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Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he devours the prey, in the evening he divides the plunder.”
Genesis 49:27 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf. In the morning he will devour the prey. At evening he will divide the plunder.”
  • KJV Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.
  • NKJV “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil.”
  • NASB ¶“Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he devours the prey, And in the evening he divides the spoils.”
  • NLT “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf, devouring his enemies in the morning and dividing his plunder in the evening.”

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

Benjamin is likened to a ravenous wolf, seizing and dividing the spoil.

Overview

The image marks Benjamin as fierce and warlike, a trait borne out in the tribe's later history and warriors. Jacob's honest portrait completes the survey of all twelve sons. It reminds us that God weaves even fierce and flawed members into the unity and purpose of His covenant people.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 21

  • Judg 20:25That same day the Benjamites came out against them from Gibeah and cut down another 18,000 Israelites, all of them armed with swords.
  • Judg 20:21And the Benjamites came out of Gibeah and cut down 22,000 Israelites on the battlefield that day.
  • Gen 35:18And with her last breath—for she was dying—she named him Ben-oni. But his father called him Benjamin.
  • Ezek 22:27Her officials within her are like wolves tearing their prey, shedding blood, and destroying lives for dishonest gain.
  • Gen 46:21The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
  • Num 23:24Behold, the people rise like a lioness; they rouse themselves like a lion, not resting until they devour their prey and drink the blood of the slain.”
  • Matt 7:15Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
  • Jer 5:6Therefore a lion from the forest will strike them down, a wolf from the desert will ravage them. A leopard will lie in wait near their cities, and everyone who ventures out will be torn to pieces. For their rebellious acts are many, and their unfaithful deeds are numerous.
  • Matt 10:16Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
  • Acts 8:3But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
  • Ezek 22:25The conspiracy of the princes in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing its prey. They devour the people, seize the treasures and precious things, and multiply the widows within her.
  • Phil 3:5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
  • Acts 20:29I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.
  • Acts 9:1Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord. He approached the high priest
  • Judg 3:15–29And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.
  • Hos 13:7–8So like a lion I will pounce on them; like a leopard I will lurk by the path.
  • Zeph 3:3Her princes are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves, leaving nothing for the morning.
  • 1 Sam 11:4–11When the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul and relayed these words in the hearing of the people, they all wept aloud.
  • 1 Sam 14:1–15One day Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the Philistine outpost on the other side.” But Jonathan did not tell his father.
  • Deut 33:12Concerning Benjamin he said: “May the beloved of the LORD rest secure in Him; God shields him all day long, and upon His shoulders he rests.”
  • 1 Sam 17:1–58Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (5)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Genesis videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Genesis 49:27YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on GenesisMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.

How Genesis 49:27 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.