Genesis 49:2
New International Version
“Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.

New Living Translation
“Come and listen, you sons of Jacob; listen to Israel, your father.

English Standard Version
“Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father.

Berean Standard Bible
Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.

King James Bible
Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

New King James Version
“Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.

New American Standard Bible
“Gather together and listen, sons of Jacob; Yes, listen to Israel your father.

NASB 1995
“Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel your father.

NASB 1977
“Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel your father.

Legacy Standard Bible
Assemble together and hear, O sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel your father.

Amplified Bible
“Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel (Jacob) your father.

Christian Standard Bible
Come together and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Come together and listen, sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel:

American Standard Version
Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; And hearken unto Israel your father.

Contemporary English Version
Come, gather around, as I tell your future.

English Revised Version
Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; And hearken unto Israel your father.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Gather around and listen, sons of Jacob. Listen to your father Israel.

Good News Translation
"Come together and listen, sons of Jacob. Listen to your father Israel.

International Standard Version
"Gather together and listen, you children of Jacob. Listen to your father Israel."

Majority Standard Bible
Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel.

NET Bible
"Assemble and listen, you sons of Jacob; listen to Israel, your father.

New Heart English Bible
Assemble yourselves and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.

Webster's Bible Translation
Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob: and hearken to Israel your father.

World English Bible
Assemble yourselves, and hear, you sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Be assembled, and hear, sons of Jacob, "" And listen to your father Israel.

Young's Literal Translation
'Be assembled, and hear, sons of Jacob, And hearken unto Israel your father.

Smith's Literal Translation
Be gathered together, and hear ye sons of Jacob, and hear to Israel your father.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Gather yourselves together, and hear, O ye sons of Jacob, hearken to Israel your father:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Gather together and listen, O sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father.

New American Bible
“Assemble and listen, sons of Jacob, listen to Israel, your father.

New Revised Standard Version
Assemble and hear, O sons of Jacob; listen to Israel your father.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Gather yourselves together and listen, O sons of Jacob; and hearken o Israel your father.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Be gathered and hear, sons of Yaquuv, hear Israel your father.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; And hearken unto Israel your father.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Assemble yourselves, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in the last days. Gather yourselves together, and hear me, sons of Jacob; hear Israel, hear your father.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Blesses His Sons
1Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come: 2Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel. 3Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 33:1-29
This is the blessing that Moses the man of God pronounced upon the Israelites before his death. / He said: “The LORD came from Sinai and dawned upon us from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran and came with myriads of holy ones, with flaming fire at His right hand. / Surely You love the people; all the holy ones are in Your hand, and they sit down at Your feet; each receives Your words— ...

Numbers 24:14
Now I am going back to my people, but come, let me warn you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.”

Genesis 48:1-22
Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. / When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed. / Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there He blessed me ...

Hebrews 11:21
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Genesis 35:22-26
While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons: / The sons of Leah were Reuben the firstborn of Jacob, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. / The sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. ...

1 Chronicles 5:1-2
These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright. / And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.

Ezekiel 48:1-35
“Now these are the names of the tribes: At the northern frontier, Dan will have one portion bordering the road of Hethlon to Lebo-hamath and running on to Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus with Hamath to the north, and extending from the east side to the west side. / Asher will have one portion bordering the territory of Dan from east to west. / Naphtali will have one portion bordering the territory of Asher from east to west. ...

Joshua 13:1-33
Now Joshua was old and well along in years, and the LORD said to him, “You are old and well along in years, but very much of the land remains to be possessed. / This is the land that remains: All the territory of the Philistines and the Geshurites, / from the Shihor east of Egypt to the territory of Ekron on the north (considered to be Canaanite territory)—that of the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron, as well as that of the Avvites; ...

Judges 5:1-31
On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song: / “When the princes take the lead in Israel, when the people volunteer, bless the LORD. / Listen, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel. ...

1 Kings 12:16-24
When all Israel saw that the king had refused to listen to them, they answered the king: “What portion do we have in David, and what inheritance in the son of Jesse? To your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, O David!” So the Israelites went home, / but Rehoboam still reigned over the Israelites living in the cities of Judah. / Then King Rehoboam sent out Adoram, who was in charge of the forced labor, but all Israel stoned him to death. And King Rehoboam mounted his chariot in haste and escaped to Jerusalem. ...

Psalm 78:67-68
He rejected the tent of Joseph and refused the tribe of Ephraim. / But He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which He loved.

Isaiah 11:1-16
Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. / The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. / And He will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what His eyes see, and He will not decide by what His ears hear, ...

Jeremiah 31:9
They will come with weeping, and by their supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk beside streams of waters, on a level path where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s Father, and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

Matthew 19:28
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.


Treasury of Scripture

Gather yourselves together, and hear, you sons of Jacob; and listen to Israel your father.

hearken.

Psalm 34:11
Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

Proverbs 1:8,9
My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother: …

Proverbs 4:1-4
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding…

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Assemble Assembled Ear Gather Hear Hearken Israel Jacob Together Words Yourselves
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Assemble Assembled Ear Gather Hear Hearken Israel Jacob Together Words Yourselves
Genesis 49
1. Jacob calls his sons to bless them.
3. Their blessing in particular.
29. He charges them about his burial.
33. He dies.














Come together and listen
This phrase is a call to unity and attention. Jacob, nearing the end of his life, gathers his sons to impart his final blessings and prophecies. The act of coming together signifies the importance of the message and the need for collective understanding. In the cultural context of the patriarchal society, such gatherings were significant for the transmission of family heritage and divine promises. This moment echoes the assembly of the tribes of Israel, emphasizing the unity and shared destiny of Jacob's descendants.

O sons of Jacob
The reference to "sons of Jacob" highlights the familial and covenantal relationship. Jacob, also known as Israel, is the patriarch whose twelve sons become the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel. This phrase underscores the continuity of God's promises from Abraham to Isaac and now to Jacob's sons. It also sets the stage for the blessings and prophecies that will define the future of each tribe. The mention of Jacob rather than Israel here may emphasize the personal and familial aspect of the address.

listen to your father Israel
The use of "Israel" instead of "Jacob" in this part of the verse signifies the transformation and divine calling of Jacob. After wrestling with God, Jacob was renamed Israel, meaning "he struggles with God" or "God prevails" (Genesis 32:28). This name change marks a pivotal moment in Jacob's life and signifies his role as the father of the nation of Israel. The call to listen to "your father Israel" is not just a call to heed a biological parent but to recognize the spiritual and covenantal authority he holds. This phrase also foreshadows the prophetic nature of Jacob's words, as he speaks not only as a father but as a patriarch with divine insight into the future of his descendants.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jacob/Israel
The patriarch of the twelve tribes of Israel, Jacob is also known as Israel. In this passage, he is addressing his sons, providing blessings and prophecies concerning their futures.

2. Sons of Jacob
The twelve sons of Jacob, who are the progenitors of the twelve tribes of Israel. This gathering is significant as it marks the patriarchal blessing and prophecy over each son.

3. Blessing and Prophecy Event
This chapter is a pivotal moment where Jacob, nearing the end of his life, calls his sons together to deliver blessings and prophecies that will shape the future of the tribes of Israel.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Listening
Jacob's call to "assemble and listen" underscores the importance of being attentive to the wisdom and guidance of those who have walked with God. In our lives, we should prioritize listening to godly counsel and Scripture.

Legacy and Influence
Jacob's words to his sons remind us of the lasting impact our words and actions can have on future generations. We should strive to leave a legacy of faith and obedience to God.

Prophetic Fulfillment
The prophecies given by Jacob to his sons were fulfilled in the history of Israel. This teaches us about the reliability of God's word and His sovereign plan throughout history.

Unity in Diversity
The gathering of Jacob's sons, each with unique destinies, reflects the unity and diversity within the body of Christ. We are called to work together, respecting each other's roles and gifts.Verse 2. - Gather yourselves together, - the repetition indicates at once the elevation of the speaker's soul, and the importance, in his mind, of the impending revelation - and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. The two clauses form a synthetic or synonymous parallel, numerous illustrations of which are to be found in the succeeding verses.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Come together
הִקָּבְצ֥וּ (hiq·qā·ḇə·ṣū)
Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6908: To gather, collect

and listen,
וְשִׁמְע֖וּ (wə·šim·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

O sons
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Jacob;
יַעֲקֹ֑ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

listen
וְשִׁמְע֖וּ (wə·šim·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

your father
אֲבִיכֶֽם׃ (’ă·ḇî·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


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OT Law: Genesis 49:2 Assemble yourselves and hear you sons (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 49:1
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