Deuteronomy 33:18 · Bible study
Deuteronomy 33:18 Commentary: Zebulun and Issachar Rejoice
Hebrew · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Does this blessing contrast Zebulun's sea trade with Issachar's farming, or is it a poetic call for both to rejoice in labor and rest?
Research Summary
- Meaning: A blessing calling Zebulun and Issachar to rejoice in their respective callings, whether in motion (commerce, travel) or settled life (agriculture, dwelling).
- Key words: rejoice (שָׂמַח), going out (יָצָא), tents (אֹהֶל).
- Main debate: Whether the parallel lines describe two distinct ways of life (literal distinction) or a single poetic whole (Keil & Delitzsch).
- Theological theme: God's blessing on diverse callings leads to worship and witness.
- Best use: Preaching or teaching on vocation, work, joy, and the unity of God's people.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Concerning Zebulun he said: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your journeys, and Issachar, in your tents.
WEB World English Bible 2000
About Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents.
KJV King James Version 1769
And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; And, Issachar, in thy tents.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And of Zebulun he said: --Rejoice, O Zebulun, in thy going out, And, O Issachar, in thy tents;
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; And thou, Issachar, in thy tents!
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And to Zabulon he said: Rejoice, O Zabulon, in thy going out; and Issachar in thy tabernacles.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y á Zabulón dijo: Alégrate, Zabulón, cuando salieres: y tú, Issachâr, en tus tiendas.
E a Zebulom disse: Alegra-te, Zebulom, quando saíres: E tu Issacar, em tuas tendas.
Sur Zabulon il dit:
Und zu Sebulon sprach er: Sebulon freue dich deines Auszugs; aber Isaschar, freue dich deiner Hütten.
En van Zebulon zeide hij: Verheug u, Zebulon! over uw uittocht, en Issaschar! over uw hutten.
Poi disse di Zabulon: “Rallegrati, o Zabulon, nel tuo uscire, e tu, Issacar, nelle tue tende!
A do Zabulona rzekł: Wesel się Zabulon w wyjściu swem, a ty Isaschar w namiotach twoich.
О Завулоне сказал: веселись, Завулон, в путях твоих, и Иссахар, в шатрах твоих;
論西布倫 說：西布倫哪，你出外 可以歡喜。以薩迦啊，在你帳棚裡可以快樂。
And of Zebulun he said, Be glad, Zebulun, in your going out; and, Issachar, in your tents.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Deuteronomy 33:18
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Most commentators agree that the blessing calls Zebulun and Issachar to rejoice. The point of disagreement is whether the parallel lines describe two distinct ways of life or a single reality viewed from two sides. Adam Clarke, Albert Barnes, John Calvin, John Gill, and others read the words as a literal distinction: Zebulun's 'going out' points to maritime trade, while Issachar's 'tents' suggests agricultural life. Keil and Delitzsch, by contrast, argue the parallelism is poetic. In their view, attributing 'going out' to Zebulun and 'tents' to Issachar is a feature of Hebrew verse, and the rejoicing applies to both tribes in all aspects of labor and rest (see Graf's comment cited by Keil). Beneath this interpretive question lies a simpler truth: God's people are invited to find joy in whatever work they are given, whether by sea or by land, in motion or at rest.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal distinction: Zebulun's maritime location (Joshua 19:11) and Jacob's blessing (Genesis 49:13) are read as describing a seafaring tribe, while Issachar's inland territory implies agriculture (supported by Clarke, Barnes, Calvin, Gill, JFB, Wesley).
- Poetic parallelism: The verse is part of a poetic blessing (Deuteronomy 33), and the distribution of 'going out' to Zebulun and 'tents' to Issachar is a feature of Hebrew verse; the whole should be applied to both (Keil & Delitzsch, citing Graf).
What is clear: Both tribes are commanded to rejoice, and their joy is rooted in God's blessing on their respective callings, whether in movement or in settled life.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'going out' for Zebulun | It refers to a sphere of activity that takes Zebulun outside his home, either commerce, seafaring, or military campaign. | Some (Clarke, Barnes, Calvin) emphasize commercial sea voyages; others (Wesley, Onkelos as cited by Gill) allow for going out to war. |
| Meaning of 'tents' for Issachar | It points to a more settled, domestic form of life and work. | Interpretations range from agriculture and pasturage (Clarke, Barnes) to a nomad-like trading role (Schultz, cited by Keil) or even to scholarly life in tent-schools (Gill on 1 Chronicles 12:32). |
| Are the two lines distinct or parallel? | The verse uses poetic parallelism typical of Hebrew blessings. | Most commentators read the lines as describing two separate callings. Keil & Delitzsch argue the parallelism should be understood as applying both aspects to both tribes: labor and rest, movement and dwelling. |
| Relationship between the tribes | Zebulun and Issachar are brothers, both sons of Leah, and their territories lie adjacent. | Some see a strong contrast (one active/seafaring, the other passive/agricultural). Others see a complementary picture of a single people with diverse gifts. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This blessing is part of Moses' final words to the tribes of Israel before his death (Deuteronomy 33). The passage echoes and expands Jacob's blessing in Genesis 49, where Zebulun is told he will dwell at the haven of the sea (Genesis 49:13) and Issachar is described as a strong donkey bowing to the burden (Genesis 49:15).
The two tribes were brothers, both sons of Leah, and their territories in Canaan were adjacent. Zebulun's allotment included the coast and areas near the Sea of Galilee (Joshua 19:11). Barnes notes that Zebulun possessed 'a commodious sea-shore and the fisheries of the Lake of Tiberias,' making it suited for commerce. Issachar's land was inland and fertile, better for settled agriculture and pasturage.
The blessing's poetic structure is notable. Moses uses parallelism, a hallmark of Hebrew poetry, to pair the two tribes. 'Going out' may refer to commercial voyages (Gill, Clarke) or to military campaigns (Wesley, who also notes the phrase 'going out' is often used for war, and Gill mentions that Onkelos interprets it as going out to war). Issachar's 'tents' suggests a more stationary life, devoted to agriculture or perhaps to the study of the law (Gill notes this possibility from 1 Chronicles 12:32). The surrounding verses (Deuteronomy 33:19) indicate both tribes would also gather to worship at the mountain, offering sacrifices from the abundance gained through their different callings.
The variety of callings among God's people is not a sign of disunity but of the richness of God's provision for the whole community.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for Deuteronomy 33:18. The Hebrew text is stable across the manuscripts, and the verse is quoted consistently. The parallelism and vocabulary present no variant readings that affect interpretation.
Reception History
Early Jewish interpretation, as seen in the Targums (Onkelos, Jonathan), connected 'going out' with war and 'tents' with dwelling or study. The Talmud later used Issachar's blessing to praise those who devote themselves to Torah study. Christian commentators from the Reformation onward have largely read the verse as a literal distinction between trade and agriculture, though some (like Keil & Delitzsch) highlighted its poetic unity. The verse has been used to affirm the dignity of all honest work and the variety of vocations within the people of God. In hymnody and liturgy, it appears rarely, but its theme, joy in God's provision across different circumstances, echoes in many songs of thanksgiving.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God calls His people to rejoice. The imperative 'Rejoice' sets the tone for the entire blessing. Joy is not optional; it is a commanded response to God's gifts.
- God distributes different callings. Zebulun is addressed in his 'going out', a picture of enterprise, travel, and trade. Issachar is addressed in his 'tents', a picture of settled home life and agriculture. Both are spheres where God works and where His people can find joy.
- God's blessings lead to worship. Verse 19 (vvv) shows that their prosperity from sea and land is not an end in itself. They 'call the peoples to the mountain' and 'offer sacrifices of righteousness.' Work and worship belong together.
Five-point outline
- The command to rejoice: God does not merely allow gladness; He commands it, especially in the context of His gifts.
- Zebulun's joy in action: 'Going out' suggests movement, shipping, trade, perhaps even war. God blesses the risk and enterprise of seafaring life.
- Issachar's joy in stability: 'Tents' evoke dwelling, rest, agriculture. God blesses the steady, daily rhythms of home and land.
- The poetic unity of the blessing: The parallelism may intend both tribes to experience both movement and rest. Their joy is not divided but shared.
- From blessing to witness: The final goal is that the abundance of the seas and the treasures of the sand would draw the nations to worship the true God.
Illustration hooks
- A family that runs a fishing business and a family that farms apples both face different pressures. Both rely on weather, markets, and God's provision. This verse affirms each as a source of blessing.
- Think of two friends: one works in international shipping, the other operates a local farm. One is always traveling, the other stays close to home. Both are called to rejoice in their distinct work.
- A church with members in many professions, truck drivers, teachers, stay-at-home parents, fishermen. The blessing of Zebulun and Issachar reminds us that the church is built from every kind of labor.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God value one type of work over another? Why bless both trade and agriculture?
- How can I rejoice when my daily work seems hidden or ordinary compared to others?
- What does it mean for my work to be a source of worship, not just a source of income?
Leading a Discussion
This verse pairs two tribes and two kinds of work. It invites us to consider how God's blessing reaches us in very different circumstances. The call to rejoice is the same for both, even though their lives look different.
Discussion questions
- Observation: What two actions or situations are linked in this verse? How are they different?
- Observation: What does the word 'rejoice' (שָׂמַח) mean in this context? Who is being told to rejoice?
- Interpretation: Why does Moses bring Zebulun and Issachar together in one blessing instead of giving each a separate verse?
- Interpretation: Some commentators see 'going out' as commerce or war, others as a general reference to active life. What clues in the text and context support each reading?
- Interpretation: What do 'tents' represent for Issachar? How does that compare to the work of Zebulun?
- Application: Think of your own work, whether paid employment, caregiving, or study. Does it align more with 'going out' or 'tents'? How can you find joy in it as a gift from God?
- Application: How does your work (or daily activity) connect to worship? Verse 19 hints at a pattern: receiving blessing, then offering it back to God. What does that look like practically?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 49:13 | “Zebulun will dwell at the haven of the sea. He will be for a haven of ships. His border will be on Sidon. |
| Genesis 49:15 | He saw a resting place, that it was good, the land, that it was pleasant. He bows his shoulder to the burden, and becomes a servant doing forced labor. |
| Joshua 19:11 | Their border went up westward, even to Maralah, and reached to Dabbesheth. It reached to the brook that is before Jokneam. |
| Judges 5:14 | Those whose root is in Amalek came out of Ephraim, after you, Benjamin, among your peoples. Governors come down out of Machir. Those who handle the marshal’s staff came out of Zebulun. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
11 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke contrasts the distinct blessings of Zebulun and Issachar. Zebulun's "going out" points to success in coastal shipping and trade, while Issachar's "tents" point to prosperity in agriculture and livestock. Each tribe would thrive in its own characteristic livelihood.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes contrasts Zebulun's coastal commerce and military leadership with Issachar's inland agriculture. He notes that "sacrifices of righteousness" are those offered in a right spirit. The "treasures hid in the sand" likely refer to valuable resources like glass-making materials or purple dye, hinting at the eventual conversion of the Gentiles.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin reads Moses' blessing as a contrast between the two neighboring tribes: Zebulun active in trade and travel, Issachar content with home and quiet. More distinctively, he interprets the call to the mountain as these tribes encouraging one another to go up to worship despite their distant location, not as a summons to other nations. God's kindness to them should stir their gratitude and devotion.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator highlights the contrast in these blessings: Zebulun is praised for his outgoing trade and commerce, while Issachar is commended for his settled, agricultural life in tents. Notably, the poem omits any mention of the military heroism for which Deborah later celebrated these tribes.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights the distinct callings of these two tribes: Zebulun is blessed in commercial activity and travel, while Issachar is blessed in settled domestic life and study. Each tribe's inheritance suits a different form of service, yet both receive God's favor in their particular sphere.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws a contrast between the two tribes: Zebulun is called to rejoice in its "going out," whether to sea for trade or to war, while Issachar rejoices in its "tents," staying home for agriculture or study. He notes different interpretations of these activities from the Targums.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Moses blesses Zebulun for success in commercial sea voyages, while Issachar is honored for remaining settled in their maritime towns. The distinction highlights each tribe's different calling — one to active trade, the other to a more stationary life by the coast.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch treats the parallel lines as poetic, not historical: "going out" and "tents" belong to both tribes, describing shared labor and rest. The "mountain" is the Lord's chosen sanctuary, not a specific peak like Tabor, and the "nations" are invited to sacrificial fellowship meals, not trade or pilgrimage.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange reads Moses' blessing as
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that God wisely gives different people different callings and settings, some to sea and some to land, some to trade and some to farming. The blessing shows that this diversity is not accidental: each person's inclination suits their place for the good of the whole community.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley clarifies that "going out" refers to Zebulun's active life of warfare or sea trade, while "tents" points to Issachar's peaceful, settled agriculture. He notes the brothers are paired because they shared both parents and adjacent territory, yet their callings were deliberately opposite.