Bible Strands
Genesis 49:5
Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jacob addresses his sons Simeon and Levi during his final prophetic declaration, immediately following his condemnation of Reuben in Genesis 49:4.
The words — The Hebrew חָמָס (cha.Mas) literally means violence, paired with כְּלֵי (ke.Lei), meaning weapons of, to classify their swords as instruments of brutal force.
The thread — This description directly references their coordinated attack in Genesis 34:25 and aligns with the pattern of angry killing and wanton cruelty condemned in Genesis 49:6.
Why it lands — It establishes that familial bond does not neutralize guilt, and that the text requires readers to distinguish between tribal loyalty and the objective reality of uncontrolled aggression.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.
Cross-references
- Genesis 34:25 Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male.
- Genesis 29:33 Again she conceived and gave birth to a son, and she said, “Because the LORD has heard that I am unloved, He has given me this son as well.” So she named him Simeon.
- Genesis 46:10 The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanite woman.
- Proverbs 18:9 Whoever is slothful in his work is brother to him who destroys.