Genesis 48 - English Standard Version Anglicised (ESVUK)

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

48 After this, Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, (A)“God Almighty[a] appeared to me at (B)Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, 4 and 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 (C)for an everlasting possession.’ 5 And now your (D)two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, (E)are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are. 6 And the children that you fathered after them shall be yours. They shall be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance. 7 As for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow (F)Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, when there was still some distance[b] to go to Ephrath, and I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).”

8 When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, “Who are these?” 9 Joseph said to his father, (G)“They are my sons, whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Bring them to me, please, that (H)I may bless them.” 10 Now (I)the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, (J)and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 And Israel said to Joseph, (K)“I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also.” 12 Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand towards Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand towards Israel's right hand, and brought them near him. 14 (L)And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, (M)crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said,

“The God (N)before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 (O)the angel who has (P)redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let (Q)my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
and let them (R)grow into a multitude[c] in the midst of the earth.”

17 When Joseph saw that his father (S)laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, (T)“I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, (U)his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude[d] of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,

“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,
(V)‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”

Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but (W)God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to (X)you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope[e] that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 48:3 Hebrew El Shaddai
  2. Genesis 48:7 Or about two hours' distance
  3. Genesis 48:16 Or let them be like fish for multitude
  4. Genesis 48:19 Hebrew fullness
  5. Genesis 48:22 Or one portion of the land; Hebrew shekem, which sounds like the town and district called Shechem

Cross references

  1. Genesis 48:3 : See ch. 17:1
  2. Genesis 48:3 : ch. 28:13, 19; 35:6, 9
  3. Genesis 48:4 : ch. 17:8
  4. Genesis 48:5 : ch. 41:50-52; 46:20
  5. Genesis 48:5 : Josh. 13:7; 14:4; 17:17
  6. Genesis 48:7 : See ch. 35:9-19
  7. Genesis 48:9 : [ch. 33:5]
  8. Genesis 48:9 : ch. 49:25, 26; Heb. 11:21; [ch. 27:4]
  9. Genesis 48:10 : [ch. 27:1]
  10. Genesis 48:10 : ch. 27:27
  11. Genesis 48:11 : [ch. 37:33; 45:26]
  12. Genesis 48:14 : ver. 17
  13. Genesis 48:14 : ver. 19
  14. Genesis 48:15 : ch. 17:1; 24:40
  15. Genesis 48:16 : ch. 28:15; 31:11, 13, 24; Ex. 23:20
  16. Genesis 48:16 : Isa. 44:22, 23; 49:7; 63:9; [2 Sam. 4:9; Ps. 34:22; 121:7]
  17. Genesis 48:16 : Amos 9:12; Acts 15:17
  18. Genesis 48:16 : [Num. 26:34, 37]
  19. Genesis 48:17 : ver. 14
  20. Genesis 48:19 : [See ver. 17 above]; ver. 14
  21. Genesis 48:19 : Num. 1:33, 35; 2:19, 21; Deut. 33:17
  22. Genesis 48:20 : [Ruth 4:11, 12]
  23. Genesis 48:21 : ch. 46:4; 50:24
  24. Genesis 48:22 : Josh. 24:32; John 4:5

You Might Also Like:

Genesis 48 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

48 And it cometh to pass, after these things, that [one] saith to Joseph, `Lo, thy father is sick;' and he taketh his two sons with him, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And [one] declareth to Jacob, and saith, `Lo, thy son Joseph is coming unto thee;' and Israel doth strengthen himself, and sit upon the bed...
Read More

Genesis 48 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

48 And so when these things were done, it was told to Joseph, that his father was sick. And he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and he disposed him to go. (And so after that these things were done, it was told to Joseph, that his father was sick. And he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephrai...
Read More

Genesis 48 - World English Bible (WEB)

48 After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 Someone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appe...
Read More

Genesis 48 - The Voice (VOICE)

Jacob bows his final bow—perhaps in the weakness of old age or in thankfulness for Joseph’s promise, or maybe in prayer to the Lord.In the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, custom demands that the firstborn son become the next head of the family and inherit the name, status, and wealth of his fathe...
Read More

Genesis 48 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh48 After these things, someone told Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him. 2 When someone told Jacob, saying, “Behold, your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel summoned his strength and sat up in the bed. 3 The...
Read More

Genesis 48 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons48 After this Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill”; so he took with him his two sons, Manas′seh and E′phraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you”; then Israel summoned his strength, and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Al...
Read More

Genesis 48 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons48 After this Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is ill”; so he took with him his two sons, Manas′seh and E′phraim. 2 And it was told to Jacob, “Your son Joseph has come to you”; then Israel summoned his strength, and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Al...
Read More

Genesis 48 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons48 After this Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” he[a] summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty[b] appeared to ...
Read More

Genesis 48 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons48 After this Joseph was told, ‘Your father is ill.’ So he took with him his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 When Jacob was told, ‘Your son Joseph has come to you’, he[a] summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, ‘God Almighty[b] appeared to m...
Read More

Genesis 48 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons48 After this Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” he[a] summoned his strength and sat up in bed. 3 And Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty[b] appeared to me...
Read More

Genesis 48 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Jacob Blesses Manasseh and Ephraim48 One day not long after this, word came to Joseph, “Your father is failing rapidly.” So Joseph went to visit his father, and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 When Joseph arrived, Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to see you.” So Jacob...
Read More

Genesis 48 - New Life Version (NLV)

Jacob and Joseph’s Sons48 After this Joseph was told, “See, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel gathered his strength and sat up in bed. 3 Then Jacob said to Joseph, “The All-powerful God show...
Read More

Genesis 48 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons(A)48 Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, “Indeed your father is sick”; and he took with him his two sons, (B)Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel [a]strengthened himself and sat up on th...
Read More

Genesis 48 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Manasseh and Ephraim48 Some time later Joseph was told, ‘Your father is ill.’ So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. 2 When Jacob was told, ‘Your son Joseph has come to you,’ Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, ‘God Almighty[a] appeared t...
Read More

Genesis 48 - New International Version (NIV)

Manasseh and Ephraim48 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim(A) along with him. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel(B) rallied his strength and sat up on the bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty[a](C) ap...
Read More

Genesis 48 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Ephraim and Manasseh48 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him. 2 Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you.” So Israel became stronger and sat up in bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, “The Mighty God appeared to me at Luz...
Read More

Genesis 48 - New English Translation (NET)

Manasseh and Ephraim48 After these things Joseph was told,[a] “Your father is weakening.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him. 2 When Jacob was told,[b] “Your son Joseph has just[c] come to you,” Israel regained strength and sat up on his bed. 3 Jacob said to Joseph, “The Soverei...
Read More