The Messianic Prophecy of Genesis 49:10

By: Brian G. Chilton | January 7, 2019

Unfortunately, messianic prophecies are not given the attention today that they were in previous generations. Perhaps such a lessening of the prophecies come by a preconceived anti-supernatural bias against predictions of future events. Possibly. Or, it could come by the impression that Christians are reading into the texts what they desire. It is true that some passages may have been stretched to fit the Christian worldview. However, many held messianic prophecies in the Hebrew Bible (i.e., Old Testament) are legitimate. They hold a great deal of weight and are quite useful in modern apologetics.

Michael Brown mentions an often-forgotten messianic prophecy in the Torah found in Genesis 49:10. The text comes from Jacob’s final address to his sons before his death. Jacob says, “The scepter will not depart from Judah or the staff between his feet until he whose right it comes (Shiloh, mine) and the obedience of the peoples belongs to him” (Gn. 49:19, CSB). The text has been considered messianic for many years—that is, it predicts the future coming of Messiah. But is this text an authentic messianic prophecy? It appears so for four reasons.

1. Definition of Shiloh. In the CSB translation, the term translated as “he whose right it comes” is the term shiloh. Shiloh can mean “the peaceful one,” “the one whose right it comes,” and/or “the one to whom tribute comes.” A derivative of the term, which may be used in the text, is shelloh which means “whose it is.” The Septuagint (LXX), the Peshito, and the Jewish Targums prefer all favor this derivative. It appears that the term is also referenced in Ezekiel 21:27 where the prophet says, “A ruin, a ruin, I will make it a ruin! Yet this will not happen until he comes; I have given the judgment to him” (Ez. 21:27, CSB, emphasis mine).
2. Importance of Judah. Judah was guilty of immorality in chapter 38. However, Judah would not be completely disqualified from a future inheritance. Through Judah’s lineage, the Messiah would usher in a future age of abundance and prosperity. Thus, the son who would bring forth this promise would be from the lineage of Judah.
3. Personification of the Descendant. One of the tricky aspects of the text is trying to define the term The question is whether the term refers to a person or to a place. Michael Brown contends that Jewish translations hold that the term is personal (Brown AJOTJ3, 12). Furthermore, the text renders Shiloh as a person rather than a place. The personal pronouns suggest that Shiloh references a person who accepts the kingly rule. Personal descriptions are given of him in verses 11 and 12. There are good reasons for accepting the reference as a person rather than a place. Ultimately, an eternal reign only makes sense when referencing the eternal Messiah.
4. Fulfillment Found in Jesus. The NT seems to indicate that Genesis 49:10 is a messianic prophecy implicitly. Jesus is shown to be a descendant of Judah (Mt. 1) as he is identified as the “Lion from the tribe of Judah” (Rv. 5:5). Each tribe had its own banner with a respective symbol. The lion was the symbol for the tribe of Judah. Jesus would be the banner for the tribe. If Genesis 49:10 is a messianic prophecy which the evidence seems to suggest, then Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of the passage.

While some have held that the Torah does not contain a messianic prophecy, Genesis 49:10 seems to counter such an objection. From the definition of Shiloh to the personification of the term, a person can find further corroboration of Jesus’s claim to be Messiah. If Jesus is not the Messiah, then there could never be one. For who else could be from the tribe of Judah who would also have an everlasting reign?

Source:

Brown, Michael J. Answering Jewish Objections to Jesus: Volume Three—Messianic Prophecy Objections. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2003.

About the Author

Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com and is the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is currently enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has been in the ministry for over 15 years and serves as the Senior Pastor of Westfield Baptist Church in northwestern North Carolina.

© 2019. BellatorChristi.com.