Genesis 49:10
Question
Dear Rabbi, in Genesis 49:10 we read:
לֹֽא־יָס֥וּר שֵׁבֶט֙ מִֽיהוּדָ֔ה וּמְחֹקֵ֖ק מִבֵּין רַגְלָ֑יו עַ֚ד כִּי־יָבֹ֣א שילה [שִׁיל֔וֹ] וְל֖וֹ יִקְּהַ֥ת עַמִּים׃
Question: is this translation (from sefaria.org) correct? especially this word: (וּמְחֹקֵ֖ק) ?!
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet; So that tribute shall come to him And the homage of peoples be his.
Answers
It is an accurate literal translation. The Rabbis teach that the word mechokek is to understood as “scholar”. Within that context the phrase reads “nor a scholar from among his descendants”.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team