Deuteronomy 33:17
New International Version
In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.”

New Living Translation
Joseph has the majesty of a young bull; he has the horns of a wild ox. He will gore distant nations, even to the ends of the earth. This is my blessing for the multitudes of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh.”

English Standard Version
A firstborn bull—he has majesty, and his horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he shall gore the peoples, all of them, to the ends of the earth; they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.”

Berean Standard Bible
His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”

King James Bible
His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

New King James Version
His glory is like a firstborn bull, And his horns like the horns of the wild ox; Together with them He shall push the peoples To the ends of the earth; They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.”

New American Standard Bible
As the firstborn of his ox, majesty is his, And his horns are the horns of the wild ox; With them he will gore the peoples All at once, to the ends of the earth. And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And those are the thousands of Manasseh.”

NASB 1995
“As the firstborn of his ox, majesty is his, And his horns are the horns of the wild ox; With them he will push the peoples, All at once, to the ends of the earth. And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And those are the thousands of Manasseh.”

NASB 1977
“As the first-born of his ox, majesty is his, And his horns are the horns of the wild ox; With them he shall push the peoples, All at once, to the ends of the earth. And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And those are the thousands of Manasseh.”

Legacy Standard Bible
As the firstborn of his ox, splendor is his, And his horns are the horns of the wild ox; With them he will push the peoples, All at once, to the ends of the earth. And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And those are the thousands of Manasseh.”

Amplified Bible
“His majesty is like a firstborn young bull, And his horns like the horns of the wild ox; With them he will gore the peoples, All of them together, to the ends of the earth. And those are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And those are the thousands of Manasseh.”

Christian Standard Bible
His firstborn bull has splendor, and horns like those of a wild ox; he gores all the peoples with them to the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
His firstborn bull has splendor, and horns like those of a wild ox; he gores all the peoples with them to the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.

American Standard Version
The firstling of his herd, majesty is his; And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox: With them he shall push the peoples all of them, even the ends of the earth: And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
The first born of an ox is excellency to him and the horns of a wild ox are his horns; by them he shall gore the nations as one unto the Hebrews of the land, these the ten thousands of Aphreim and these the thousands of Menasheh.”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
His beauty is as the firstling of his bull, his horns are the horns of a unicorn; with them he shall thrust the nations at once, even from the end of the earth: these are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and these are the thousands of Manasse.

Contemporary English Version
The armies of Ephraim and Manasseh are majestic and fierce like a bull or a wild ox. They will run their spears through faraway nations.

Douay-Rheims Bible
His beauty as of the firstling of a bullock, his horns as the horns of a rhinoceros: with them shall he push the nations even to the ends of the earth These are the multitudes of Ephraim and these the thousands of Manasses.

English Revised Version
The firstling of his bullock, majesty is his; And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox: With them he shall push the peoples all of them, even the ends of the earth: And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They will be as majestic as a firstborn bull. Their horns will be like the horns of a wild ox. They will use them to push away nations including those at the ends of the earth. The tens of thousands from the tribe of Ephraim and the thousands from the tribe of Manasseh will be like this."

Good News Translation
Joseph has the strength of a bull, The horns of a wild ox. His horns are Manasseh's thousands And Ephraim's ten thousands. With them he gores the nations And pushes them to the ends of the earth."

International Standard Version
May the firstborn of his bull be honorable to him, and may his horns be those of a wild ox. With them may he push people all together, to the ends of the earth. These are the myriads of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh."

JPS Tanakh 1917
His firstling bullock, majesty is his; And his horns are the horns of the wild-ox; With them he shall gore the peoples all of them, even the ends of the earth; And they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.

Literal Standard Version
His splendor [is] a firstling of his ox, | And his horns [are] horns of a wild ox; With them he pushes the peoples | Altogether to the ends of the earth; And they [are] the myriads of Ephraim, | And they [are] the thousands of Manasseh.

Majority Standard Bible
His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”

New American Bible
His firstborn bull, majesty is his! His horns are the horns of a wild ox; With them he gores the peoples, attacks the ends of the earth. These are the myriads of Ephraim, and these the thousands of Manasseh.

NET Bible
May the firstborn of his bull bring him honor, and may his horns be those of a wild ox; with them may he gore all peoples, all the far reaches of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

New Revised Standard Version
A firstborn bull—majesty is his! His horns are the horns of a wild ox; with them he gores the peoples, driving them to the ends of the earth; such are the myriads of Ephraim, such the thousands of Manasseh.

New Heart English Bible
A firstborn bull, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he shall push all of the peoples, to the farthest parts of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh."

Webster's Bible Translation
His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

World English Bible
Majesty belongs to the firstborn of his herd. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he will push all the peoples to the ends of the earth. They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh.”

Young's Literal Translation
His honour is a firstling of his ox, And his horns are horns of a reem; By them peoples he doth push together To the ends of earth; And they are the myriads of Ephraim, And they are the thousands of Manasseh.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Moses Blesses the Twelve Tribes
16with the choice gifts of the land and everything in it, and with the favor of Him who dwelt in the burning bush. May these rest on the head of Joseph and crown the brow of the prince of his brothers. 17His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.” 18Concerning Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents.…

Cross References
Numbers 23:22
God brought them out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox.

1 Samuel 2:1
At that time Hannah prayed: "My heart rejoices in the LORD in whom my horn is exalted. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation.

1 Kings 22:11
Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, "This is what the LORD says: 'With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.'"

Job 39:9
Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night?

Psalm 44:5
Through You we repel our foes; through Your name we trample our enemies.

Psalm 60:7
Gilead is Mine, and Manasseh is Mine; Ephraim is My helmet, Judah is My scepter.

Ezekiel 34:21
Since you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak ones with your horns until you have scattered them abroad,


Treasury of Scripture

His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

the firstling

1 Chronicles 5:1
Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

his horns

Numbers 23:22
God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

Numbers 24:8
God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

Job 39:9,10
Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib? …

unicorns [heb] an unicorn

1 Kings 22:11
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, Thus saith the LORD, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.

2 Chronicles 18:10
And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be consumed.

Psalm 44:5
Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

the ten thousands

Genesis 48:19
And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

Numbers 26:34,37
These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred…

Hosea 5:3
I know Ephraim, and Israel is not hid from me: for now, O Ephraim, thou committest whoredom, and Israel is defiled.

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Buffalo Bull Bullock Earth Ends Ephraim Herd Honour Horns Majesty Manasseh Mountain Myriads Once Ox Peoples Push Reem Ten Thousands Together Unicorns Wild Wild-Ox Wounded
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Buffalo Bull Bullock Earth Ends Ephraim Herd Honour Horns Majesty Manasseh Mountain Myriads Once Ox Peoples Push Reem Ten Thousands Together Unicorns Wild Wild-Ox Wounded
Deuteronomy 33
1. The majesty of God
6. The blessings of the twelve tribes
26. The excellence of Israel














(17) They are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.--Rashi refers this to the ten thousands slain by Joshua, the Ephraimite leader, and the thousands slain by Gideon, who was of the tribe of Manasseh. He expounds nearly the whole of the verse in reference to Joshua and the conquest of Canaan. There is an obvious similarity in the song of the Israelitish women after the defeat of the Philistines, "Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands." The people "pushed to the ends of the earth" are taken to be the thousands and ten thousands of conquered Canaanites and Midianites. For a similar metaphor, see 1Kings 22:11. Otherwise the ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh would be the two-horned power of Joseph. (Comp. Daniel 8:3; Daniel 8:20 for a simile of the same kind.)



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
His
ל֗וֹ (lōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

majesty [is like]
הָדָ֣ר (hā·ḏār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1926: Magnificence, ornament, splendor

a firstborn
בְּכ֨וֹר (bə·ḵō·wr)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

bull
שׁוֹר֜וֹ (šō·w·rōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7794: A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etcetera)

and his horns
וְקַרְנֵ֤י (wə·qar·nê)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - fdc
Strong's 7161: A horn, a flask, cornet, an elephant's tooth, a corner, a peak, a ray, power

like those
קַרְנָ֔יו (qar·nāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7161: A horn, a flask, cornet, an elephant's tooth, a corner, a peak, a ray, power

of a wild ox.
רְאֵם֙ (rə·’êm)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7214: A wild bull

With them he will gore
יְנַגַּ֥ח (yə·nag·gaḥ)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5055: To butt with the horns, to war against

the nations,
עַמִּ֛ים (‘am·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

even to the ends
אַפְסֵי־ (’ap̄·sê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 657: Cessation, an end, no further, the ankle, foot

of the earth.
אָ֑רֶץ (’ā·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

Such
וְהֵם֙ (wə·hêm)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

are the myriads
רִבְב֣וֹת (riḇ·ḇō·wṯ)
Number - feminine plural construct
Strong's 7233: Multitude, myriad, ten thousand

of Ephraim,
אֶפְרַ֔יִם (’ep̄·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory

and such
וְהֵ֖ם (wə·hêm)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

are the thousands
אַלְפֵ֥י (’al·p̄ê)
Number - masculine plural construct
Strong's 505: A thousand

of Manasseh.”
מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃ (mə·naš·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4519: Manasseh -- 'causing to forget', a son of Joseph, also a king of Judah, also two Israelites


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OT Law: Deuteronomy 33:17 The firstborn of his herd majesty (Deut. De Du)
Deuteronomy 33:16
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