Deuteronomy 33

1 This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

2 He said, “The LORD came from Sinai, and rose from Seir to them. He shone from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was a fiery law for them.

3 Yes, he loves the people. All his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet. Each receives your words.

4 Moses commanded us a law, an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.

5 He was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people were gathered, all the tribes of Israel together.

6 “Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.”

7 This is for Judah. He said, “Hear, LORD, the voice of Judah. Bring him in to his people. With his hands he contended for himself. You shall be a help against his adversaries.”

8 About Levi he said, “Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you contended at the waters of Meribah.

9 He said of his father, and of his mother, ‘I have not seen him.’ He didn’t acknowledge his brothers, nor did he know his own children; for they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.

10 They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law. They shall put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar.

11 LORD, bless his skills. Accept the work of his hands. Strike through the hips of those who rise up against him, of those who hate him, that they not rise again.”

12 About Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the LORD will dwell in safety by him. He covers him all day long. He dwells between his shoulders.”

13 About Joseph he said, “His land is blessed by the LORD, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath,

14 for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, for the precious things that the moon can yield,

15 for the best things of the ancient mountains, for the precious things of the everlasting hills,

16 for the precious things of the earth and its fullness, the good will of him who lived in the bush. Let this come on the head of Joseph, on the crown of the head of him who was separated from his brothers.

17 Majesty belongs to the firstborn of his herd. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he will push all the peoples to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh.”

18 About Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents.

19 They will call the peoples to the mountain. There they will offer sacrifices of righteousness, for they will draw out the abundance of the seas, the hidden treasures of the sand.”

20 About Gad he said, “He who enlarges Gad is blessed. He dwells as a lioness, and tears the arm and the crown of the head.

21 He provided the first part for himself, for the lawgiver’s portion was reserved for him. He came with the heads of the people. He executed the righteousness of the LORD, His ordinances with Israel.”

22 About Dan he said, “Dan is a lion’s cub that leaps out of Bashan.”

23 About Naphtali he said, “Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of the LORD’s blessing, Possess the west and the south.”

24 About Asher he said, “Asher is blessed with children. Let him be acceptable to his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil.

25 Your bars will be iron and bronze. As your days, so your strength will be.

26 “There is no one like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, in his excellency on the skies.

27 The eternal God is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, and said, ‘Destroy!’

28 Israel dwells in safety, the fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine. Yes, his heavens drop down dew.

29 You are happy, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency? Your enemies will submit themselves to you. You will tread on their high places.”

Around Deuteronomy 33

Context

Context for this book is being written. A note appears here only once it names its sources.

AI explanation

Deuteronomy 33 · Written by an AI model · Not reviewed by a theological reader

This explanation was written by an AI model to help you get started. It names no sources and can contain mistakes. Scripture comes first, and context with sources is shown separately on this page.

What this chapter says

Before he dies, Moses blesses the tribes. The scene is a goodbye. He begins with the LORD coming from Sinai like the dawn, with a fiery law at his right hand, and says that the LORD loves his people.

Then he turns to the tribes one by one. Reuben is to live and not die. Judah is asked to be brought in to his people, with the LORD as a help against his enemies. Levi is to teach Jacob the ordinances and put incense before the LORD. Benjamin is the beloved who dwells in safety. Joseph receives the precious things of heaven, earth and ancient hills.

Zebulun and Issachar are told to rejoice. Gad is a lioness, Dan a lion's cub, Naphtali is satisfied with favor, and Asher is blessed with children, with bars of iron and bronze and strength to match his days.

The last words are for all of Israel. There is no one like God. The eternal God is your dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms. You are happy, Israel.

Background

This blessing resembles the blessing of Jacob on his sons in Genesis 49, and the two are often compared. Simeon is not named here, and readers have long wondered why. The tribe of Levi, who were set apart for priestly service, is given a role in teaching the law. The poem looks ahead to a future in the land, and Moses speaks as a man who will not enter it. Verse 27 is often quoted for comfort.

About this explanation

Written by Claude Sonnet 5.5, an AI model, on 26 October 2026. It draws on the WEB text and general knowledge and was not checked against sources by a person. Every quotation from Scripture is checked automatically against the WEB text.

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World English Bible. Public-domain source and edition notes