Moses said this about the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar: “May the people of Zebulun prosper in their travels. May the people of Issachar prosper at home in their tents.
Parallel translations
- WEB About Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents.
- KJV And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.
- BSB Concerning Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents.
- NKJV And of Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, And Issachar in your tents!
- NASB Of Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, And, Issachar, in your tents.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Zebulun and Issachar are blessed in their labors, whether going out to trade or staying in their tents. God blesses both the venturing and the settled work of His people.
Overview
Zebulun's "going out" suggests seafaring trade, while Issachar's "tents" suggest a more settled, perhaps agrarian or study-focused life. Together they show that God's blessing covers diverse callings and ways of life. This affirms that all honest work, undertaken in faith, is a sphere of God's favor and provision (Col. 3:23-24).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Gen 49:13–15“Zebulun will dwell at the haven of the sea. He will be for a haven of ships. His border will be on Sidon.
- Judg 5:14Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim, after you, Benjamin, among your peoples. Governors come down out of Machir. Those who handle the marshal’s staff came out of Zebulun.
- Josh 19:11Their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth. It reached to the brook that is before Jokneam.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Moses promised a Prophet like himself to whom Israel must listen (18:15); Jesus is that Prophet, the one who keeps the covenant we broke and becomes the curse for us by hanging on a tree (Gal 3:13).
How Deuteronomy 33:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.