Deuteronomy 33:24 · Bible study
Deuteronomy 33:24 Commentary: Children, Favor, Abundance
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Explore the threefold blessing over Asher: descendants (or 'most blessed'), acceptance among brothers, and abundant oil. What does 'dip his foot in oil' mean?
Research Summary
- Meaning: A threefold blessing over Asher: children (or preeminent status), social acceptance, and material abundance symbolized by oil.
- Key words: barukh (blessed), min (preposition: of/above), retzui (favored/accepted), tovel (dipping), sheman (oil).
- Main debate: Does “blessed with children” mean many literal offspring, or is it a comparative “blessed above the sons” (most blessed)?
- Theological theme: God’s blessing is comprehensive, familial, relational, and material, all grounded in His covenant favor.
- Best use: A model for asking God to bless every area of life, and a reminder that prosperity comes from Him, not from human striving.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And concerning Asher he said: “May Asher be the most blessed of sons; may he be the most favored among his brothers and dip his foot in oil.
WEB World English Bible 2000
About Asher he said, “Asher is blessed with children. Let him be acceptable to his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil.
KJV King James Version 1769
And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And of Asher he said, Blessed be Asher with children; Let him be acceptable unto his brethren, And let him dip his foot in oil.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And of Asher he said: --Blessed with sons is Asher, Let him be accepted by his brethren, And dipping in oil his foot.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And of Asher he said, Asher shall be blessed with sons; Let him be acceptable to his brethren, And let him dip his foot in oil.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
To Aser also he said: Let Aser be blessed with children, let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y á Aser dijo: Bendito Aser en hijos: agradable será á sus hermanos, y mojará en aceite su pie.
E a Aser disse: Bendito Aser em filhos: Agradável será a seus irmãos, E molhará em azeite seu pé.
Sur Aser il dit:
Und zu Asser sprach er: Asser sei gesegnet unter den Söhnen und tauche seinen Fuß in Öl.
En van Aser zeide hij: Aser zij gezegend met zonen; hij zij zijn broederen aangenaam, en dope zijn voet in olie.
Poi disse di Ascer: “Benedetto sia Ascer tra i figliuoli d’Israele! Sia il favorito de’ suoi fratelli, e tuffi il suo piè nell’olio!
A do Asera rzekł: Błogosławiony nad inne syny Aser, będzie przyjemny braciom swoim, i omoczy w oliwie nogę swoję.
Об Асире сказал: благословен между сынами Асир, он будет любим братьями своими, и окунет в елей ногу свою;
論亞設 說：願亞設 享受多子 的福樂，得 他弟兄 的喜悅，可以把腳 蘸 在油中。
And of Asher he said, Let Asher have the blessing of children; may he be pleasing to his brothers, and let his foot be wet with oil.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Deuteronomy 33:24
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse pronounces a threefold blessing over the tribe of Asher, matching the meaning of his name ('happy, blessed'). Barnes highlights that the Hebrew preposition min can be comparative, yielding 'blessed above the sons', that is, the most blessed of Jacob's children. Clarke and Gill take the phrase more literally as 'blessed with children,' emphasizing the high value placed on numerous descendants. On 'acceptable to his brothers,' views range from simple intertribal harmony (Clarke) to divine favor that shapes relations (Keil and Delitzsch). The image of dipping the foot in oil is universally understood as a picture of extreme abundance, whether it points to olive oil production in Asher's territory (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) or a general symbol of fertility (Keil and Delitzsch). All connect the three promises into a unified portrait of earthly prosperity under God's blessing.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal children view: Reads 'blessed with children' straightforwardly (supported by Psalm 128:3 and the value of offspring in Israelite culture).
- Comparative status view: Takes 'mibbanim' as 'above the sons' (supported by Barnes, Keil, and similar usage in Judges 5:24).
What is clear: Asher is promised substantial earthly blessing from God, including abundant oil and harmonious relationships, regardless of how the first phrase is parsed.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of 'blessed with children' (barukh mibbanim) | The phrase indicates God's blessing on Asher's descendants or status. | Some (Barnes, Keil) read min as comparative: 'blessed above the sons' (most blessed). Others (Clarke, Gill) take it literally: 'blessed with children,' i.e., many offspring. |
| 'Acceptable to his brothers' | The blessing includes positive relationships within Israel. | Keil and Delitzsch see it as divine favor ('favored among his brethren'), while Clarke takes it as relational harmony and good character. |
| 'Dip his foot in oil' | A symbol of extraordinary material abundance, likely tied to olive oil. | Jamieson-Fausset-Brown connects it to the physical process of treading olives. Others (Gill, Clarke) treat it more generally as prosperity and comfort. |
| Number and structure of the blessings | The verse contains at least three distinct promises. | Some (Keil) include v. 25 as part of Asher's blessing (iron and bronze, rest), making four or five elements. Others see v. 25 as a separate concluding line. |
| Relation to Genesis 49:20 | Both passages promise abundance to Asher, with 'royal dainties' and oil. | Some see Moses here expanding Jacob's blessing with social and security dimensions; others see them as independent traditions. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The tribe of Asher descended from Jacob and Zilpah (Leah's maidservant). Jacob's earlier blessing in Genesis 49:20 already promised 'rich food' and 'royal dainties,' a phrase later readers linked to olive oil. Asher's allotted territory, described in Joshua 19:24, 31, stretched along the Mediterranean coast from Mount Carmel north to Tyre, embracing the fertile Plain of Acco. This region has long been famous for olive groves; the image of dipping the foot in oil likely draws on the abundance of oil produced there, whether through foot-treading in presses (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown) or as a hyperbolic expression of wealth. The blessing of being 'acceptable to his brothers' may reflect Asher's position as a tribe that maintained good relations with neighbors, in contrast to some other tribes. In the context of Deuteronomy 33, each tribe receives a tailored word from Moses that echoes its name or history. Asher's name comes from Leah's exclamation 'Happy am I!' (Genesis 30:13). This verse fulfills that name: the tribe is blessed with children (or stands above the others in blessing), enjoys favor, and inherits a land flowing with oil.
Textual Notes
The verse is textually stable across manuscripts. The main difference in translations arises not from variant Hebrew readings but from whether the preposition min in mibbanim is taken as comparative ('above the sons') or partitive ('of the sons,' i.e., 'with children'). The Masoretic Text is clear; no significant text-critical variants are noted in the supplied sources.
Reception History
Jewish interpretation (e.g., Rashi, Targum Neofiti) emphasized the tribal prosperity, often connecting 'dip his foot in oil' to the land's fertility and the tribe's unique blessing. Early Christian writers, such as Theodoret, read the oil as a symbol of Christ's anointing, seeing Asher's blessing as a type of the Church's abundance from the Spirit. In the Middle Ages, commentators like Hugh of St. Victor allegorized the oil as God's grace poured out. Reformation-era exegetes (Calvin, Luther in his lectures) focused on the historical Israel, while also applying the blessing as a model of God's provision for His people. Modern scholarship has returned to the geographical and agricultural context, highlighting Asher's olive-rich territory.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Blessed with children (or 'most blessed'): Identity as favored by God. Asher's name means 'happy,' and this blessing enacts that name.
- Acceptable to his brothers: Relational blessing, harmony, favor, and peace within Israel.
- Dip his foot in oil: Material abundance from God's hand, a vivid promise of provision.
Five-point outline
- The significance of Asher's name (Gen 30:13) as the foundation of the blessing.
- The comparative blessing: 'blessed above the sons' lifts this tribe to a premier status.
- Relationships as a blessing: being acceptable to brothers is not automatic, God must work it.
- Oil as a symbol of every material need: olives for food, oil for light, anointing, and trade.
- The connection to Christ, who makes believers 'blessed above the sons of men' and gives the oil of the Spirit.
Illustration hooks
- A farmer whose olive harvest is so large that the oil runs into the dirt, splashing over his feet. Not poverty but overwhelming surplus.
- A family that is not only well-off but also loved and respected in their community, a rare combination.
- A person who enjoys both good relationships and material provision, and sees both as gifts from God, not achievements.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does this promise of abundance apply to all believers today, or only to the tribe of Asher under the old covenant?
- How can I seek favor with others without compromising my faith?
- Why does God use oil as a symbol of blessing so often in Scripture?
Leading a Discussion
This short verse from Moses' final blessing packs three distinct promises. Each builds on the name of Asher, which means 'happy' or 'blessed.' The group will look at the Hebrew text, consider different translations, and ask how these promises point to God's character.
Discussion questions
- Compare the translations: WEB reads 'blessed with children,' while BSB says 'most blessed of sons.' Which one seems more likely from the Hebrew phrase barukh mibbanim? How does each translation shape the meaning?
- What does it mean for a tribe to be 'acceptable to his brothers'? Is this about human favor, divine favor, or both?
- Why do you think the image of dipping the foot in oil is used? What kind of abundance does that picture?
- Read Genesis 49:20 alongside this verse. How do the two blessings of Asher compare? Is Moses expanding on Jacob's prophecy?
- In what ways can we, as spiritual descendants of Abraham, experience these kinds of blessings today, physical and relational?
- The blessings here are all material and social. Does this mean God is uninterested in spiritual maturity? How do we avoid reading this as a 'prosperity gospel' promise?
- How does the placement of this blessing in Deuteronomy 33 (with the other tribes) tell us about God's care for each unique member of His people?
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 49:20 | “Asher’s food will be rich. He will produce royal dainties. |
| Exodus 12:10 | You shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire. |
| Job 29:6 | when my steps were washed with butter, and the rock poured out streams of oil for me, |
| Psalms 115:15 | Blessed are you by Yahweh, who made heaven and earth. |
| Psalms 128:3 | Your wife will be as a fruitful vine in the innermost parts of your house, your children like olive shoots around your table. |
| Psalms 128:6 | Yes, may you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel. |
| Proverbs 3:3 | Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. |
| Proverbs 3:4 | So you will find favor, and good understanding in the sight of God and man. |
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
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke reads the blessings on Asher as material prosperity: a large, growing family, peaceful unity with the other tribes, and a land so fertile it yields abundant oil. For him "dip his foot in oil" is a vivid image of rich soil and all of life's comforts.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes interprets "Blessed above the sons" as meaning Asher is the most blessed among Jacob's sons, the one especially favored by God. The prosperity promised to this tribe is pictured by dipping the foot in oil, a vivid image of abundance.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
Cambridge Bible notes that the Hebrew word translated "bars" is found only here and means bolts, not shoes as older versions had. The word for "strength" is also uncertain, possibly meaning "rest" based on Samaritan and other ancient versions. The "iron and brass" may refer to basalt and bronze instead.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes highlight the abundance promised to Asher: numerous children, favor with his brothers, and prosperity so great he can dip his foot in oil, a vivid image of material blessing and fertile land.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill draws together several traditional interpretations of the blessing on Asher: the tribe would be unusually numerous in children, well regarded by the other tribes, and so wealthy in olive oil that a man could wash his feet in it. He connects each blessing to historical traits of the tribe.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB describes
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch read this blessing as a direct fulfillment of Asher's name, meaning prosperous. They argue that "blessed before the sons" marks him as the most blessed of Jacob's sons, not blessed with many children. Dipping his foot in oil points to fertile land, and iron and brass fortresses promise secure rest for life.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Moses blesses Dan as a lion's whelp leaping from Bashan, contrasting with Jacob's earlier serpent imagery. He sees this pointing either to Samson's fierce victories over the Philistines or to the tribe's sudden conquest of Laish. Both interpretations highlight surprising strength overcoming unsuspecting enemies.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley ties Asher's name, meaning blessed, to three concrete promises: numerous and healthy children, a likable manner that wins favor with others, and such an abundance of olive oil that it can be used for washing feet, not just the face.