Genesis 49:23 — Word Study
WLCוַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ וָרֹ֑בּוּ וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ בַּעֲלֵ֥י חִצִּֽים׃
BSAThe archersbaʻal [masters of the bow, skilled marksmen] attacked him with bitternessmârar▸ [intense anger, hostility] they aimed at himrâbab■ [shot at him, persecuted him] in hostilitysâṭam▸ [with hatred, a long-held grudge]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ | and they showed bitterness to him | Verb piel sequential imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
| וָרֹ֑בּוּ | and they shot | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person common plural |
| וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ | and they bear a grudge him | Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural, suffix |
| בַּעֲלֵ֥י | masters of | Noun common, masculine plural construct |
| חִצִּֽים׃ | arrows | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility. |
| KJV | The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: |
| ASV | The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecuted him: |
| YLT | And embitter him — yea, they have striven, Yea, hate him do archers; |
| WEB | The archers have severely grieved him, shot at him, and persecuted him: |
| BBE | He was troubled by the archers; they sent out their arrows against him, cruelly wounding him: |
Where they part company is in the verbs used for the actions of the archers — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence consists of a main clause followed by a subordinate clause that details the nature of the attack.
8 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbרָבַב
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 49:23
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Blessing of Josephgenerated
Genesis 49:23 describes how Joseph faced hostility from his brothers, who attacked him with bitterness and aimed arrows at him. This reflects the animosity he endured, as noted throughout his story in Genesis. Jacob, in his blessing, acknowledges Joseph's struggles and the strength he displayed despite the adversities he faced.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 37:4–18 | When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him. |
| 2 | Genesis 39:7–20 | and after some time his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and said, “Sleep with me.” |
| 3 | Genesis 42:21 | Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” |
| 4 | Psalm 64:3 | who sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their bitter words like arrows, |
| 5 | Psalm 118:13 | I was pushed so hard I was falling, but the LORD helped me. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 7 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ, vay.ma.ra.Ru.hugenerated
The verb מָרַר (marar) means to be or make something bitter. In this verse, it indicates the intense anger and hostility directed at Joseph by the archers. The form used here is a piel verb, suggesting an active showing of bitterness.
This term captures both emotional and physical bitterness, illustrating the depth of animosity Joseph experienced. The parsing as a third person masculine plural indicates that it refers to multiple archers acting against him.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses attacked and aimed to convey the actions of the archers.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The verse is structured around three main verbs: וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ, וָרֹ֑בּוּ, and וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ, each describing actions taken by the archers against Joseph. The order emphasizes the severity of their hostility.
The subject of the verbs is implied as the archers, with each action building on the previous one, creating a narrative of escalating aggression.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew term וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ is rendered as ὃν (hon), which indicates a direct reference to Joseph. This choice maintains the context of animosity.
The translation of וָרֹ֑בּוּ as ἐλοιδόρουν suggests a focus on the act of shooting, aligning closely with the original Hebrew meaning.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 49:23 describes how Joseph faced hostility from his brothers, who attacked him with bitterness and aimed arrows at him. This reflects the animosity he endured, as noted throughout his story in Genesis. Jacob acknowledges Joseph's struggles and the strength he displayed despite the adversities he faced.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
This phrase indicates the intense anger and hostility that Joseph faced from his brothers, who were metaphorically likened to archers.
This term emphasizes the skill and intention behind the attacks, portraying the archers as deliberate and effective in their hostility.
This signifies a long-held grudge and animosity, illustrating the depth of their hatred towards Joseph.
This verse highlights the challenges Joseph faced from his own family, setting the stage for his eventual rise and reconciliation.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can I respond to hostility in my own life, as Joseph did?
- What can I learn from Joseph's ability to remain steadfast despite attacks?
- In what ways can I support others who are facing animosity?
- How does understanding Joseph's story help me deal with my own conflicts?
Commentators on this verse — 8 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 49:23 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleThe archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him.
Read John Gill on Genesis 49 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryThe archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: The archers have sorely grieved him ... The image is here changed to that of a warrior engaged in a deadly contest.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 49 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy Biblei.e. His adversaries, as well his own brethren as his master and mistress; with their scoffs, and slanders, and injuries, which in the Scripture are oft compared to arrows.
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 49 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 49:23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot [at him], and hated him:Ver. 23. The archers have sorely grieved him.] These were his barbarous brethren, that sold him; his adulterous mistress, that, harlot-like, hunted for his precious life; his injurious master, that, without any desert of his, imprisoned him; the tumultuating Egyptians, that, pined with hunger, perhaps, "spoke of stoning him," as 1 Samuel 30:6; and the envious courtiers and enchanters, that spoke evil of him before Pharaoh, to bring him out of favour, as the Jerusalemy Targum addeth. All these "arrow masters," as the Hebrew here hath it, set against Joseph, and shot at him as their butt-mark; willing to have…
Read John Trapp on Genesis 49 →Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(23) The archers.—Naturally Jacob next describes the sorrows of Joseph’s youth, but in poetical terms, so as not to wound the feelings of his brethren, or rouse up thoughts of vengeance in Joseph’s own mind. Thus be compares him to a warrior, too mighty for his enemies to close with in open conflict, but whom they harass from a distance. “Hated him” would be better translated, laid snares for him, were guilty of treachery and deceit.
Read Charles John Ellicott on Genesis 49 →AdamClarkeAdam Clarke's Commentary on the BibleVerse 23. The chief archers] בעלי חצים baaley chitstsim, the masters of arrows - Joseph's brethren, who either used such weapons, while feeding their flocks in the deserts, for the protection of themselves and cattle, or for the purpose of hunting; and who probably excelled in archery. It may however refer to the bitter speeches and harsh words that they spoke to and of him, for they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him, Genesis 37:4. Thus they sorely afflicted him, and were incessantly scolding or finding fault.
Read AdamClarke on Genesis 49 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges23. The archers] The simile changes. Joseph’s prosperity has attracted the attacks of jealous foes. He is beset by the archers. This verse used to be explained as containing a reference to the persecution of Joseph by his brethren. But, apart from the question whether such a topic would here be suitably introduced, the allusions throughout the song are tribal, and not personal. The enemies of Ephraim and Manasseh may have been the Canaanites (Joshua 17:16), or the Midianites (Judges 1:6), or the nomad Arab tribes (1 Chronicles 5:19). Or, if Joseph be identified with the tribes of the northern kingdom, and a later date be possible, the reference may be to the attacks delivered from the north…
Read Cambridge on Genesis 49 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible23. Imbittered… shot… hated — This verse depicts Joseph as persecuted by his brethren, and by Potiphar’s wife. His soul had been terribly imbittered; he had been a shining mark for archers who hated him, and sought his ruin.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 49 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility.
The archers have severely grieved him, shot at him, and persecuted him:
The archers attacked him with bitterness; they aimed at him in hostility.
The archers will attack him, they will shoot at him and oppose him.
Tyndale line
The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecuted him:
The archers have sorely grieved him, And shot at him, and persecuted him:
The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
And the archers grieued him, and shotte against him and hated him.
Strictly literal
The archers have provoked him, And shot at, and hated him;
And embitter him — yea, they have striven, Yea, hate him do archers;
And embitter him indeed, they have striven, || Indeed, archers hate him;
And they embittered his life, and they shot at him, and they hated him, the men of the arrows.
The archers will attack him and shoot at him and harass him.
From the Latin
But they that held darts provoked him, and quarrelled with him, and envied him.
Simplified
The archers viciously attacked him; they shot their arrows at him with hate.
He was troubled by the archers; they sent out their arrows against him, cruelly wounding him:
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ וָרֹ֑בּוּ וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ בַּעֲלֵ֥י חִצִּֽים׃. The Septuagint matches these words closely, reflecting a consistent understanding of the text. However, the Samaritan Pentateuch differs with the word יריבהו (contend) instead of וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ, indicating a variation in the interpretation of Joseph's experience.
וַֽיְמָרֲרֻ֖הוּ וָרֹ֑בּוּ וַֽיִּשְׂטְמֻ֖הוּ בַּעֲלֵ֥י חִצִּֽים׃
5 of the 5 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
וימררהו ויריבהו וישׂטמהו בעלי חצים
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: יריבהו (contend)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 49:23
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
מָרַר (marar) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be bitter, with various forms indicating actions like making something bitter or showing bitterness. It can express both literal and figurative bitterness, and can also imply provoking or vexing. The entries suggest its usage in different grammatical forms, including Qal, Piel, Hiphil, and Hithpalpel, but do not provide specific verse references.
מָרַר vb. be bitter
Qal be bitter
Pi. make bitter, shew bitterness
Hiph. make bitter, shew bitterness
Hithpalp. and the king of the south shall embitter himself (be enraged)
base
H4843 מָרַר be bitter
4843 marar maw-rar'
a primitive root; properly, to trickle (see 4752); but used
only as a denominative from 4751; to be (causatively, make)
bitter (literally or figuratively):--(be, be in, deal, have,
make) bitter(-ly, - ness), be moved with choler, (be, have
sorely, it) grieved(-eth), provoke, vex.
see HEBREW for 04752
see HEBREW for 04751
מָרַר (ma.rar) — to provoke.
1) to be bitter
1a) (Qal) to be bitter
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to show bitterness
1b2) to make bitter
1c) (Hiphil) to make bitter, embitter
1d) (Hithpalpel)
1d1) to embitter oneself
1d2) to be enraged
2) (TWOT) to be strong, strengthen
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3mp | Suff — Verb piel sequential imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHc/Vpw3mp/Sp3ms
רָבַב (rabab) primarily means to shoot, particularly in the context of arrows. It is a primitive root related to the idea of projection, and can also imply the notion of multiplying to ten thousand. The entries indicate a focus on the action of shooting, with no significant disagreement among lexicons.
[רָבַב] vb. shoot
base
H7232 [רָבַב] shoot
7232 rabab raw-bab'
a primitive root (rather identical with 7231 through the idea
of projection); to shoot an arrow:--shoot.
see HEBREW for 07231
רָבַב (ra.vav) — to multiply ten thousand.
(Qal) to shoot
Conj | V-Qal-Perf-3cp — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person common pluralHc/Vqq3cp
שָׂטַם (satam) is a Hebrew verb meaning to bear a grudge or cherish animosity against someone. It conveys the idea of opposing oneself to another and includes nuances of hatred and persecution. The entries consistently describe it as a primitive root related to animosity, with no significant disagreement among the lexicons.
[שָׂטַם] vb. bear a grudge, cherish animosity, against
base
H7852 [שָׂטַם] bear a grudge, cherish animosity, against
7852 satam saw-tam'
a primitive root; properly, to lurk for, i.e.
persecute:--hate, oppose self against.
שָׂטַם (sa.tam) — to hate.
1) to hate, oppose oneself to, bear a grudge, retain animosity against, cherish animosity against
1a) (Qal) to cherish animosity against
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3mp | Suff — Verb qal sequential imperfect third person masculine plural · suffixHc/Vqw3mp/Sp3ms
בַּעַל (ba`al) means owner or lord, and can refer to a husband, citizens, or rulers. It is derived from a root meaning 'to own' and is used in various contexts, including relationships and leadership. The term also appears as a divine name, Baal, in the Old Testament.
בַּעַל 166 n.m. owner, lord
owner
husband
citizens, inhabitants
rulers, lords
n. of relation
Esp. lord, specif. as divine name, Baal.
base
H1167 בַּעַל owner, lord . owner
. husband
. citizens, inhabitants
. rulers, lords
. n. of relation
1167 ba`al bah'-al
from 1166; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively)
owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this
latter sense):--+ archer, + babbler, + bird, captain, chief
man, + confederate, + have to do, + dreamer, those to whom it
is due, + furious, those that are given to it, great, + hairy,
he that hath it, have, + horseman, husband, lord, man, +
married, master, person, + sworn, they of.
see HEBREW for 01166
בַּעַל (ba.al) — master.
: master/leader
1) owner, husband, lord
1a) owner
1b) a husband
1c) citizens, inhabitants
1d) rulers, lords
1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)
בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: husband.
: husband/groom
1) owner, husband, lord
1a) owner
1b) a husband
1c) citizens, inhabitants
1d) rulers, lords
1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)
בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: men.
: men/comrades
1) owner, husband, lord
1a) owner
1b) a husband
1c) citizens, inhabitants
1d) rulers, lords
1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)
בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: owning.
: owning/having
1) owner, husband, lord
1a) owner
1b) a husband
1c) citizens, inhabitants
1d) rulers, lords
1e) (noun of relationship used to characterise-ie, master of dreams)
בַּעַל (ba.al) — master: [master of].
: [master_of](DESCRIPTOR)
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural constructHNcmpc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
חֵץ (chets) means 'arrow,' primarily found in poetic and prophetic contexts. It is derived from a root meaning 'to pierce' and can imply a wound or refer to a thunderbolt in a figurative sense. The word also encompasses related terms like 'dart' and 'shaft,' indicating its use in various forms of weaponry.
חֵץ n.m. arrow, mostly poet. and proph.
base
H2671 חֵץ arrow, mostly poet. and proph.
2671 chets khayts
from 2686; properly, a piercer, i.e. an arrow; by
implication, a wound; figuratively, (of God) thunder-bolt; (by
interchange for 6086) the shaft of a spear:--+ archer, arrow,
dart, shaft, staff, wound.
see HEBREW for 02686
see HEBREW for 06086
חֵץ (chets) — arrow.
arrow
HNcmpa — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
Arrows
At first made of reeds, and then of wood tipped with iron. Arrows are sometimes figuratively put for lightning (Deut. 32:23, 42; Ps. 7:13; 18:14; 144:6; Zech. 9:14). They were used in war as well as in the chase (Gen. 27:3; 49:23). They were also used in divination (Ezek. 21:21).
The word is frequently employed as a symbol of calamity or disease inflicted by God (Job 6:4; 34:6; Ps. 38:2; Deut. 32:23. Comp.
[ARMS, ARMOR]