Genesis 48:17-20

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 48:17-20 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. ver 13
• 2. S ver 14
• 3. S ver 14
• 4. Genesis 17:20
• 5. S Genesis 25:23
• 6. S Genesis 12:2
• 7. S Genesis 24:60
• 8. Hebrews 11:21
• 9. S ver 2
• 10. Leviticus 9:22; Numbers 6:23; Deuteronomy 10:8; Deuteronomy 21:5
• 11. Numbers 2:18; Jeremiah 31:9
• 12. S Genesis 41:51; Numbers 2:20; Numbers 10:23; Ruth 4:11

Footnotes

• [a]. The Hebrew is singular.