Genesis 49:6

4 Uncontrolled as the waters, you will no longer excel, because you went up to your father’s bed, onto my couch, and defiled it.

5 Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence.

May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim.

7 Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.

8 Judah, your brothers shall praise you. Your hand shall be on the necks of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down to you.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim.
KJV
O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.
WEB
My soul, don’t come into their council. My glory, don’t be united to their assembly; for in their anger they killed men. In their self-will they hamstrung cattle.
ASV
O my soul, come not thou into their council; Unto their assembly, my glory, be not thou united; For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self-will they hocked an ox.
DARBY
My soul, come not into their council; Mine honour, be not united with their assembly; For in their anger they slew men, And in their wantonness houghed oxen.
BLB
Into their council let not my soul enter; to their assembly let not my honor be united; for in their anger they killed a man, and in their self-will they hamstrung an ox.
ÅB
Møt ikke i deres hemmelige råd, min sjel, ta ikke del i deres sammenkomster, min ære[^2]! For i sin vrede slo de menn ihjel, og i sin selvrådighet skamskar de okser.
OTB
La min sjel ikke komme inn i deres råd; la min ære ikke forenes med deres forsamling, for i deres vrede drepte de menn, og i deres egenvilje lammet de okser.
B1930
Møt ikke i deres hemmelige råd, min sjel, ta ikke del i deres sammenkomster, min ære! For i sin vrede slo de menn ihjel, og i sin selvrådighet skamskar de okser. / < sjel.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 34:30

    Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble upon me by making me a stench to the Canaanites and Perizzites, the people of this land. We are few in number; if they unite against me and attack me, I and my household will be destroyed.”

    Read in context
  • Psalms 26:9

    Do not take my soul away with sinners, or my life with men of bloodshed,

    Read in context
  • Psalms 16:9

    Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell securely.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 26:4–5

    I do not sit with deceitful men, nor keep company with hypocrites.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 64:2

    Hide me from the scheming of the wicked, from the mob of workers of iniquity,

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 4:19

    My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh, the pain in my chest! My heart pounds within me; I cannot be silent. For I have heard the sound of the horn, the alarm of battle.

    Read in context
  • Luke 12:19

    Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 6:14

    Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

    Read in context