Bible Strands
Genesis 49:7
Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jacob addresses his sons on his deathbed, pronouncing judgment over the descendants of Simeon and Levi. He speaks these words immediately after condemning their violent councils and before shifting to Judah’s blessing.
The words — The verb אָר֤וּר ('a.Rur) literally means "be cursed," and עָ֔ז ('Az) translates to "fierce" or "strong." These terms anchor the declaration that their violent anger and cruel wrath will not go unpunished.
The thread — The scattering Jacob predicts materializes in Joshua 19:1, where Simeon’s inheritance is assigned within Judah’s territory. This geographic absorption is later confirmed in 1 Chronicles 6:65, which lists cities distributed from Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that unchecked violence triggers divine judgment and communal fragmentation. A reader must acknowledge that tribal cohesion fractures when anger overrides covenant loyalty.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Joshua 19:1 The second lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Simeon: Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah
- 1 Chronicles 4:24 The descendants of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul.
- 1 Chronicles 6:65 They assigned by lot the cities named above from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
- Joshua 21:1 Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribes of Israel
- 2 Samuel 13:15 Then Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that his hatred was greater than the love he previously had. “Get up!” he said to her. “Be gone!”
- 2 Samuel 13:22 And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for violating his sister Tamar.
- 1 Chronicles 4:39 and they journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, in search of pasture for their flocks.
- Proverbs 26:24 A hateful man disguises himself with his speech, but he lays up deceit in his heart.
- Proverbs 27:3 A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.