Deuteronomy 33:17

Ephraim Manasseh Ephraim (Territory)West Manasseh

¹⁵ with the best of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the everlasting hills,

¹⁶ with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it, and with the favor of Him who dwelt in the burning bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph and crown the brow of the prince of his brothers.

His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”

¹⁸ Concerning Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents.

¹⁹ They will call the peoples to a mountain; there they will offer sacrifices of righteousness. For they will feast on the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.”

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”
KJV: His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.
WEB: 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.”
ASV: The firstling of his herd, majesty is his; And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox: With them he shall push the peoples all of them, [even] the ends of the earth: And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.
DARBY: His majesty is as the firstling of his ox; And his horns are as the horns of a buffalo. With them shall he push the peoples Together to the ends of the earth. These are the myriads of Ephraim, And these are the thousands of Manasseh.
BLB: Honor unto him [is] a firstling of his ox and the horns of the wild ox are his horns; with them he shall push the peoples together to the ends of the earth. And they [are] the myriads of Ephraim, and they [are] the thousands of Manasseh.”

ÅB: Herlig er den førstefødte av hans okser[^5], og hans horn er som villoksens horn; med dem stanger han alle folkene like til jordens ender; det er Efra'ims titusener, det er Manasses tusener.
OTB: I majestet er han som en førstefødt okse; hans horn er hornene til en vill okse. Med dem vil han stange nasjonene, helt til jordens ender. Slik er de titusener av Efraim, slik er de tusener av Manasse.”
B1930: Herlig er den førstefødte av hans okser, og hans horn er som villoksens horn; med dem stanger han alle folkene like til jordens ender; det er Efra'ims titusener, det er Manasses tusener. / < d.e. stammens kraftigste krigere.>

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Numbers 23:22
God brought them out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox.
Read in context
1 Kings 22:11
Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’”
Read in context
Psalms 44:5
Through You we repel our foes; through Your name we trample our enemies.
Read in context
Genesis 48:19
But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”
Read in context
1 Chronicles 5:1
These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.
Read in context
Psalms 92:10
But You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; with fine oil I have been anointed.
Read in context
Numbers 24:8
God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.
Read in context
Psalms 29:6
He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox.
Read in context