Genesis 48:9-19

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;)
16 the angel that delivered me from all evils, bless these children, and my name be called on them, and the names of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac; and wax they in multitude on (the) earth. (yea, the Angel who delivered me from every evil, bless these boys, and may they be called by my name, and the names of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.)
17 Forsooth Joseph saw that his father had set his right hand on the head of Ephraim, and he took that heavily, and he endeavoured him(self) to raise his father's hand, and take it from the head of Ephraim, and to bear it over upon the head of Manasseh. (And Joseph saw that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim's head, and he was displeased, and he endeavoured to raise up his father's hand, and take it from Ephraim's head, and to bear it over onto Manasseh's head.)
18 And Joseph said to his father, Father, it accordeth not so; for this is the first begotten (for Manasseh is the first-born); set thy right hand on his head.
19 Which forsook to do so, and said, I know, my son, I know; and soothly this child shall be into peoples (and truly this child shall become a people), and he shall be multiplied; but his younger brother shall be more than he, and his seed shall increase into (a multitude of) folks, (or into a multitude of nations).

Genesis 48:9-19 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.