Genesis 48:5-15

5 Therefore thy two sons, that be born to thee in the land of Egypt, before that I came hither to thee, shall be mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, as Reuben and Simeon, shall be areckoned to me (Ephraim and Manasseh, just like Reuben and Simeon, shall be reckoned as mine);
6 forsooth the others which thou shalt beget after them shall be thine; and they shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions (and they shall be called after the names of their brothers in their inheritance).
7 Forsooth when I came from Mesopotamia, Rachel was dead to me in the land of Canaan, in that way; and it was the beginning of summer; and (before that) I entered into Ephratah, and I buried her beside the way of Ephratah, which by another name is called Bethlehem. (And when I came from Paddan-aram, Rachel died, and left me on the way, in the land of Canaan; and it was the beginning of summer; and before that I entered into Ephrath, I buried her beside the way to Ephrath, which by another name is called Bethlehem.)
8 Forsooth Jacob saw the sons of Joseph, and said to him, Who be these?
9 He answered, They be my sons, which God gave me in this place (whom God gave to me in this place). Jacob said, Bring them to me, (so) that I bless them.
10 For the eyes of Israel dimmed for great eld (age), and he might not see clearly; and he kissed and embraced those children joined to him, (And Jacob's eyes had dimmed because of great old age, and he could not see clearly; and when the boys were brought close to him, he kissed them, and embraced them,)
11 and he said to his son, I am not defrauded of thy sight; furthermore God hath showed to me thy seed. (and he said to his son, I am no longer deprived of the sight of you; and even more, God hath showed me thy children.)
12 And when Joseph had taken them from his father's lap, he worshipped low to the earth (he bowed low to the ground).
13 And he set Ephraim on his right side, that is, on the left side of Israel; forsooth he set Manasseh on his left side, that is, on the right side of his father; and he joined both to him. (And he put Ephraim on his right side, that is, on Jacob's left side; and he put Manasseh on his left side, that is, on his father's right side; and he brought them both close to him.)
14 Which held forth the right hand, and laid it on Ephraim's head, the younger brother; soothly he laid his left hand on Manasseh's head, that was the more through birth. Jacob changed his hands, (And Jacob put forth his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim's head, the younger brother; and he laid his left hand on Manasseh's head, who was the elder. Jacob had crossed his hands,)
15 and blessed his son Joseph , and said, God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac went; God that feedeth me from my young waxing age till into this present day; (and then he blessed his son Joseph, and said, May God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked; the God who hath fed me from my young age unto this present day;)

Genesis 48:5-15 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.

Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.