Genesis 48:1-6

Israel's Last Days

1 Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is sick." So he took his two sons ¹Manasseh and Ephraim with him.

2 When it was told to Jacob, "Behold, your son Joseph has come to you," Israel collected his strength and sat up in the bed.

3 Then Jacob said to Joseph, "²God Almighty appeared to me at ³Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me,

4 and He said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you for ⁴an everlasting possession.'

5 "Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; ⁵Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as ⁶Reuben and Simeon are.

6 "But your offspring that have been born after them shall be yours; they shall be called by the names of their brothers in their inheritance.

Genesis 48:1-6 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. Genesis 41:51, 52; Joshua 14:4
• 2. Genesis 28:13; Genesis 35:9-12
• 3. Genesis 28:19; Genesis 35:6
• 4. Genesis 17:8
• 5. Genesis 41:50-52; Genesis 46:20; Genesis 48:1; Joshua 14:4
• 6. 1 Chronicles 5:1, 2

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "one said to Joseph"
• [b] Lit "one told Jacob and said"
• [c] Lit "strengthened himself"
• [d] Lit "upon the bed"
• [e] Heb "El Shaddai"
• [f] Lit "seed"
• [g] Lit "you have begotten"
• [h] Lit "name"