line of Judah leads to Jesus, whom John calls "the Lion of the tribe of Judah."

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a traditional type, cited

• alluded to by Revelation 5:5 — "The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed."

Shiloh

Shiloh — traditionally "he to whom it belongs" (the one whose right the sceptre is), also read as "the peaceful one" or "peace-bringer"

The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10

Kingship will stay in Judah until Shiloh comes, and the peoples will gather to Him. This is one of the oldest Messianic prophecies: the rightful King from Judah to whom all nations gather is Jesus Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it

• alluded to by Ezekiel 21:27 — "Until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him."
• fulfilled by Hebrews 7:14 — The Lord came from the tribe of Judah.
• the same title in Doctrine and Covenants 38:22 — Christ: "ye shall have no laws but my laws when I come, for I am your lawgiver." (footnote 10b)

The King Riding the Colt

Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: Genesis 49:11

The coming ruler of Judah is pictured with a donkey's colt tied to the vine. Christians have long read this with Zechariah's King riding a colt, fulfilled when Jesus entered Jerusalem.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a traditional type, cited · a footnote points to Him

• alluded to by Zechariah 9:9 — The King comes "riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass."
• fulfilled by Matthew 21:2-7 — Jesus has the ass and the colt brought and rides into Jerusalem as King (Matthew cites Zechariah 9:9).

Red Apparel / Treading the Winepress

Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: Genesis 49:11–12

Shiloh's garments are soaked in the "blood of grapes." Latter-day scripture describes the Lord at His Second Coming in red apparel from treading the winepress alone, an image that also recalls His atoning blood.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him

• alluded to by Isaiah 63:1-3 — "Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel... I have trodden the winepress alone."
• alluded to by D&C 133:46-51 — The Lord comes in dyed garments, red like one who treads the wine-vat.
• alluded to by Doctrine and Covenants 76:107 — Christ: "I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone." (footnote 11c)

Jehovah, the Salvation Awaited

salvation — Hebrew yeshuah, the root of the name Jesus (Yeshua, "Jehovah saves")

I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. Genesis 49:18

In the middle of the blessings Jacob cries out that he has waited for the LORD's salvation. The Hebrew word for salvation shares its root with the name Jesus, and faithful Israel waited for the Messiah as the salvation of God.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · the verse itself names Him

Joseph as a Type of Christ

Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: Genesis 49:22–23

Joseph was hated and attacked by those around him, yet God made him strong and he became the source of blessing and life for his family. His life of rejection, suffering, and exaltation is a widely taught pattern of the Savior.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a traditional type, cited

• alludes to Genesis 37:4 — His brothers hated him.

The Shepherd of Israel

the shepherd — the one who feeds, leads and protects the flock

But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Genesis 49:24

Jacob names the source of Joseph's strength "the mighty God of Jacob" and, from Him, "the shepherd." Jesus declared Himself the Good Shepherd, the God who had shepherded Israel all along.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him

• interpreted by Doctrine and Covenants 50:44 — Christ: "I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel."
• the same title in Genesis 48:15 — Jacob calls God the one who "fed" (shepherded) him all his life.
• the same title in Psalm 80:1 — "O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock."
• the same title in John 10:11 — "I am the good shepherd."

The Stone of Israel

the stone of Israel — Israel's sure foundation

But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Genesis 49:24

The Stone of Israel is a title for the Lord as the unshakable foundation of His people. The scriptures repeatedly name Christ as the stone: the chief cornerstone and sure foundation.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · another scripture interprets it of Him

• interpreted by Doctrine and Covenants 50:44 — Christ names Himself "the stone of Israel" and "this rock".
• the same title in Psalm 118:22 — "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner."
• the same title in Isaiah 28:16 — "I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone... a precious corner stone."
• the same title in Jacob 4:15-17 — The Jews reject the stone which should be their sure foundation.

The Mighty One of Jacob

Mighty God of Jacob — Hebrew 'abir Ya'aqov, the Mighty One of Jacob

But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) Genesis 49:24

The Mighty One of Jacob is a title Isaiah later pairs directly with "thy Saviour and thy Redeemer." It names Jehovah, the premortal Christ, as the strength behind Joseph.

How we know: another scripture interprets it of Him · the chapter heading names Him

• the same title in Isaiah 49:26 — "I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob."
• the same title in Isaiah 60:16 — "Thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob."

The Almighty Who Blesses Joseph

the Almighty — Hebrew Shaddai, the patriarchal name of Jehovah (Exodus 6:3)

Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: Genesis 49:25

Jacob says the God of his fathers, the Almighty, will help Joseph and pour out blessings from heaven and earth. The Church's heading names this Giver as the Shepherd and Stone of Israel, Christ.

How we know: the chapter heading names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• interpreted by Exodus 6:3 — Jehovah says He appeared to the patriarchs by the name God Almighty.