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genesis-48-nkjv

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Genesis 48

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

← Genesis 47 | Genesis 49 →

Full Text (NKJV)

Genesis 48:1-22

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, Manasseh and Ephraim. And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; so Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed.

Then Jacob said to Joseph: “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me, and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people, and give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’ Now your two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. Your offspring whom you beget after them shall be yours; they will be called by the name of their brothers in their inheritance.”

And Jacob said to Joseph, “I had not thought to see your face; but in fact, God has also shown me your offspring!”

So Joseph brought them out from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. Then Israel 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.

And he blessed Joseph, and said:

“God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
The God who has fed me all my life long to this day,
The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
Bless the lads;
Let my name be named upon them,
And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; and he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.” So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”

Historical Context

The practice of a father giving a special blessing and birthright to a younger son over the firstborn is attested in ancient Near Eastern cultures. Jacob’s crossing of his hands to bless the younger (Ephraim) over the older (Manasseh) is a recurring biblical theme of God choosing according to His sovereign will rather than birth order.

Bull’s Eye: How Genesis 48 Points to Yeshua

Jacob deliberately crosses his hands to give the greater blessing to the younger son Ephraim.

  • This act reverses natural order and shows God’s sovereign choice.
  • Ephraim would become a leading tribe in Israel, and the name “Ephraim” is sometimes used for the northern kingdom.
  • The blessing “Let my name be named upon them” points to the adoption of God’s people into the family of promise.

Yeshua Connection:

  • Yeshua is the true Heir who receives the blessing and inheritance.
  • Through Him, the Gentiles (the “younger”) are brought into the full blessing alongside Israel.
  • Yeshua reverses the curse of sin and brings many sons to glory through adoption.

Key Truth:
God sovereignly chooses and blesses according to His purpose, not human custom. Yeshua is the ultimate chosen One through whom we receive the blessing and inheritance.

Cross-References