“Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that Issachar's strength wasn't for conquering or leading, but for enduring the "two burdens" – likely referring to the hard work of agriculture and the obligation of paying tribute. It's a subtle but significant point: strength doesn't always mean aggression; sometimes it's about the quiet resilience to carry on.
“Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jacob, in his final moments, gathers his twelve sons to pronounce prophecies about their future descendants, revealing God's plan for each tribe. This pivotal address in Genesis 49 lays out the destiny of the Israelite nation, shaping their identity and future trajectory. The prophecy for Issachar, likening him to a strong donkey resting between burdens, reflects his tribe's eventual path of peaceful labor and contentedness, even at the cost of paying tribute to others for security.
Why would a patriarch compare his son to a donkey? What does this humble creature reveal about the tribe of Issachar?
Jacob's words paint a vivid picture of Issachar as a 'strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds.' This isn't an insult, but a description of the tribe's destiny and character.
A Beast of Burden
The donkey was an essential animal in ancient Near Eastern society, valued for its strength and endurance. It was a creature of the field, suited for plowing and carrying heavy loads. Jacob calls Issachar a 'strong donkey,' highlighting the tribe's capacity for hard work and their likely engagement in agriculture and settled life. This imagery suggests a people suited for the toils of the land, not for the rigors of warfare or constant migration.
Contentment in Quietude
The phrase 'crouching between the sheepfolds' further refines this image. It speaks of a settled, peaceful existence, content with the security and abundance of their territory. Unlike some of their more restless or warlike brothers, Issachar is depicted as finding satisfaction in rest and the fruits of their labor. This isn't necessarily laziness, but a strategic preference for stability and the rewards of diligent cultivation over the uncertainties of conflict.
The phrase 'between two burdens' has sparked much debate. What were these 'burdens,' and what do they reveal about Issachar's place among the tribes?
Ask a follow-up
The 'two burdens' associated with Issachar point to both the responsibilities and the consequences of their chosen way of life.
Labor and Tribute
Many commentators understand the 'two burdens' to represent the primary obligations Issachar would face: the labor of agriculture and the payment of tribute. Their strength as a 'strong donkey' made them well-suited for the hard work of farming, which would yield the land's bounty. However, this very strength and settled nature also made them targets for taxation or tribute by neighboring peoples or even other tribes seeking security or resources.
A Strategic Choice?
This position 'between two burdens' can be seen as a consequence of their desire for rest and security. By choosing a life focused on agriculture and peace, they accepted the burden of labor and the potential burden of tribute, rather than the burden of warfare and defense. Their strength was directed towards productivity, but this often meant submitting to others to maintain that peace. It was a trade-off: security and comfort in exchange for a degree of subservience.
Understand the original words
chamor · Hebrew Noun
An animal of burden, often associated with labor, endurance, and humility, notably used in the triumphal entry of Jesus to demonstrate his messianic kingship.
Jacob's prophecy for Issachar as a 'strong donkey' emphasizes a tribe known for its agricultural labor and contentment with a peaceful, settled life, often at the cost of military engagement or political leadership. This imagery likely reflects Issachar's geographical location and the socio-economic realities of the tribes during the early periods after settling in Canaan.
~1800 BC— this verse
Jacob's Prophetic Blessings
Jacob, nearing the end of his life, gathers his twelve sons to pronounce prophetic blessings and curses upon them and their descendants, foretelling their future roles and characteristics. This event establishes the foundational identity and destiny for each of the twelve tribes of Israel.
c. 1400 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites leave Egypt after centuries of slavery, marking a pivotal moment in their history. This event signifies the beginning of their journey as a distinct nation, heading toward the Promised Land.
c. 1350 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelite tribes begin their conquest and settlement of the Promised Land. The allocation of land to each tribe would begin to shape their distinct characteristics and territories.
c. 1100 BC
Period of the Judges
Following the conquest, Israel entered a period where various judges led them. During this era, the tribes developed distinct regional identities and economies, sometimes influenced by their neighbors and their own choices.
This passage also refers to Issachar sitting by the streams, highlighting their preference for peaceful, settled life over active warfare, much like the 'strong donkey' content with its burdens.
1 Chronicles 12:32This verse describes the men of Issachar as 'men who understood the times and knew what Israel ought to do,' suggesting a wisdom that led them to focus on practical matters and astute leadership rather than warfare, aligning with the portrait of Issachar's contentedness.
Deuteronomy 20:10-11This passage outlines the terms offered to cities outside of Israel when Israel waged war against them, allowing them to become tributaries. This echoes the idea of Issachar submitting to pay tribute in exchange for peace and security, as suggested by the 'two burdens'.
Psalm 68:13This psalm speaks of 'wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with green gold,' which is interpreted by some commentators as representing those who remained at home among the sheepfolds, content with their peace, which resonates with Issachar's depiction.
cambridgeGenesis 49:14: "Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens:"
14 . a strong ass ] Lit. “a bony ass,” as Aquila ὄνος ὀστώδης ; Lat. asinus fortis . Issachar is compared, not to the wild ass, high spirited and swift, but to the strong domestic beast of burden. The territory of Issachar included the southern part of Galilee and the Valley of Jezreel. Slightly different readings are represented by the Sam. gêrim (instead of gerem ), i.e. “the ass of strangers,” “bearing the burdens i…
calvinGenesis 49:1-33: "And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days."
Omnes istae tribus Israel duodecim. Et hoc est quod loquutus est eis pater eorum, et benedixit eis, unicuique secundum benedictionem suam, benedixit eis.
And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite.
Et praecepti eis, e…
This verse highlights that Issachar's strength wasn't for conquering or leading, but for enduring the "two burdens" – likely referring to the hard work of agriculture and the obligation of paying tribute. It's a subtle but significant point: strength doesn't always mean aggression; sometimes it's about the quiet resilience to carry on.
Jacob, in his final moments, gathers his twelve sons to pronounce prophecies about their future descendants, revealing God's plan for each tribe. This pivotal address in Genesis 49 lays out the destiny of the Israelite nation, shaping their identity and future trajectory. The prophecy for Issachar, likening him to a strong donkey resting between burdens, reflects his tribe's eventual path of peaceful labor and contentedness, even at the cost of paying tribute to others for security.
Jacob, in his final moments, gathers his twelve sons to pronounce prophecies about their future descendants, revealing God's plan for each tribe. This pivotal address in Genesis 49 lays out the destiny of the Israelite nation, shaping their identity and future trajectory. The prophecy for Issachar, likening him to a strong donkey resting between burdens, reflects his tribe's eventual path of peaceful labor and contentedness, even at the cost of paying tribute to others for security.
"“Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds." — This verse highlights that Issachar's strength wasn't for conquering or leading, but for enduring the "two burdens" – likely referring to the hard work of agriculture and the obligation of paying tri…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026