The Meaning of Genesis 49:1 Explained

Genesis 49:1

KJV: And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

YLT: And Jacob calleth unto his sons and saith, 'Be gathered together, and I declare to you that which doth happen with you in the latter end of the days.

Darby: And Jacob called his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, and I will tell you what will befall you at the end of days.

ASV: And Jacob called unto his sons, and said: gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the latter days.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Jacob  called  unto his sons,  and said,  Gather yourselves together,  that I may tell  you [that] which shall befall  you in the last  days. 

What does Genesis 49:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 49:1-13 - Jacob Foretells The Future Of His Sons
Once more Joseph visited his father's dying-bed. This was the third time and the last. He stood as one of twelve strong bearded men, gathered around the aged form, whose face was shadowed by death, but aglow with the light of prophecy. How intense their silent awe as they heard their names called one by one, by the old man's trembling voice, speaking with difficulty! The character of each was delineated with unerring insight: the outstanding incidents of their past history enumerated and their future forecasted. The scene was an anticipation of the final judgment, where men shall hear their lives reviewed and the sentence passed. Shiloh means Peace-Giver. What a fragrant name for our Lord! What wonder that He shall gather the nations to His cross and throne! [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 49:1 mean?

And called Jacob unto his sons and said Gather together that I may tell you - what shall befall you in last the days
וַיִּקְרָ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶל־ בָּנָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙ וְאַגִּ֣ידָה לָכֶ֔ם אֵ֛ת אֲשֶׁר־ יִקְרָ֥א אֶתְכֶ֖ם בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים

וַיִּקְרָ֥א  And  called 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
יַעֲקֹ֖ב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
אֶל־  unto 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
בָּנָ֑יו  his  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הֵאָֽסְפוּ֙  Gather  together 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
וְאַגִּ֣ידָה  that  I  may  tell 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
אֵ֛ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יִקְרָ֥א  shall  befall 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to encounter, befall, meet.
בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית  in  last 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אַחֲרִית  
Sense: after part, end.
הַיָּמִֽים  the  days 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.