The Meaning of Genesis 49:2 Explained

Genesis 49:2

KJV: Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

YLT: 'Be assembled, and hear, sons of Jacob, And hearken unto Israel your father.

Darby: Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob, And listen to Israel your father.

ASV: Assemble yourselves, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; And hearken unto Israel your father.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Gather yourselves together,  and hear,  ye sons  of Jacob;  and hearken  unto Israel  your father. 

What does Genesis 49:2 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 49:2 mean?

Gather together and hear sons of Jacob and listen to Israel your father
הִקָּבְצ֥וּ וְשִׁמְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יַעֲקֹ֑ב וְשִׁמְע֖וּ אֶל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל אֲבִיכֶֽם

הִקָּבְצ֥וּ  Gather  together 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: קָבַץ  
Sense: to gather, assemble.
וְשִׁמְע֖וּ  and  hear 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּנֵ֣י  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יַעֲקֹ֑ב  of  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.
וְשִׁמְע֖וּ  and  listen 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
אֲבִיכֶֽם  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.