The Meaning of Deuteronomy 33:22 Explained

Deuteronomy 33:22

KJV: And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

YLT: And of Dan he said: -- Dan is a lion's whelp; he doth leap from Bashan.

Darby: And of Dan he said, Dan is a young lion; He shall spring forth from Bashan.

ASV: And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp, That leapeth forth from Bashan.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And of Dan  he said,  Dan  [is] a lion's  whelp:  he shall leap  from Bashan. 

What does Deuteronomy 33:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Deuteronomy 33:18-29 - Israel's Happy Future Promised
Zebulun and Issachar, sons of Leah, were neighbors in Canaan, and, being on the seaboard, became wealthy by commerce. The calling of the peoples may refer to the Gentile proselytes who were influenced by these tribes, 1 Kings 5:1-6; Mark 7:26.
The blessing of the other tribes is suggested by their position in Canaan: Gad, the leader of the west; Dan standing on the southern frontier, like a lion at bay; Naphtali, possessing the sea of Galilee, see r.v. margin; Asher on the northwest, with mountain, barriers against invasion. "Iron and brass!"
Let your soul dwell in the timeless, changeless, tireless God. There is none like Him. He will ride through heaven to help you, will thrust out the enemies that resist your progress, will be your fountain and dew, your corn and wine, and will place beneath you arms as tender as they are loving. However low you fall, they will always be underneath. As your day, so your strength! [source]

Chapter Summary: Deuteronomy 33

1  The majesty of God
6  The blessings of the twelve tribes
26  The excellence of Israel

What do the individual words in Deuteronomy 33:22 mean?

And of Dan he said Dan [is] whelp a lion's He shall leap from Bashan
וּלְדָ֣ן אָמַ֔ר דָּ֖ן גּ֣וּר אַרְיֵ֑ה יְזַנֵּ֖ק מִן־ הַבָּשָֽׁן

וּלְדָ֣ן  And  of  Dan 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּן 
Sense: the 5th son of Jacob, the st of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid.
אָמַ֔ר  he  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
דָּ֖ן  Dan  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּן 
Sense: the 5th son of Jacob, the st of Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid.
גּ֣וּר  whelp 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: גּוּר  
Sense: cub, whelp, young.
אַרְיֵ֑ה  a  lion's 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲרִי 
Sense: lion.
יְזַנֵּ֖ק  He  shall  leap 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: זָנַק  
Sense: (Piel) to leap, spring.
הַבָּשָֽׁן  Bashan 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: בָּשָׁן 
Sense: a district east of the Jordan known for its fertility which was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh.