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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 49:14 Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/49-14.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/01_Gen_49_14.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 49:14 - Jacob Blesses His Sons" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds." /><script type="application/javascript" 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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad14.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/49-13.htm" title="Genesis 49:13">◄</a> Genesis 49:14 <a href="/genesis/49-15.htm" title="Genesis 49:15">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/49.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/49.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down among the sheep pens.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/49.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Issachar is a sturdy donkey, resting between two saddlepacks.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/49.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />“Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/49.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/49.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />Issachar <i>is</i> a strong ass couching down between two burdens:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/49.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />“Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between two burdens;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/49.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />“Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between the sheepfolds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/49.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between the sheepfolds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/49.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between the sheepfolds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/49.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />“Issachar is a strong donkey, Lying down between the sheepfolds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/49.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />“Issachar is [like] a strong-boned donkey, Crouching down between the sheepfolds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/49.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Issachar is a strong donkey lying down between the saddlebags.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/49.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Issachar is a strong donkey lying down between the saddlebags. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/49.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Issachar is a strong ass, Couching down between the sheepfolds:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/49.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Issachar, you are a strong donkey resting in the meadows. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/49.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Issachar is a strong ass, Couching down between the sheepfolds:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/49.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />"[Issachar] is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/49.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />"Issachar is no better than a donkey That lies stretched out between its saddlebags. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/49.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />"Issachar is a strong donkey, resting between sheepfolds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/49.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/49.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Issachar is a strong-boned donkey lying down between two saddlebags. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/49.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Issachar is a strong donkey lying down between the saddlebags.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/49.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Issachar is a strong ass, couching down between two burdens:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/49.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />“Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the saddlebags. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/49.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Issachar [is] a strong donkey, "" Crouching between the two folds;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/49.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> Issacher is a strong ass, Crouching between the two folds;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/49.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Issachar, an ass; a heap of bone lying down in the midst of the tribes.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/49.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Issachar shall be a strong ass lying down between the borders. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/49.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Issachar will be a strong donkey, reclining between the borders.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/49.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />“Issachar is a rawboned donkey, crouching between the saddlebags. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/49.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Issachar is a strong donkey, lying down between the sheepfolds;<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/49.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Issachar is a mighty man couching by the highways;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/49.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />The man Isakaar is a mighty man that crouches in the place of the roads:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/49.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Issachar is a large-boned ass, Couching down between the sheep-folds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/49.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Issachar has desired that which is good; resting between the inheritances.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/49-14.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=12907" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/49.htm">Jacob Blesses His Sons</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">13</span>Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore and become a harbor for ships; his border shall extend to Sidon. <span class="reftext">14</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3485.htm" title="3485: yiś·śā·š·ḵār (N-proper-ms) -- (strictly yis-saws-kawr'); from nasa' and sakar; he will bring a reward; Jissaskar, a son of Jacob.">Issachar</a> <a href="/hebrew/1634.htm" title="1634: gā·rem (N-ms) -- A bone, strength. From garam; a bone; hence, self, i.e. very.">is a strong</a> <a href="/hebrew/2543.htm" title="2543: ḥă·mōr (N-msc) -- A male ass. Or chamor; from chamar; a male ass.">donkey,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7257.htm" title="7257: rō·ḇêṣ (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- A primitive root; to crouch; be implication, to recline, repose, brood, lurk, imbed.">lying down</a> <a href="/hebrew/996.htm" title="996: bên (Prep) -- An interval, space between. ">between</a> <a href="/hebrew/4942.htm" title="4942: ham·miš·pə·ṯā·yim (Art:: N-md) -- Perhaps fireplaces, ash heaps. From shaphah; a stall for cattle.">the sheepfolds.</a> </span><span class="reftext">15</span>He saw that his resting place was good and that his land was pleasant, so he bent his shoulder to the burden and submitted to labor as a servant.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/33-18.htm">Deuteronomy 33:18-19</a></span><br />Concerning Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents. / They will call the peoples to a mountain; there they will offer sacrifices of righteousness. For they will feast on the abundance of the seas and the hidden treasures of the sand.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/judges/5-15.htm">Judges 5:15-16</a></span><br />The princes of Issachar were with Deborah, and Issachar was with Barak, rushing into the valley at his heels. In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision. / Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/12-32.htm">1 Chronicles 12:32</a></span><br />From Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 chiefs with all their kinsmen at their command.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hosea/10-11.htm">Hosea 10:11</a></span><br />Ephraim is a well-trained heifer that loves to thresh; but I will place a yoke on her fair neck. I will harness Ephraim, Judah will plow, and Jacob will break the hard ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/68-13.htm">Psalm 68:13</a></span><br />Though you lie down among the sheepfolds, the wings of the dove are covered with silver, and her feathers with shimmering gold.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/4-7.htm">1 Kings 4:7-8</a></span><br />Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, / and these were their names: Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-28.htm">1 Kings 11:28</a></span><br />Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/7-1.htm">1 Chronicles 7:1-5</a></span><br />The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron—four in all. / The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, the heads of their families. In the days of David, 22,600 descendants of Tola were numbered in their genealogies as mighty men of valor. / The son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five of them were chiefs. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/12-40.htm">1 Chronicles 12:40</a></span><br />And their neighbors from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali came bringing food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen—abundant supplies of flour, fig cakes and raisin cakes, wine and oil, oxen and sheep. Indeed, there was joy in Israel.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-18.htm">1 Chronicles 27:18</a></span><br />over Judah was Elihu, one of David’s brothers; over Issachar was Omri son of Michael;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/11-28.htm">Matthew 11:28-30</a></span><br />Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. / Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. / For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/10-39.htm">Luke 10:39-42</a></span><br />She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message. / But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!” / “Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-4.htm">Matthew 23:4</a></span><br />They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/15-10.htm">Acts 15:10</a></span><br />Now then, why do you test God by placing on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/6-2.htm">Galatians 6:2</a></span><br />Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/30-18.htm">Genesis 30:18</a></b></br> And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband: and she called his name Issachar.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/33-18.htm">Deuteronomy 33:18</a></b></br> And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/joshua/19-17.htm">Joshua 19:17-23</a></b></br> <i>And</i> the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/49-11.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/revelation/2-3.htm">Burdens</a> <a href="/genesis/4-7.htm">Couching</a> <a href="/genesis/29-2.htm">Crouching</a> <a href="/genesis/49-11.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/genesis/47-17.htm">Flocks</a> <a href="/zephaniah/2-6.htm">Folds</a> <a href="/genesis/46-13.htm">Issachar</a> <a href="/genesis/46-13.htm">Is'sachar</a> <a href="/genesis/34-7.htm">Lying</a> <a href="/psalms/78-70.htm">Sheepfolds</a> <a href="/psalms/78-70.htm">Sheep-Folds</a> <a href="/genesis/48-14.htm">Stretched</a> <a href="/genesis/33-11.htm">Strong</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/4-20.htm">Ass</a> <a href="/exodus/1-11.htm">Burdens</a> <a href="/ezekiel/25-5.htm">Couching</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/33-13.htm">Crouching</a> <a href="/exodus/4-20.htm">Donkey</a> <a href="/genesis/50-8.htm">Flocks</a> <a href="/numbers/32-16.htm">Folds</a> <a href="/exodus/1-3.htm">Issachar</a> <a href="/exodus/1-3.htm">Is'sachar</a> <a href="/exodus/14-30.htm">Lying</a> <a href="/numbers/32-16.htm">Sheepfolds</a> <a href="/numbers/32-16.htm">Sheep-Folds</a> <a href="/exodus/4-4.htm">Stretched</a> <a href="/genesis/49-24.htm">Strong</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 49</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/49-1.htm">Jacob calls his sons to bless them.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/49-3.htm">Their blessing in particular.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/49-29.htm">He charges them about his burial.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">33. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/49-33.htm">He dies.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; 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In ancient Near Eastern culture, donkeys were valued for their ability to carry heavy loads over long distances, indicating that Issachar would be a tribe capable of hard work and perseverance. This imagery suggests a people who are robust and resilient, able to endure hardships. The donkey is also a humble animal, which may imply that Issachar's strength is not in seeking power or dominance but in service and labor. This characteristic can be seen in the historical context of the tribe, which was known for its agricultural productivity and contribution to the sustenance of Israel.<p><b>lying down between the sheepfolds</b><br>The phrase "lying down between the sheepfolds" suggests a position of rest and contentment, possibly indicating a preference for a settled, pastoral life. Sheepfolds were enclosures used to protect sheep, and lying down between them could imply a sense of security and peace. This imagery may reflect Issachar's geographical inheritance in the fertile Jezreel Valley, an area conducive to agriculture and livestock. Historically, the tribe of Issachar was situated in a region that allowed them to thrive agriculturally, supporting the idea of a people content with their land and lifestyle. Additionally, this phrase can be seen as a metaphor for discernment and wisdom, as the tribe of Issachar was noted for understanding the times and knowing what Israel should do, as mentioned in <a href="/1_chronicles/12-32.htm">1 Chronicles 12:32</a>. This wisdom and insight could be seen as a type of Christ, who is the ultimate source of wisdom and guidance for His people.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/i/issachar.htm">Issachar</a></b><br>The ninth son of Jacob and Leah, Issachar is one of the twelve tribes of Israel. His name is associated with strength and servitude, as depicted in Jacob's blessing.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob</a></b><br>The patriarch who blesses his sons in <a href="/bsb/genesis/49.htm">Genesis 49</a>, providing prophetic insights into their futures and the futures of their descendants.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/sheepfolds.htm">Sheepfolds</a></b><br>A place where sheep are kept, symbolizing rest and servitude. In this context, it represents Issachar's position and role among the tribes of Israel.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/s/strength_in_service.htm">Strength in Service</a></b><br>Issachar is described as a "strong donkey," symbolizing strength in carrying burdens. Christians are called to serve others with strength and humility, reflecting Christ's servant leadership.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/contentment_in_position.htm">Contentment in Position</a></b><br>Lying "between the sheepfolds" suggests contentment and acceptance of one's role. Believers are encouraged to find contentment in their God-given roles and responsibilities.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/wisdom_and_discernment.htm">Wisdom and Discernment</a></b><br>Like the men of Issachar who understood the times, Christians should seek wisdom and discernment to navigate the complexities of life and make godly decisions.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/community_and_cooperation.htm">Community and Cooperation</a></b><br>Issachar's role in calling people to worship and participating in battles highlights the importance of community and cooperation in fulfilling God's purposes.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_49.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 49</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/issachar's_tribe's_role_in_israel.htm">What role did Issachar's tribe play in Israel?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_to_memorize_bible_verses_well.htm">What role did Issachar play among Jacob's sons?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/jacob's_blessings_for_his_sons.htm">What are Jacob's prophetic blessings for his sons?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_was_issachar's_role_among_jacob's_sons.htm">What role did Issachar play among Jacob's sons?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/49.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(14) <span class= "bld">Issachar.</span>--The description of Issachar's lot is derived partly from the cognizance he had chosen for his signet, and partly from his personal character, He had taken for his symbol the ass--a very noble, active, spirited, and enduring animal in the East. (See <a href="/genesis/16-12.htm" title="And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brothers.">Genesis 16:12</a>, where Ishmael is compared to the wild ass, which adds to these qualities the love of freedom.) His real character was slothful, inactive, and commonplace. Jacob therefore likens him to a "strong ass;" Heb., <span class= "ital">an ass of bone, </span>that is, one coarsely bred, as animals of high parentage have small bones. He is thus fit only to be a drudge, and with the laziness of a cart-horse lies down "between two burdens." The word occurs again in <a href="/judges/5-16.htm" title="Why stayed you among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart.">Judges 5:16</a>, and is there more correctly rendered <span class= "ital">sheepfolds. </span>More exactly it means the pens in which the cattle were folded during the nights of summer; and it is in the dual form, because these pens were divided into two parts for the larger and smaller cattle. Thus Issachar, stretched at ease between his cattle-pens, gives us the idea of a tribe occupied with pastoral pursuits, and destitute of all higher aspirations.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/49.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 14, 15.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens -</span> literally, <span class="accented">an ass of bone - hence</span> a strong, powerful animal, <span class="accented">asinus fortis</span> (Vulgate), <span class="accented">asinus walidi corporis</span> (Gesenius), <span class="accented">asinus robustus</span> (<span class="accented">Rosenmuller</span>) <span class="accented">- lying down between the folds</span>, or cattle-pens, which received and protected the flocks by night, the dual being used probably because such pens were divided into two parts for different kinds of cattle (Gesenius, Keil, Kalisch, Murphy, 'Speaker s Commentary,' etc.), though the word <span class="accented">mishpetaim has</span> been also rendered <span class="greek">ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν κλήρων</span> (LXX.), <span class="accented">inter terminos</span> (Vulgate, Rosenmüller), "within their own boundaries" (Onkelos, Targums of Jerusalem and Jonathan), "between two burdens" (A. V., Lange, Murphy, etc.). <span class="cmt_word">And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant.</span> Issachar was to manifest a keen appreciation of the land or portion of territory that should be assigned to him, and to renounce the warlike spirit and military enterprises of his brethren for the indolent and luxurious repose of his fat pastures, crouching between his sheep-folds, or rejoicing within his tents, like a lazy ass, capable indeed of mighty efforts, but too self-satisfied to put forth much exertion, devoting himself to agriculture and pastoral pursuits, and preferring rather to pay tribute to his brethren, in order to secure their protection, than to leave his ploughshare and cast aside his shepherd's crook to follow them into the tented field of war, as the patriarch next describes. <span class="cmt_word">And bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute</span> - or a tributary servant. The phrase <span class="hebrew">מַס־עֹבֵד</span>, though sometimes used of servitude under a foreign sovereignty (<a href="/deuteronomy/20-11.htm">Deuteronomy 20:11</a>; <a href="/joshua/16-10.htm">Joshua 16:10</a>), commonly refers to tribute rendered by labor (<a href="/1_kings/9-21.htm">1 Kings 9:21</a>; <a href="/2_chronicles/8-8.htm">2 Chronicles 8:8</a>), and is correctly rendered <span class="greek">ἄνθρωπος</span> <span class="greek">εἴς φόρον δουλεύων</span> (Aquila), <span class="accented">factusque est tributo serviens</span> (Vulgate). The translation <span class="greek">καὶ ἐγενήθη ἀνὴο γεωργος</span> (LXX.) discovers in the clause an allusion to Issachar's agricultural pursuits. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/49-14.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Issachar</span><br /><span class="heb">יִשָּׂשכָ֖ר</span> <span class="translit">(yiś·śā·š·ḵār)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3485.htm">Strong's 3485: </a> </span><span class="str2">Issachar -- perhaps 'there is recompense', a son of Jacob and Leah, also a son of Obed-edom</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[is] a strong</span><br /><span class="heb">גָּ֑רֶם</span> <span class="translit">(gā·rem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1634.htm">Strong's 1634: </a> </span><span class="str2">A bone, self, very</span><br /><br /><span class="word">donkey,</span><br /><span class="heb">חֲמֹ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(ḥă·mōr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2543.htm">Strong's 2543: </a> </span><span class="str2">A male ass</span><br /><br /><span class="word">lying down</span><br /><span class="heb">רֹבֵ֖ץ</span> <span class="translit">(rō·ḇêṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7257.htm">Strong's 7257: </a> </span><span class="str2">To crouch, be implication, to recline, repose, brood, lurk, imbed</span><br /><br /><span class="word">between</span><br /><span class="heb">בֵּ֥ין</span> <span class="translit">(bên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_996.htm">Strong's 996: </a> </span><span class="str2">An interval, space between</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the sheepfolds.</span><br /><span class="heb">הַֽמִּשְׁפְּתָֽיִם׃</span> <span class="translit">(ham·miš·pə·ṯā·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - md<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4942.htm">Strong's 4942: </a> </span><span class="str2">Perhaps fireplaces, ash heaps</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/49-14.htm">Genesis 49:14 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/49-14.htm">Genesis 49:14 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/49-14.htm">Genesis 49:14 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/49-14.htm">Genesis 49:14 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/49-14.htm">Genesis 49:14 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/49-14.htm">Genesis 49:14 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/49-14.htm">Genesis 49:14 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/49-14.htm">Genesis 49:14 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/49-14.htm">Genesis 49:14 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/49-14.htm">Genesis 49:14 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/49-14.htm">OT Law: Genesis 49:14 Issachar is a strong donkey lying down (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/49-13.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 49:13"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 49:13" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/49-15.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 49:15"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 49:15" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>