Genesis 48 Commentary
And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,
And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Beth–lehem.
And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?
And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.
Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.
And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.
And Joseph 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 unto him.
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
The Angel which 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; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.
Genesis 48 SEO keywords: Genesis 48
Genesis 48 marks a pivotal moment in Jacob's life and the future of Israel. Despite years of hardship, Jacob has lived to see his family flourish in Egypt thanks to Joseph's rise to power. Now, nearing the end of his days, Jacob takes decisive action to secure the future of his lineage, ensuring God's promises will continue through his descendants.
Jacob's End Approaching (Genesis 48:1-7)
After settling in Egypt (Genesis 47), Jacob knows his time is short. Joseph, hearing of his father's illness, brings his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 48:1), to receive a final blessing (Genesis 48:9). Jacob had talked about dying for many years (Genesis 37:35; 47:9), but the moment is now at hand. Summoning his strength, Jacob sits up in bed, demonstrating his resolve (Genesis 48:1–2). He pointedly recalls God's appearance to him at Luz, also known as Bethel, and the promise God made to make his descendants into a nation with their home in Canaan (Genesis 28:12–15). This is a reminder to Joseph of the significance of God's covenant for himself and his sons.
Jacob then makes a significant declaration: he claims Joseph's two oldest sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own, stating they belong to him just as Reuben and Simeon do (Genesis 48:5). This elevates them to the status of his own sons, giving them full rights to an inheritance in the promised land. In effect, Joseph's family receives a double portion, a privilege typically reserved for the firstborn. This act also honors the memory of Rachel, Joseph’s mother, who held a special place in Jacob’s heart. Perhaps claiming Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons is a way to honor her once more (Genesis 48:3–7).
It's important to remember that Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph while he was in Egypt. Yet Jacob made it clear that both were to be treated as though they were Jacob’s sons; therefore, they were to receive an inheritance in the promised land. The claim to the inheritance of Jacob was not a matter of skin color, but instead a matter of lineage. The critical question was, “Who was your father?” not “What color is your skin?”
A Blessing with a Twist (Genesis 48:8-20)
Jacob's physical weakness is evident as he asks Joseph to identify the young men before him (Genesis 48:8–12). Despite his failing eyesight, Jacob recognizes God's incredible blessings. He acknowledges that he not only reunited with Joseph, whom he believed to be dead (Genesis 37:31–34), but he has also lived to see Joseph's descendants.
Joseph arranges his sons so that Manasseh, the older, would be positioned to Jacob's right hand, traditionally the place of honor for the greater blessing (Genesis 48:13). However, Jacob intentionally crosses his hands, placing his right hand on Ephraim, the younger son (Genesis 48:14).
When Jacob imparts the official prayer of blessing on Ephraim and Manasseh, he evokes God's presence with his own ancestors, and guidance through Jacob's long series of hardships. Jacob was the first person in Scripture to say that God . . . has been my shepherd all my life (Genesis 48:15). Hundreds of years later, King David would expand on this imagery in writing Psalm 23, but David certainly didn’t invent the idea. Jacob had spent decades tending sheep—feeding them, cleaning them, defending them against predators, binding them up when they were injured, searching for them when they wandered. He knew how much tenderness and devotion it required to care for sheep. And by the end of his life, Jacob had come to see God through that light. He realized that in all of his wanderings, God had been tenderly and devotedly providing for him, defending him, healing him, and searching for him. The reference to God as "the angel" might be a reference to atheophany, or a physical manifestation of God. In some sense, it foreshadows a growing understanding of the Trinity. The blessing itself consists of a prayer for these two men to experience the same blessings Jacob has received from God during his lifetime. Jacob asks God to continue the legacy of Abraham and Isaac through them (Genesis 48:15–16). The blessing itself consists of a prayer for these two men to experience the same blessings Jacob has received from God during his lifetime. Jacob asks God to continue the legacy of Abraham and Isaac through them (Genesis 48:15–16). Jacob bestowed on Ephraim and Manasseh two blessings, reminding us of the wonderful chance that God offers grandparents today to speak hope and life into their own offspring’s lives. The lesser blessing, that they grow to be numerous within the land (Genesis 48:16), is the sort of blessing that we all inherently want. It’s a prayer for material prosperity. And God, in his faithfulness, would be quick to answer Jacob’s prayer. But the greater blessing that Jacob gave was that they be called by [his] name and the names of [his] fathers Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 48:16). Material blessings come and go; in the end, we can’t actually keep any of them. But to be included in the family of God is a blessing that bears fruit for eternity.
Joseph is distressed and frustrated when he realizes what has happened (Genesis 48:17-18). Perhaps he thought his father accidentally switched the boys, or maybe he disagreed with giving the greater honor to the younger Ephraim. It is amusing that Joseph, of all people, would be surprised by this departure from worldly tradition. His father and grandfather were the younger brothers, receiving the blessing and inheritance in place of the firstborn sons in their households. And Joseph himself had ten brothers older than he, yet God raised him to a position of distinction. Jacob clarifies that this was exactly what he intended. He concludes by saying the people of Israel will wish each other well by evoking the success of Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:17–20). Jacob was simply continuing the pattern of reversal that God had used all throughout the history of the Jewish patriarchs, proving that God’s ways are not ours.
A Promise of Return (Genesis 48:21-22)
Before calling in the rest of the brothers, Jacob reminded Joseph once again of God’s promise. Even though the family would grow numerous in Egypt, God would deliver them back to the land of their fathers (Genesis 48:21). Israel was supposed to interpret their coming years in Egypt as only a detour, much like Joseph’s. God had not changed their final destination. He would deliver them to Canaan. The chapter concludes with Jacob giving Joseph and his descendants a very specific piece of land in Canaan as a gift, as well. Earlier portions of Genesis don't mention this specific piece of land, or Jacob's conquest of it. The exact Hebrew word Jacob uses isshakem, so some speculate this is Shechem, which was overpowered by Jacob's sons (Genesis 34:27). Yet he did not stay in that area or take possession of the territory. Joseph will be buried in this somewhat-obscure place (Joshua 24:32) Later, the New Testament will refer to a well dug by Jacob, in an area known by the name ofSychar(John 4:4–5). Regardless of how he came to possess it, this is part of Jacob's legacy for his favored son, Joseph (Genesis 48:21–22).
Genesis 48 reveals Jacob's faith in God's promises and his commitment to securing the future of his descendants in the land God had promised. This chapter lays the foundation for the prominence of Ephraim and Manasseh in the history of Israel, demonstrating that God's plans often defy human expectations. As Genesis continues, Jacob will make predictions and bestow other blessings on his remaining sons.
And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,
And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Beth–lehem.
And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?
And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.
Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.
And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.
And Joseph 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 unto him.
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
The Angel which 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; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.
Genesis 48 SEO keywords: Genesis 48
Genesis 48 marks a pivotal moment in Jacob's life and the future of Israel. Despite years of hardship, Jacob has lived to see his family flourish in Egypt thanks to Joseph's rise to power. Now, nearing the end of his days, Jacob takes decisive action to secure the future of his lineage, ensuring God's promises will continue through his descendants.
Jacob's End Approaching (Genesis 48:1-7)
After settling in Egypt (Genesis 47), Jacob knows his time is short. Joseph, hearing of his father's illness, brings his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (Genesis 48:1), to receive a final blessing (Genesis 48:9). Jacob had talked about dying for many years (Genesis 37:35; 47:9), but the moment is now at hand. Summoning his strength, Jacob sits up in bed, demonstrating his resolve (Genesis 48:1–2). He pointedly recalls God's appearance to him at Luz, also known as Bethel, and the promise God made to make his descendants into a nation with their home in Canaan (Genesis 28:12–15). This is a reminder to Joseph of the significance of God's covenant for himself and his sons.
Jacob then makes a significant declaration: he claims Joseph's two oldest sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own, stating they belong to him just as Reuben and Simeon do (Genesis 48:5). This elevates them to the status of his own sons, giving them full rights to an inheritance in the promised land. In effect, Joseph's family receives a double portion, a privilege typically reserved for the firstborn. This act also honors the memory of Rachel, Joseph’s mother, who held a special place in Jacob’s heart. Perhaps claiming Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons is a way to honor her once more (Genesis 48:3–7).
It's important to remember that Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph while he was in Egypt. Yet Jacob made it clear that both were to be treated as though they were Jacob’s sons; therefore, they were to receive an inheritance in the promised land. The claim to the inheritance of Jacob was not a matter of skin color, but instead a matter of lineage. The critical question was, “Who was your father?” not “What color is your skin?”
A Blessing with a Twist (Genesis 48:8-20)
Jacob's physical weakness is evident as he asks Joseph to identify the young men before him (Genesis 48:8–12). Despite his failing eyesight, Jacob recognizes God's incredible blessings. He acknowledges that he not only reunited with Joseph, whom he believed to be dead (Genesis 37:31–34), but he has also lived to see Joseph's descendants.
Joseph arranges his sons so that Manasseh, the older, would be positioned to Jacob's right hand, traditionally the place of honor for the greater blessing (Genesis 48:13). However, Jacob intentionally crosses his hands, placing his right hand on Ephraim, the younger son (Genesis 48:14).
When Jacob imparts the official prayer of blessing on Ephraim and Manasseh, he evokes God's presence with his own ancestors, and guidance through Jacob's long series of hardships. Jacob was the first person in Scripture to say that God . . . has been my shepherd all my life (Genesis 48:15). Hundreds of years later, King David would expand on this imagery in writing Psalm 23, but David certainly didn’t invent the idea. Jacob had spent decades tending sheep—feeding them, cleaning them, defending them against predators, binding them up when they were injured, searching for them when they wandered. He knew how much tenderness and devotion it required to care for sheep. And by the end of his life, Jacob had come to see God through that light. He realized that in all of his wanderings, God had been tenderly and devotedly providing for him, defending him, healing him, and searching for him. The reference to God as "the angel" might be a reference to atheophany, or a physical manifestation of God. In some sense, it foreshadows a growing understanding of the Trinity. The blessing itself consists of a prayer for these two men to experience the same blessings Jacob has received from God during his lifetime. Jacob asks God to continue the legacy of Abraham and Isaac through them (Genesis 48:15–16). The blessing itself consists of a prayer for these two men to experience the same blessings Jacob has received from God during his lifetime. Jacob asks God to continue the legacy of Abraham and Isaac through them (Genesis 48:15–16). Jacob bestowed on Ephraim and Manasseh two blessings, reminding us of the wonderful chance that God offers grandparents today to speak hope and life into their own offspring’s lives. The lesser blessing, that they grow to be numerous within the land (Genesis 48:16), is the sort of blessing that we all inherently want. It’s a prayer for material prosperity. And God, in his faithfulness, would be quick to answer Jacob’s prayer. But the greater blessing that Jacob gave was that they be called by [his] name and the names of [his] fathers Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 48:16). Material blessings come and go; in the end, we can’t actually keep any of them. But to be included in the family of God is a blessing that bears fruit for eternity.
Joseph is distressed and frustrated when he realizes what has happened (Genesis 48:17-18). Perhaps he thought his father accidentally switched the boys, or maybe he disagreed with giving the greater honor to the younger Ephraim. It is amusing that Joseph, of all people, would be surprised by this departure from worldly tradition. His father and grandfather were the younger brothers, receiving the blessing and inheritance in place of the firstborn sons in their households. And Joseph himself had ten brothers older than he, yet God raised him to a position of distinction. Jacob clarifies that this was exactly what he intended. He concludes by saying the people of Israel will wish each other well by evoking the success of Ephraim and Manasseh (Genesis 48:17–20). Jacob was simply continuing the pattern of reversal that God had used all throughout the history of the Jewish patriarchs, proving that God’s ways are not ours.
A Promise of Return (Genesis 48:21-22)
Before calling in the rest of the brothers, Jacob reminded Joseph once again of God’s promise. Even though the family would grow numerous in Egypt, God would deliver them back to the land of their fathers (Genesis 48:21). Israel was supposed to interpret their coming years in Egypt as only a detour, much like Joseph’s. God had not changed their final destination. He would deliver them to Canaan. The chapter concludes with Jacob giving Joseph and his descendants a very specific piece of land in Canaan as a gift, as well. Earlier portions of Genesis don't mention this specific piece of land, or Jacob's conquest of it. The exact Hebrew word Jacob uses isshakem, so some speculate this is Shechem, which was overpowered by Jacob's sons (Genesis 34:27). Yet he did not stay in that area or take possession of the territory. Joseph will be buried in this somewhat-obscure place (Joshua 24:32) Later, the New Testament will refer to a well dug by Jacob, in an area known by the name ofSychar(John 4:4–5). Regardless of how he came to possess it, this is part of Jacob's legacy for his favored son, Joseph (Genesis 48:21–22).
Genesis 48 reveals Jacob's faith in God's promises and his commitment to securing the future of his descendants in the land God had promised. This chapter lays the foundation for the prominence of Ephraim and Manasseh in the history of Israel, demonstrating that God's plans often defy human expectations. As Genesis continues, Jacob will make predictions and bestow other blessings on his remaining sons.