Genesis 49:17

KJV1611 – Modern English

Dan shall be a serpent by the way, a viper in the path, that bites the horse's heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

יְהִי־דָן֙ נָחָ֣שׁ עֲלֵי־דֶ֔רֶךְ שְׁפִיפֹ֖ן עֲלֵי־אֹ֑רַח הַנֹּשֵׁךְ֙ עִקְּבֵי־ס֔וּס וַיִּפֹּ֥ל רֹכְב֖וֹ אָחֽוֹר

Transliteration

yəhî-dān nāḥāš upon-derek šəpîpōn upon-ʾōraḥ the-nōšēk ʿiqqəbê-sûs wa-yippōl rōkbô ʾāḥôr

Grammar Details

• *yəhî*: Qal imperfect jussive 3rd masculine singular - may he be
• *dān*: proper noun, masculine singular - Dan
• *nāḥāš*: noun masculine singular - serpent
• *derek*: noun masculine singular - way/road
• *šəpîpōn*: noun masculine singular - horned snake/adder
• *ʾōraḥ*: noun masculine singular - path
• *nōšēk*: Qal participle masculine singular with definite article - the one biting
• *ʿiqqəbê*: noun masculine plural construct - heels of
• *sûs*: noun masculine singular - horse
• *wa-yippōl*: waw consecutive + Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - and he falls
• *rōkbô*: Qal participle masculine singular construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - its rider
• *ʾāḥôr*: adverb - backward

Word Meanings

• *nāḥāš*: serpent/snake
• *šəpîpōn*: horned snake/adder/viper
• *nōšēk*: biting/striking
• *ʿiqqəbê*: heels/hooves

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Dan will be a serpent by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider falls backward.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  Dan shall be a serpent in the way, An adder in the path, That biteth the horse's heels, So that his rider falleth backward.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Dan shalbe a serpent in the waye and an edder in the path and byte the horse heles so yt his ryder shall fall backwarde,

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Dan shalbe a serpent in the waye, and an edder in the path, and byte the horse in the heles, that his ryder maye fall backwarde.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder by the path, byting the horse heeles, so that his rider shall fall backward.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Dan shalbe a serpent in the way, an adder in the path, bytyng ye horse heeles, and his ryder fell backewarde.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Dan will be a serpent in the way, An adder in the path, That bites the horse's heels, So that his rider falls backward.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  Dan is a serpent by the way, An adder by the path, Which is biting the horse's heels, And its rider falleth backward.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Dan shall be a serpent in the way, An adder in the path, That biteth the horse's heels, So that his rider falleth backward.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  Dan shall be a serpent in the way, An adder in the path, That biteth the horse's heels, So that his rider falleth backward.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  May Dan be a snake in the way, a horned snake by the road, biting the horse's foot so that the horseman has a fall.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Dan will be a serpent in the way, an adder in the path, That bites the horse's heels, so that his rider falls backward.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  May Dan be a snake beside the road, a viper by the path, that bites the heels of the horse so that its rider falls backward.

Referenced Verses

• 1 Chr 12:35 : 35 Of the Danites, those skilled in war, twenty-eight thousand and six hundred.
• Judg 14:1-9 : 1 And Samson went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 And he came up and told his father and mother, saying, I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. Now therefore, get her for me as a wife. 3 Then his father and mother said to him, Is there not a woman among the daughters of your brothers or among all my people, that you go to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said to his father, Get her for me, for she pleases me well. 4 But his father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines, for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel. 5 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came roaring against him. 6 And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he tore him as he would have torn a young goat, and he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7 And he went down and talked with the woman, and she pleased Samson well. 8 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion. And behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. 9 And he took some in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his father and mother, and he gave them some, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion. 10 So his father went down to the woman, and Samson made there a feast, for so the young men used to do. 11 And it happened, when they saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 And Samson said to them, I will now put forth a riddle to you. If you can certainly declare it to me within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments. 13 But if you cannot declare it to me, then you shall give me thirty sheets and thirty changes of garments. And they said to him, Put forth your riddle, so we may hear it. 14 And he said to them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days explain the riddle. 15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said to Samson's wife, Entice your husband to tell us the riddle, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you called us to impoverish us? Is it not so?
• Judg 16:22-30 : 22 However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaven. 23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. And they said, "Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hand." 24 When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, "Our god has delivered into our hands our enemy, the destroyer of our land, and the one who multiplied our dead." 25 So it happened, when their hearts were merry, that they said, "Call for Samson, that he may perform for us." So they called for Samson from the prison, and he performed for them, and they stationed him between the pillars. 26 Then Samson said to the lad who held him by the hand, "Let me feel the pillars which support the temple, so that I can lean on them." 27 Now the temple was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there—about three thousand men and women on the roof, watching while Samson performed. 28 Then Samson called to the LORD, saying, "O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray! Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God, that I may with one blow take vengeance on the Philistines for my two eyes." 29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars which supported the temple, and he braced himself against them, one on his right and the other on his left. 30 Then Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" And he pushed with all his might, and the temple fell on the lords and all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed at his death were more than he had killed in his life.
• Judg 18:22-31 : 22 When they were a good distance from Micah's house, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house gathered together and overtook the children of Dan. 23 And they called out to the children of Dan, and they turned their faces and said to Micah, What troubles you, that you come with such a company? 24 And he said, You have taken away my gods which I made and the priest, and you have gone away; what more do I have? And how can you say to me, What troubles you? 25 And the children of Dan said to him, Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry men fall upon you and you lose your life, with the lives of your household. 26 And the children of Dan went their way, and when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house. 27 And they took what Micah had made, and the priest he had, and came to Laish, to a people quiet and secure, and struck them with the edge of the sword, and burned the city with fire. 28 And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had no dealings with anyone; and it was in the valley that lies by Bethrehob. And they built a city and lived there. 29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father, who was born to Israel; however, the name of the city was Laish at first. 30 And the children of Dan set up the carved image, and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 31 And they set up for themselves Micah's carved image, which he made, all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.