Judah, who is the fourth son of Leah, is the first to receive nothing but praise from Jacob. Note that the Hebrew text switches back to “you.”

Judah, your brothers shall praise you: for the play on Judah‘s name, see 29.35.

Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies: this line gives the reason why Judah’s brothers (the other tribes of Israel) will praise him. This expression is a poetic way of saying “you defeat your enemies” or “you conquer your enemies in battle.”

Your father’s sons shall bow down before you: bow down expresses more than just a physical action. It is an action that displays submission or homage to a ruler or superior. In some translations this is expressed as “you will be the boss of all your brothers.” The most important inheritance and place in the family of Jacob/Israel, which the three oldest brothers have forfeited, is now given to Judah and his descendants.

In this line father’s sons matches brothers in the first line, and bow down matches praise. Translators may find it more suitable to keep the first and third lines together. In this way we may say:

Your brothers will bow down to you,
and they will praise you
because you defeat your enemies.

In some languages it may be preferable to place the reason at the beginning of the verse:

You conquer [all] your enemies,
and so your brothers will praise you.
They will bow down before you.

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .