King James Version

What Does Deuteronomy 33:16 Mean?

“And 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.”

Context

And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon, put: Heb. thrust moon: Heb. moons

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

And 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.

His 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. unicorns: Heb. an unicorn

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

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(16) **The good will of him that dwelt in the bush**—is a blessing peculiar to Moses. It contains an exquisite piece of interpretation. From the fact that Jehovah *revealed Himself *to Moses in a flame of fire *in a bush, *the man of God drew the thought that He presented Himself as *dwelling in it; *and thus he has furnished God’s Church with this comfort for all ages, that His human temple, although it burn with fire, can never be consumed. The last part of Deuteronomy 33:16 is taken direct from Genesis 49:26. **Separated from his brethren.**—Heb., *nâzîr. *Is it altogether unreasonable to suppose that this particular feature in Joseph’s history, when he was “sold into Egypt,” and “separated from his brethren,” may be part of the meaning of “Nazarene” when applied to our Lord in Matthew 2:23?

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Deuteronomy. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Deuteronomy 33:16 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.