Genesis 48:8

8 Then seeing his sons, he said to him: 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 But the rest whom thou shalt have after them, shall be thine, and shall be called by the name of their brethren in their possessions.

7 For, when I came out of Mesopotamia, Rachel died from me in the land of Chanaan in the very journey, and it was spring time: and I was going to Ephrata, and I buried her near the way of Ephrata, which by another name is called Bethlehem.

8 Then seeing his sons, he said to him: Who are these?

9 He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said: Bring them to me, that I may bless them.

10 For Israel’s eyes were dim by reason of his great age, and he could not see clearly. And when they were brought to him, he kissed and embraced them,