Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

GENESIS 49:7KJV
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Genesis 49:7 (KJV)

What does Genesis 49:7 mean?

Genesis 49:7 describes Jacob declaring a curse on the anger and cruelty of his sons Simeon and Levi, saying their fierce wrath will lead to their descendants being divided and scattered within the people of Israel. Jacob is not cursing his sons themselves, but rather condemning the violent actions and attitudes they displayed.

Jacob is speaking to all his sons as he gives each of them a final blessing or prophecy before his death. In this verse, he singles out Simeon and Levi for their violent revenge against the city of Shechem. Jacob’s words explain that, as a result of their uncontrolled anger, their tribes will not have a unified territory in Israel but will be dispersed among the other tribes.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 49:7

  • "Cursed" (אָרוּר, 'arur): This word means to be under a curse or to have misfortune declared upon something. Jacob uses it to express strong disapproval of the anger, not the people themselves.
  • "Anger" (אַף, 'af): This word often refers to a burning anger or nostrils flaring in rage. It highlights the intensity of the emotion Jacob is condemning.
  • "Fierce" (עָז, 'az): This means strong or intense, emphasizing just how destructive their anger was.
  • "Wrath" (עֶבְרָה, 'evrah): This word points to overflowing rage, showing that their actions went beyond what was reasonable.
  • "Cruel" (קָשָׁת, qashah): This means hard or harsh, underlining the severity and lack of mercy in their actions.
  • "Divide" (חָלַק, chalaq): Jacob says he will "divide" them in Jacob, meaning their descendants will not be united in one territory.
  • "Scatter" (פָּוָה, puth): This word means to disperse or spread out, reinforcing the idea that their tribes will be scattered among Israel.

Why Genesis 49:7 matters

  • Genesis 49:7 clarifies that Jacob’s condemnation is aimed at the violent anger and cruelty of Simeon and Levi, not at the brothers themselves as individuals.
  • The verse explains why, later in Israel’s history, the tribes of Simeon and Levi do not receive their own large, unified territories like the other tribes; Levi becomes the priestly tribe scattered in cities, and Simeon’s land is within Judah’s territory.
  • This verse connects to the larger theme of consequences for actions found throughout Genesis, showing that choices made by individuals can have lasting effects on their descendants.

Where else these words appear

“fierce” Hebrew H5794 · used in 23 verses

  • Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power:
  • 2 Samuel 22:18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
  • Song of Solomon 8:6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

“cruel” Hebrew H7185 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 35:16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
  • 2 Samuel 19:43 And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.
  • Nehemiah 9:29 And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again unto thy law: yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments,(which if a man do, he shall live in them;) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear.

“wrath” Hebrew H5678 · used in 34 verses

  • Job 21:30 That the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.
  • Proverbs 22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
  • Ezekiel 7:19 They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the LORD: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity.

“Cursed” Hebrew H779 · used in 52 verses

  • Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
  • Deuteronomy 27:15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.
  • Joshua 9:23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.