Genesis 48:9-20

9 “They are the sons God has given me here,” Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless them.”

10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

11 Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too.”

12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground.

13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them close to him.

14 But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

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

16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm —may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly on the earth.”

17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim’s head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.

18 Joseph said to him, “No, 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 people, and he too will become great. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a group of nations.”

20 He blessed them that day and said, “In your^[a] name will Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’ ” So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

Genesis 48:9-20 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 33:5
• 2. S Genesis 24:60; Genesis 27:4
• 3. S Genesis 27:1
• 4. S Genesis 27:27
• 5. S Genesis 29:13
• 6. S ver 2
• 7. S Genesis 44:28
• 8. Genesis 50:23; Job 42:16; Psalms 103:17; Psalms 128:6
• 9. Genesis 50:23; Job 3:12
• 10. S Genesis 19:1; S Genesis 33:3; Genesis 37:10
• 11. Psalms 16:8; Psalms 73:23; Psalms 110:1; Matthew 25:33
• 12. S ver 2
• 13. ver 17,18
• 14. S Genesis 25:23
• 15. S Genesis 29:32; S Genesis 41:51
• 16. S Genesis 24:60; Genesis 17:1
• 17. S Genesis 5:22
• 18. Genesis 49:24; 2 Samuel 5:2; Psalms 23:1; Psalms 80:1; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 23:4
• 19. S Genesis 16:7
• 20. S Genesis 24:50; 2 Samuel 4:9; Psalms 71:4; Jeremiah 15:21; Daniel 3:17
• 21. S Genesis 28:3
• 22. 1 Chronicles 5:1; Ezekiel 47:13; Hebrews 11:21
• 23. S Genesis 28:13
• 24. S Genesis 12:2; S Genesis 13:14
• 25. ver 13
• 26. S ver 14
• 27. S ver 14
• 28. Genesis 17:20
• 29. S Genesis 25:23
• 30. S Genesis 12:2
• 31. S Genesis 24:60
• 32. Hebrews 11:21
• 33. S ver 2
• 34. Leviticus 9:22; Numbers 6:23; Deuteronomy 10:8; Deuteronomy 21:5
• 35. Numbers 2:18; Jeremiah 31:9
• 36. S Genesis 41:51; Numbers 2:20; Numbers 10:23; Ruth 4:11

Footnotes

• [a] The Hebrew is singular.