Deuteronomy 33:13
New International Version
About Joseph he said: “May the LORD bless his land with the precious dew from heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below;

New Living Translation
Moses said this about the tribes of Joseph: “May their land be blessed by the LORD with the precious gift of dew from the heavens and water from beneath the earth;

English Standard Version
And of Joseph he said, “Blessed by the LORD be his land, with the choicest gifts of heaven above, and of the deep that crouches beneath,

Berean Standard Bible
Concerning Joseph he said: “May his land be blessed by the LORD with the precious dew from heaven above and the deep waters that lie beneath,

King James Bible
And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,

New King James Version
And of Joseph he said: “Blessed of the LORD is his land, With the precious things of heaven, with the dew, And the deep lying beneath,

New American Standard Bible
Of Joseph he said, “Blessed of the LORD be his land, With the choice things of heaven, with the dew, And from the deep waters lying beneath,

NASB 1995
Of Joseph he said, “Blessed of the LORD be his land, With the choice things of heaven, with the dew, And from the deep lying beneath,

NASB 1977
And of Joseph he said, “Blessed of the LORD be his land, With the choice things of heaven, with the dew, And from the deep lying beneath,

Legacy Standard Bible
Of Joseph he said, “Blessed of Yahweh be his land, With the choice things of heaven, with the dew, And from the deep lying beneath,

Amplified Bible
And of Joseph he said, “Blessed by the LORD be his land, With the precious things of heaven, with the dew, And from the deep water that lies beneath,

Christian Standard Bible
He said about Joseph: May his land be blessed by the LORD with the dew of heaven’s bounty and the watery depths that lie beneath;

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He said about Joseph: May his land be blessed by the LORD with the dew of heaven’s bounty and the watery depths that lie beneath;

American Standard Version
And of Joseph he said, Blessed of Jehovah be his land, For the precious things of heaven, for the dew, And for the deep that coucheth beneath,

Contemporary English Version
Descendants of Joseph, the LORD will bless you with precious water from deep wells and with dew from the sky.

English Revised Version
And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land; For the precious things of heaven, for the dew, And for the deep that coucheth beneath,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
About the tribes of [Joseph]he said, "May the LORD bless their land with [water,] the best gift heaven can send, with dew and deep springs below the ground.

Good News Translation
About the tribe of Joseph he said: "May the LORD bless their land with rain And with water from under the earth.

International Standard Version
About Joseph he said: "May the blessing of the LORD be on his land: dew from the choicest of the heavens, and from the depths beneath;

Majority Standard Bible
Concerning Joseph he said: ?May his land be blessed by the LORD with the precious dew from heaven above and the deep waters that lie beneath,

NET Bible
Of Joseph he said: May the LORD bless his land with the harvest produced by the sky, by the dew, and by the depths crouching beneath;

New Heart English Bible
Of Joseph he said, "His land is blessed by the LORD, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath,

Webster's Bible Translation
And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,

World English Bible
About Joseph he said, “His land is blessed by Yahweh, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And of Joseph he said: His land [is] blessed [by] YHWH, "" By a precious thing of the heavens, "" By dew, and by the deep crouching beneath,

Young's Literal Translation
And of Joseph he said: -- Blessed of Jehovah is his land, By precious things of the heavens, By dew, and by the deep crouching beneath,

Smith's Literal Translation
And to Joseph he said, His land from the blessing of Jehovah, from the most excellent of the heavens, from the dew and from the deep reclining beneath,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
To Joseph also he said: Of the blessing of the Lord be his land, of the fruits of heaven, and of the dew, and of the deep that lieth beneath.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Likewise, to Joseph he said: “His land shall be from the blessing of the Lord, from the fruits of heaven, and from the dew, and from the abyss which lies below,

New American Bible
Of Joseph he said: Blessed by the LORD is his land with the best of heaven above and of the abyss crouching beneath;

New Revised Standard Version
And of Joseph he said: Blessed by the LORD be his land, with the choice gifts of heaven above, and of the deep that lies beneath;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land and its fruit, with the dew of heaven from above, with the deep that couches beneath,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And to Yoseph he said: “The land is blessed of LORD JEHOVAH in produce from the dew of Heaven above and from the depths of the spring rain beneath,
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And of Joseph he said: Blessed of the LORD be his land; For the precious things of heaven, for the dew, And for the deep that coucheth beneath,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And to Joseph he said, His land is of the blessing of the Lord, of the seasons of sky and dew, and of the deeps of wells below,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes
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.” 13Concerning Joseph he said: “May his land be blessed by the LORD with the precious dew from heaven above and the deep waters that lie beneath, 14with the bountiful harvest from the sun and the abundant yield of the seasons,…

Cross References
Genesis 49:25-26
by the God of your father who helps you, and by the Almighty who blesses you, with blessings of the heavens above, with blessings of the depths below, with blessings of the breasts and womb. / The blessings of your father have surpassed the blessings of the ancient mountains and the bounty of the everlasting hills. May they rest on the head of Joseph, on the brow of the prince of his brothers.

Numbers 6:24-26
‘May the LORD bless you and keep you; / may the LORD cause His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; / may the LORD lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.’

Psalm 67:6-7
The earth has yielded its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. / God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.

Ezekiel 34:26
I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season—showers of blessing.

Joel 2:23-24
Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God, for He has given you the autumn rains for your vindication. He sends you showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. / The threshing floors will be full of grain, and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

Malachi 3:10
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the LORD of Hosts. “See if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you blessing without measure.

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.

Matthew 5:45
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Acts 14:17
Yet He has not left Himself without testimony to His goodness: He gives you rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness.”

Philippians 4:19
And my God will supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 9:10
Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your store of seed and will increase the harvest of your righteousness.

Hebrews 6:7
For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.

John 4:10
Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

Revelation 22:1-2
Then the angel showed me a river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb / down the middle of the main street of the city. On either side of the river stood a tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit and yielding a fresh crop for each month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.


Treasury of Scripture

And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the LORD be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,

Joseph

Genesis 48:5,9,15-20
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine…

Genesis 49:22-26
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: …

the dew

Deuteronomy 32:2
My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

Genesis 27:28,29
Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: …

Job 29:19
My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch.

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Below Beneath Bless Blessed Blessing Choice Choicest Couches Coucheth Crouching Deep Dew Earth Heaven Heavens High Joseph Lying Precious Waters
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Below Beneath Bless Blessed Blessing Choice Choicest Couches Coucheth Crouching Deep Dew Earth Heaven Heavens High Joseph Lying Precious Waters
Deuteronomy 33
1. The majesty of God
6. The blessings of the twelve tribes
26. The excellence of Israel














Concerning Joseph he said
This phrase introduces the blessing pronounced by Moses over the tribe of Joseph, which is represented by the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, is a figure of immense significance in Israel's history. His life story, marked by suffering and eventual exaltation, prefigures the redemptive work of Christ. The Hebrew root for "Joseph" (יוֹסֵף, Yosef) means "he will add," reflecting the idea of increase and fruitfulness, which is a central theme in this blessing.

May his land be blessed by the LORD
The invocation of the LORD's blessing upon Joseph's land underscores the belief in divine providence and favor. The Hebrew word for "blessed" (בָּרוּךְ, baruch) conveys a sense of being endowed with divine favor and protection. This blessing is not merely material but also spiritual, indicating a holistic prosperity that comes from being in right relationship with God. The land of Joseph, rich in resources and strategically located, symbolizes the abundance that flows from God's covenantal promises.

with the dew of heaven’s bounty
"Dew" (טַל, tal) in the ancient Near Eastern context is a symbol of life-giving moisture, essential for agriculture in a region with limited rainfall. It represents God's provision and sustenance. The "heaven’s bounty" suggests an abundance that is not merely earthly but divinely ordained. This phrase evokes the imagery of God's grace descending from above, nurturing and sustaining His people, much like the manna provided in the wilderness.

and the watery depths that lie beneath
The "watery depths" (תְּהוֹם, tehom) refer to subterranean waters, which in the arid climate of the Near East, are crucial for survival and prosperity. This phrase highlights the dual source of blessing—both from above and below—emphasizing the completeness of God's provision. In a broader theological sense, it reflects the idea that God's blessings are both visible and hidden, manifesting in ways that are both seen and unseen, much like the spiritual blessings believers receive in Christ.

(13) And of Joseph he said.--The remark of Rashi is especially applicable here. "Thou wilt find in the case of all the tribes, that the blessing of Moses is drawn from the fountain of the blessing of Jacob."

As the voice of Judah, the office of Levi, and the situation of Benjamin are singled out for notice, so the land of Joseph is blessed.

The deep that coucheth beneath.--Rashi observes that "the deep ascends in vapour, and also gives moisture from below."

Verses 13-17. - The blessing on Joseph by Moses closely resembles that pronounced by Jacob on his favorite son; he solicits for him the utmost abundance of temporal blessing, and the riches of the Divine favor. There is this difference, however, between the two blessings, that in that of the patriarch it is the growth of the tribe in power and might that is chiefly contemplated; whilst in that of Moses it is the advance of the tribe in wealth, prosperity, and influence that is chiefly indicated. "Jacob described the growth of Joseph under the figure of a luxuriant branch of a fruit tree planted by the water; whilst Moses fixes his eye primarily upon the land of Joseph, and desires for him the richest productions" (Keil). For the precious things of heaven, for the dew. Several codices, for מטל, "for dew," read מעל, above - "the precious things of heaven above;" and this reading, some critics of eminence adopt. Probably, however, this is only a correction, to bring this passage into accordance with Genesis 49:25. The Targums and the Peshito combine both readings. Instead of "for the precious things," it is better to read "with," etc., and so throughout vers. 13-16. Literally, it is from, etc.; מִמֶּגֶד, the מ expressing the instrumental cause of the blessing, of which the Lord is the efficient cause. The noun מֶגֶד, literally, excellency, preciousness, occurs only here and in Song of Solomon 4:13, 16 and Cant 7:13, where it is rendered by "pleasant." The precious fruit of the heavens is the dew, which, with the waters stored up in the recesses of the earth, furthers the growth of the earth's produce, ripened by the influences of sun and moon. And for the chief things of the ancient mountains; literally, and from the head of the mountains of old. The precious things of the mountains and hills are the vines and olive trees with which the lower slopes are adorned, and the forests that crown the loftier. The good will of him that dwelt in the bush. The reference is to the appearance of Jehovah to Moses in the bush at Horeb (Exodus 3.), when he manifested himself as the Deliverer of Israel, whose good pleasure it was that they should be redeemed from bondage and favored with blessing. That was separated from his brethren; separated in the sense of consecrated, or distinguished (נָזִיר, from נָזַר, to consecrate), from among his brethren. His glory is like the firstling of his bullock; rather, the firstborn of his oxen, majesty is to him. The singular, שׁור, is here used collectively, as in Deuteronomy 15:19. The oxen are Joseph's sons, all of whom were strong, but the firstborn excelled the rest, and was endowed with majesty. It is Ephraim that is referred to, whom Jacob raised to the position of the firstborn (Genesis 48:8, etc.). His horns are like the horns of unicorns; literally, and horns of a ream are his horns. The ream is supposed to be the aurochs, an animal of the bovine species, allied to the buffalo, now extinct, but which the Assyrian bas-reliefs show to have been formerly hunted in that region (cf. Job 39:9, etc.; Psalm 22:22; Rawlinson 'Anc. Men.,' 1:284). By his strong power, Ephraim should thrust down nations, even the most distant. And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim; and these are, etc.; i.e. in such might will the myriads of Ephraim come forth. To Ephraim, as the chief, the myriads are assigned; to Manasseh only the thousands.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Concerning Joseph
וּלְיוֹסֵ֣ף (ū·lə·yō·w·sêp̄)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

he said:
אָמַ֔ר (’ā·mar)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“May his land
אַרְצ֑וֹ (’ar·ṣōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

be blessed
מְבֹרֶ֥כֶת (mə·ḇō·re·ḵeṯ)
Verb - Pual - Participle - feminine singular construct
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

by the LORD
יְהֹוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

with the dew
מִטָּ֔ל (miṭ·ṭāl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2919: Night mist, dew

of heaven’s
שָׁמַ֙יִם֙ (šā·ma·yim)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 8064: Heaven, sky

bounty
מִמֶּ֤גֶד (mim·me·ḡeḏ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4022: A distinguished thing, something valuable, as a, product, fruit

and the watery depths
וּמִתְּה֖וֹם (ū·mit·tə·hō·wm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Noun - common singular
Strong's 8415: An abyss, the deep

that lie
רֹבֶ֥צֶת (rō·ḇe·ṣeṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine singular
Strong's 7257: To crouch, be implication, to recline, repose, brood, lurk, imbed

beneath,
תָּֽחַת׃ (tā·ḥaṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 33:13 Of Joseph he said His land (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 33:12
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