Genesis 48

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

¹After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

²Someone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed.

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

⁴and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for an everlasting possession.’

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

⁶Your offspring, whom you become the father of after them, will be yours. They will be called after the name of their brothers in their inheritance.

⁷As for me, when I came from Paddan, Rachel died beside me in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance to come to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (also called Bethlehem).”

⁸Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”

⁹Joseph 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.”

¹⁰Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he couldn’t see well. Joseph brought them near to him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

¹¹Israel said to Joseph, “I didn’t think I would see your face, and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.”

¹²Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

¹³Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near to him.

¹⁴Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

¹⁵He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day,

¹⁶the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.”

¹⁷When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.

¹⁸Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

¹⁹His father refused, and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. However, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring will become a multitude of nations.”

²⁰He blessed them that day, saying, “Israel will bless in your name, saying, ‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh’” He set Ephraim before Manasseh.

²¹Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.

²²Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.”

Previous Genesis 47

Next Genesis 49

As Jacob nears death, he formally adopts Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own heirs equal to his firstborn sons. In a pivotal blessing ceremony, Jacob deliberately places his right hand on the younger Ephraim rather than the elder Manasseh, prophesying that Ephraim will become greater and his descendants will become a multitude of nations. This chapter demonstrates God's continued pattern of choosing the younger over the elder and establishes the tribal inheritance that will shape Israel's future identity.

Context

This chapter continues Jacob's final preparations from chapter 47 and sets up the formal tribal blessings that will follow in chapter 49.

Key Themes

Outline

1-7
Jacob Adopts Joseph's Sons Jacob formally claims Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons, recalling God's covenant promises and Rachel's death.
8-12
Preparation for Blessing The aging, nearly blind Jacob prepares to bless his grandsons, expressing gratitude for seeing Joseph's offspring.
13-16
The Crossed-Hands Blessing Jacob deliberately crosses his hands to place his right hand on younger Ephraim, invoking the God of Abraham and Isaac.
17-22
Prophetic Declaration Despite Joseph's objection, Jacob confirms his intentional choice, prophesying Ephraim's greater destiny and future inheritance.

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

48:1–48:22

narrative blessing solemn

The dying Jacob adopts Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh as his own, deliberately giving the greater blessing to the younger Ephraim over the elder Manasseh.

person_contrast

Jacob's deliberate reversal of primogeniture—blessing younger Ephraim over elder Manasseh—echoes his own reception of Isaac's blessing over Esau, perpetuating God's pattern of choosing the unexpected.

Insight Character Study

Cross-References

Connected passages across Scripture

Genesis 48:1 5 references

Lexicals 5

Joshua 16:4 Lexical

The children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.

Genesis 48

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

Insights

Cross-References

Genesis 48:1 5 references

Genesis 48:3 5 references

Genesis 48:4 3 references

Genesis 48:5 4 references

Genesis 48:7 3 references

Genesis 48:12 1 reference

Genesis 48:13 5 references

Genesis 48:14 2 references

Genesis 48:15 2 references

Genesis 48:16 3 references

Genesis 48:17 5 references

Genesis 48:22 1 reference

Interlinear

Historical Context