Genesis 48:8

8 videns autem filios eius dixit ad eum qui sunt isti

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 reliquos autem quos genueris post eos tui erunt et nomine fratrum suorum vocabuntur in possessionibus suis

7 mihi enim quando veniebam de Mesopotamiam mortua est Rahel in terra Chanaan in ipso itinere eratque vernum tempus et ingrediebar Ephratam et sepelivi eam iuxta viam Ephratae quae alio nomine appellatur Bethleem

8 videns autem filios eius dixit ad eum qui sunt isti

9 respondit filii mei sunt quos dedit mihi Deus in hoc loco adduc inquit eos ad me ut benedicam illis

10 oculi enim Israhel caligabant prae nimia senectute et clare videre non poterat adplicitosque ad se deosculatus et circumplexus