Deuteronomy 33:17

Ephraim Manasseh Ephraim (Territory)West Manasseh

¹⁵ And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,

¹⁶ And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.

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.

¹⁸ And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.

¹⁹ They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in 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; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.
Read in context
1 Kings 22:11
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.
Read in context
Psalms 44:5
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.
Read in context
Genesis 48:19
And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
Read in context
1 Chronicles 5:1
Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.
Read in context
Psalms 92:10
But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.
Read in context
Numbers 24:8
God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.
Read in context
Psalms 29:6
He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.
Read in context