Genesis 49:17

Dan shalbe a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heeles, so that his rider shall fall backward.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan

"Dan shall be a serpent in the way, A horned snake in the path, That bites the horse's heels, So that his rider falls backward.
- New American Standard Version (1995)

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)

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.
- Basic English Bible

Dan will be a serpent on the way, A horned snake on the path, Which biteth the horse's heels, So that the rider falleth backwards.
- Darby Bible

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

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.
- World English Bible

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

Dan shall be a serpent in the way, a horned snake in the path, that biteth the horse's heels, so that his rider falleth backward.
- Jewish Publication Society Bible

Wesley's Notes for Genesis 49:17

49:16 Dan shall judge his people - Though Dan was one of the sons of the concubines, yet he shall be a tribe governed by judges of his own as well as other tribes; and shall by art and policy, and surprise, gain advantages against his enemies, like a serpent suddenly biting the heel of the traveller.

49:18 I have waited for thy salvation, Lord - If he must break off here, and his breath will not serve him to finish what he intended, with these words he pours out his soul into the bosom of his God, and even breaths it out. The pious ejaculations of a warm and lively devotion, though sometimes they maybe incoherent, yet they are not impertinent; that may be uttered affectionately, which doth not come in methodically. It is no absurdity, when we are speaking to men, to lift up our hearts to God. The salvation he waited for was, 1st, Christ, the promised seed, whom he had spoken of, #Ge 49:10|, now he was going to be gathered to his people, he breathes after him to whom the gathering of the people shall be. 2ndly, Heaven, the better country, which he declared plainly that he sought, #Heb 11:13|,14, and continued seeking now he was in Egypt.

49:19 Concerning Gad, he alludes to his name, which signifies a troop, foresees the character of that tribe, that it should be a warlike tribe; and so we find, #1Ch 12:8|, the Gadites were men of war fit for the battle. He foresees, that the situation of that tribe on the other side Jordan would expose it to the incursions of its neighbours, the Moabites and Ammonites; and that they might not be proud of their strength and valour, he foretells that the troops of their enemies should, in many skirmishes, overcome them; yet, that they might not be discouraged by their defeats, he assures them, that they should overcome at the last, which was fulfilled, when in Saul's time and David's the Moabites and Ammonites were wholly subdued.