Deuteronomy 33:12 (WEB)
About Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the LORD will dwell in safety by him. He covers him all day long. He dwells between his shoulders.”
As quoted in the map (KJV)
Deuteronomy 33:12 (KJV)
And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the LORD shall dwell in safety by him; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.
Key words
- יְדִיד יְהוָהyedid YHWH · Hebrew
- 'the beloved of the LORD' — Moses' blessing on the tribe of Benjamin.
- ἠγαπημένοςēgapēmenos · Greek (LXX)
- 'beloved,' from agapaō — the verb John uses of himself: 'the disciple whom Jesus loved' (hon ēgapa ho Iēsous, John 13:23).
Why it matters
Benjamin, the son whose birth cost Rachel her life, is 'the beloved of the LORD.' Pitre suggests this is why the Fourth Gospel's author never names himself and calls himself only 'the disciple whom Jesus loved': he is the new Benjamin, the beloved second son given to the New Rachel in her sorrow at the cross.