The Meaning of Genesis 49:19 Explained

Genesis 49:19

KJV: Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

YLT: Gad! a troop assaulteth him, But he assaulteth last.

Darby: Gad troops will rush upon him; But he will rush upon the heel.

ASV: Gad, a troop shall press upon him; But he shall press upon their heel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Gad,  a troop  shall overcome  him: but he shall overcome  at the last. 

What does Genesis 49:19 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 49:13-27 - Joseph Specially Blessed
The position of Zebulun and the following tribes in the land of promise is accurately foretold. Compare the allotments of Joshua 18:1-28. Notice the exclamation of the dying man in Genesis 49:18. Such a spirit of waiting cannot be disappointed. See Isaiah 26:8-9. Joseph's blessing is pre-eminently beautiful: Fruitful! This is mentioned twice, reminding us of John 15:8. But fruitfulness is only possible where there is the wall for separation, and the well for communion. When these are present, the branches droop over the wall with clusters of blessings to a thirsty world. Let us seek divine strength and ask that the mighty hands of the God of Jacob may be placed under our own poor weak hands! See Psalms 141:1. The separated life is the crowned life. To the heart of the dying man came the memory of his native land and its mountains. What mountains are to a country, God is to His people! [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 49:19 mean?

Gad a troop shall tramp upon him but he shall triumph at last -
גָּ֖ד גְּד֣וּד יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּ וְה֖וּא יָגֻ֥ד עָקֵֽב ס

גָּ֖ד  Gad 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: גָּד  
Sense: seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and full brother of Asher.
גְּד֣וּד  a  troop 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: גְּדוּד  
Sense: a band, troop, marauding band.
יְגוּדֶ֑נּוּ  shall  tramp  upon  him 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: גּוּד  
Sense: to invade, attack.
וְה֖וּא  but  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
יָגֻ֥ד  shall  triumph 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גּוּד  
Sense: to invade, attack.
עָקֵֽב  at  last 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָקֵב  
Sense: heel, rear, footprint, hinder part, hoof, rear of a troop, footstep.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation