Genesis 48:8

8 Then Israel saw Joseph's sons and said, "Who are these boys?"

Genesis 48:8 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 48:8

And Israel beheld Joseph's sons
Ephraim and Manasseh, of whom he had been speaking as if they were absent, and he might not know until now that they were present, for his eyes were dim that he could not see clearly, ( Genesis 49:10 ) ; he saw two young men standing by Joseph, but knew not who they were, and therefore asked the following question: and said, who [are] these?
whose sons are they? the Targum of Jonathan is,

``of whom were these born to thee?''

as if he knew them to be his sons, only inquired who the mother of them was; but the answer shows he knew them not to be his sons, and as for his wife, he could not be ignorant who she was.

Genesis 48:8 In-Context

6 But if you have other children, they will be your own, and their land will be part of the land given to Ephraim and Manasseh.

7 When I came from Northwest Mesopotamia, Rachel died in the land of Canaan, as we were traveling toward Ephrath. This made me very sad, and I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath." (Today Ephrath is Bethlehem.)

8 Then Israel saw Joseph's sons and said, "Who are these boys?"

9 Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons that God has given me here in Egypt." Israel said, "Bring your sons to me so I may bless them."

10 At this time Israel's eyesight was bad because he was old. So Joseph brought the boys close to him, and Israel kissed the boys and put his arms around them.