Untitled Sermon (2)

Genesis 49:8 ESV

“Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons shall bow down before you.

Judah means Praise! Here Praise is spoken by Jacob as being victorious! Praise places his hand on the neck of the enemy! Praise destroys your enemies! It builds your faith as you praise! It releases endorphines in the brain which lift you up and encourages you! Victory comes through praise!

Earlier, when the brothers were debating the best way to rid themselves of Joseph, Judah protested “let not our hand be upon him” (37:7). Both 37:7 and 49:8 use the expression yāḏ be. Judah refused to put his hand on Joseph, but is praised by his father for putting his hand on his real enemies.1

1 Hamilton, Victor P. The Book of Genesis, Chapters 18–50. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1995. Print. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament.