Genesis 49:18 - Jacob Blesses His Sons

Audio Bible

Context

Jacob Blesses His Sons
…17He will be a snake by the road, a viper in the path that bites the horse’s heels so that its rider tumbles backward. 18I await Your salvation, O LORD. 19Gad will be attacked by raiders, but he will attack their heels.…

Cross References

Psalm 62:1
For the choirmaster. According to Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. In God alone my soul finds rest; my salvation comes from Him.Isaiah 25:9
And in that day it will be said, “Surely this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He has saved us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”Lamentations 3:26
It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.Psalm 130:5
I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait, and in His word I put my hope.Isaiah 33:2
O LORD, be gracious to us! We wait for You. Be our strength every morning and our salvation in time of trouble.Micah 7:7
But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.Psalm 27:14
Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.Psalm 37:7
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men prosper in their ways, when they carry out wicked schemes.Habakkuk 3:16
I heard and trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound. Decay entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Yet I must wait patiently for the day of distress to come upon the people who invade us.Romans 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently.Titus 2:13
as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.Hebrews 9:28
so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.1 Thessalonians 1:10
and to await His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead—Jesus our deliverer from the coming wrath.James 5:7-8
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. / You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.

Psalm 14:7
Oh that the salvation of Israel were come out of Zion! when the LORD bringeth back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

Psalm 25:6
Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

Psalm 40:1
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

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Genesis 49

I await
This phrase reflects a posture of expectation and hope. In the context of Genesis 49, Jacob is blessing his sons and prophesying their futures. The act of waiting implies trust and patience, qualities that are essential in the life of faith. This waiting is not passive but active, involving prayer, obedience, and anticipation of God's promises. The Hebrew word used here can also imply longing or looking eagerly, suggesting a deep desire for divine intervention.

Your salvation
The term "salvation" in the Old Testament often refers to deliverance from danger or distress. In this context, it can be seen as a longing for God's deliverance and fulfillment of His promises to Israel. The concept of salvation is central to the biblical narrative, pointing forward to the ultimate salvation through Jesus Christ. This phrase can be connected to the broader theme of redemption found throughout Scripture, including the deliverance of Israel from Egypt and the spiritual salvation offered through Christ's sacrifice.

O LORD
The use of "LORD" in all capitals indicates the covenant name of God, Yahweh, emphasizing His personal and relational nature. This name is significant as it denotes God's faithfulness to His promises and His ongoing relationship with His people. The invocation of God's name here underscores the personal nature of the plea for salvation and reflects a deep trust in God's character and covenantal faithfulness. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of God as a deliverer and protector of His people, as seen in passages like Exodus 3:14 and Psalm 18:2.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Jacob (Israel)
The patriarch of the Israelites, who is giving blessings and prophecies to his sons in Genesis 49. This verse is part of his final words to his sons.

2. Dan
One of Jacob's sons, whose tribe is being addressed in the surrounding verses. Jacob's statement in verse 18 is a pause in his prophecy concerning Dan.

3. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, to whom Jacob is expressing his hope and trust for salvation.

4. Salvation
The deliverance and redemption that Jacob is anticipating from God, which is a central theme throughout the Bible.

5. The Tribes of Israel
The descendants of Jacob's sons, who are the recipients of his blessings and prophecies in Genesis 49.

Teaching Points

Trust in God's Timing
Jacob's declaration of waiting for God's salvation teaches us the importance of trusting in God's perfect timing for deliverance.

Hope Amidst Uncertainty
Even in the midst of uncertainty and challenges, like Jacob faced, we can place our hope in God's promise of salvation.

The Centrality of Salvation
Salvation is a central theme in the Bible, and our lives should be oriented around the hope and assurance of God's saving work.

Faith in God's Promises
Jacob's faith in God's promise of salvation encourages us to hold fast to God's promises, even when fulfillment seems distant.

Prayerful Anticipation
Like Jacob, we should express our anticipation for God's salvation through prayer, maintaining a posture of dependence on Him.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 49What does the Bible say about inheritance?How could Abraham host and feed three travelers identified as the Lord in human form (Genesis 18:1-5) without any hint of deception or strangeness?Why does Psalm 88 present unrelenting despair without any expression of hope, seeming to contradict other passages that emphasize God's deliverance (Psalm 88:1-3)?What is a biblical promise in Christianity?

(18) I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord (Jehovah).--Among the many explanations hazarded of this ejaculation the most probable is that given in the Speaker's Commentary, that the thought of the serpent wounding his prey in the heel carried the mind of the patriarch back to the fall of man, and the promise made to Eve. And thus it is a profession of faith, naturally called out by this chain of ideas, in the advent in due time of the promised Deliverer, and of which the accomplishment had become united in thought with the name of Jehovah.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

I await
קִוִּ֥יתִי (qiw·wî·ṯî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 6960: To bind together, collect, to expect

Your salvation,
לִֽישׁוּעָתְךָ֖ (lî·šū·‘ā·ṯə·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3444: Something saved, deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity

O LORD.
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

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Genesis 49:18 Catholic BibleOT Law: Genesis 49:18 I have waited for your salvation Yahweh (Gen. Ge Gn)