Deuteronomy 33:24-25

Blessing on Asher

33:24 Of Asher he said:

Asher is blessed with children,

may he be favored by his brothers

and may he dip his foot in olive oil. ¹ 

33:25 The bars of your gates ²  will be made of iron and bronze,

and may you have lifelong strength.

[33:24]  ¹ sn Dip his foot in olive oil. This is a metaphor for prosperity, one especially apt in light of the abundance of olive groves in the area settled by Asher. The Hebrew term refers to olive oil, which symbolizes blessing in the OT. See R. Way, NIDOTTE 4:171-73.

[33:25]  ² tn The words “of your gates” have been supplied in the translation to clarify the referent of “bars.”