Genesis 48:8

8 Yisra'el saw Yosef's sons, and said, "Who are these?"

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 Your issue, who you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died by me in the land of Kana`an in the way, when there was still some distance to come to Efrat, and I buried her there in the way to Efrat (the same is Beit-Lechem)."

8 Yisra'el saw Yosef's sons, and said, "Who are these?"

9 Yosef said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." He said, "Please bring them to me, and I will bless them."

10 Now the eyes of Yisra'el were dim for age, so that he couldn't see. He brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.