Genesis 48:13-22

Ephraim's Greater Blessing

13 Then Joseph took them both-with his right hand Ephraim toward Israel's left, and with his left hand Manasseh toward Israel's right-and brought them to Israel.

14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger, and crossing his hands, put his left on Manasseh's head, although Manasseh was the firstborn.^[a]

15 Then he blessed Joseph and said: The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,

16 the Angel who has redeemed me from all harm- may He bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow to be numerous within the land.

17 When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim's head, he thought it was a mistake^[b] and took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's.

18 Joseph said to his father, "Not that way, my father! This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head."

19 But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know! He too will become a tribe,^[c] and he too will be great; nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring will become a populous nation."^[d]

20 So he blessed them that day with these words: Israel will invoke blessings by you, saying, "May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh," putting Ephraim before Manasseh.

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, "Look! I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers.

22 Over and above what I am giving your brothers, I am giving you the one mountain slope^[e] that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and bow."^[f]

Genesis 48:13-22 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 48

Joseph, hearing that his father Jacob was sick, paid him a visit, Ge 49:1,2; at which time Jacob gave him an account of the Lord's appearing to him at Luz, and of the promise he made unto him, Ge 49:3,4; then he adopted his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and blessed them, and Joseph also, Ge 49:5-16; and whereas he crossed his hands when he blessed the sons of Joseph, putting his right hand on the youngest, and his left hand on the eldest, which was displeasing to Joseph, he gave him a reason for so doing, Ge 49:17-20; and then assured him that God would bring him, and the rest of his posterity, into the land of Canaan, where he assigned him a particular portion above his brethren, Ge 49:21,22.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gn 25:23; 27:18-30
• [b]. Or he was displeased; lit head, it was bad in his eyes
• [c]. Lit people
• [d]. Lit a fullness of nations; perhaps a multitude of nations
• [e]. Lit one shoulder; Hb Shechem, Joseph's burial place
• [f]. Gn 34:25-29