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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 48:4 and told me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you; I will make you a multitude of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.'</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/48-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/18/01_Gen_48_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 48:4 - Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="and told me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you; I will make you a multitude of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.'" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/48-4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/48-4.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/48.htm">Chapter 48</a> > Verse 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/48-3.htm" title="Genesis 48:3">◄</a> Genesis 48:4 <a href="/genesis/48-5.htm" title="Genesis 48:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/48.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/48.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />and said to me, &#8216I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers. I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/48.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful, and I will multiply your descendants. I will make you a multitude of nations. And I will give this land of Canaan to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/48.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />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 for an everlasting possession.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/48.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />and told me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you; I will make you a multitude of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/48.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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 <i>for</i> an everlasting possession.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/48.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />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 <i>as</i> an everlasting possession.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/48.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a multitude of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/48.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />and He said to me, &#8216Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/48.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/48.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />and He said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply, and I will make you an assembly of peoples, and I will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/48.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and numerous, and I will make you a great company of people, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/48.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful and numerous; I will make many nations come from you, and I will give this land as a permanent possession to your future descendants.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/48.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He said to me, &#8216I will make you fruitful and numerous; I will make many nations come from you, and I will give this land as an eternal possession to your future descendants.&#8217<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/48.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />and said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a company of peoples, and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/48.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />and promised, "I will give you a large family with many descendants that will grow into a nation. And I am giving you this land that will belong to you and your family forever." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/48.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />and said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a company of peoples; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/48.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He said to me, 'I will make you fertile and increase the number of your descendants so that you will become a community of people. I will give this land to your descendants as a permanent possession.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/48.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He said to me, 'I will give you many children, so that your descendants will become many nations; I will give this land to your descendants as their possession forever.'" <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/48.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He told me, 'Pay attention! I'm going to make you fruitful and numerous. I'm going to build you into a vast nation of people and then I'll give this land to your descendants for an eternal possession.' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/48.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He said to me, 'I am going to make you fruitful and will multiply you. I will make you into a group of nations, and I will give this land to your descendants as an everlasting possession.' <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/48.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />and said to me, 'Look, 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 descendants after you as an everlasting possession.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/48.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And said to 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.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/48.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />and told me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you; I will make you a multitude of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/48.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />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 for an everlasting possession.’ <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/48.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and says to me, Behold, I am making you fruitful, and have multiplied you, and given you for an assembly of peoples, and given this land to your seed after you, a continuous possession.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/48.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and saith unto me, Lo, I am making thee fruitful, and have multiplied thee, and given thee for an assembly of peoples, and given this land to thy seed after thee, a possession age-during.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/48.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will say to me, Behold, I making thee fruitful, and I multiplied thee, and I gave thee for an assembly of people; and I gave this land to thy seed after thee a possession forever.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/48.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he said : I will cause thee to increase and multiply, and I will make of thee a multitude of people: and I will give this land to thee, and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/48.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he said: ‘I will increase and multiply you, and I will make you influential among the people. And I will give this land to you, and to your offspring after you, as an everlasting possession.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/48.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />he said, ‘I will make you fertile and multiply you and make you into an assembly of peoples, and I will give this land to your descendants after you as a permanent possession.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/48.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers; I will make of you a company of peoples, and will give this land to your offspring after you for a perpetual holding.’<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/48.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he said to me, Behold, I will bless you, and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of peoples; and I will give this land to your descendants after you for an everlasting possession.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/48.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he said to me, ‘Behold, I am blessing you and I am multiplying you, and I shall give you the multitudes of the nations, and I shall give this land to your seed after you as an inheritance for eternity.’<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/48.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />and said unto me: Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a company of peoples; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/48.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />and said to me, Behold, I will increase thee, and multiply thee, and will make of thee multitudes of nations; and I will give this land to thee, and to thy seed after thee, for an everlasting possession.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/48-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=12577" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/48.htm">Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and there He blessed me <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">and told</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·lay (Prep:: 1cs) -- To, into, towards. ">me,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2005.htm" title="2005: hin·nî (Interjection:: 1cs) -- Lo! behold! A primitive particle; lo!; also if.">‘Behold,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6509.htm" title="6509: map̄·rə·ḵā (V-Hifil-Prtcpl-msc:: 2ms) -- To bear fruit, be fruitful. A primitive root; to bear fruit.">I will make you fruitful</a> <a href="/hebrew/7235.htm" title="7235: wə·hir·bî·ṯi·ḵā (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConjPerf-1cs:: 2ms) -- To be or become much, many or great. A primitive root; to increase.">and multiply you;</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: ū·nə·ṯat·tî·ḵā (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-1cs:: 2ms) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">I will make you</a> <a href="/hebrew/6951.htm" title="6951: liq·hal (Prep-l:: N-msc) -- Assembly, convocation, congregation. From qahal; assemblage.">a multitude</a> <a href="/hebrew/5971.htm" title="5971: ‘am·mîm (N-mp) -- From amam; a people; specifically, a tribe; hence troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock.">of peoples,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: wə·nā·ṯat·tî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-1cs) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">and will give</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2063.htm" title="2063: haz·zōṯ (Art:: Pro-fs) -- Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that. Irregular feminine of zeh; this.">this</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">land</a> <a href="/hebrew/2233.htm" title="2233: lə·zar·‘ă·ḵā (Prep-l:: N-msc:: 2ms) -- A sowing, seed, offspring. From zara'; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity.">to your descendants</a> <a href="/hebrew/310.htm" title="310: ’a·ḥă·re·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- The hind or following part. From 'achar; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after.">after you</a> <a href="/hebrew/5769.htm" title="5769: ‘ō·w·lām (N-ms) -- Long duration, antiquity, futurity. ">as an everlasting</a> <a href="/hebrew/272.htm" title="272: ’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ (N-fsc) -- A possession. Feminine passive participle from 'achaz; something seized, i.e. A possession.">possession.’</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/17-6.htm">Genesis 17:6-8</a></span><br />I will make you exceedingly fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you. / I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. / And to you and your descendants I will give the land where you are residing—all the land of Canaan—as an eternal possession; and I will be their God.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Genesis 35:11-12</a></span><br />And God told him, “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation—even a company of nations—shall come from you, and kings shall descend from you. / The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-7.htm">Exodus 1:7</a></span><br />but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/leviticus/26-9.htm">Leviticus 26:9</a></span><br />I will turn toward you and make you fruitful and multiply you, and I will establish My covenant with you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/1-10.htm">Deuteronomy 1:10</a></span><br />The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/7-13.htm">Deuteronomy 7:13</a></span><br />He will love you and bless you and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb and the produce of your land—your grain, new wine, and oil, the young of your herds and the lambs of your flocks—in the land that He swore to your fathers to give you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-4.htm">Deuteronomy 28:4</a></span><br />The fruit of your womb will be blessed, as well as the produce of your land and the offspring of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-11.htm">Deuteronomy 28:11</a></span><br />The LORD will make you prosper abundantly—in the fruit of your womb, the offspring of your livestock, and the produce of your land—in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/16-17.htm">1 Chronicles 16:17-18</a></span><br />He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: / ‘I will give you the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/105-9.htm">Psalm 105:9-11</a></span><br />the covenant He made with Abraham, and the oath He swore to Isaac. / He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: / “I will give you the land of Canaan as the portion of your inheritance.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/51-2.htm">Isaiah 51:2</a></span><br />Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth. When I called him, he was but one; then I blessed him and multiplied him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/30-19.htm">Jeremiah 30:19</a></span><br />Thanksgiving will proceed from them, a sound of celebration. I will multiply them, and they will not be decreased; I will honor them, and they will not be belittled.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezekiel/36-10.htm">Ezekiel 36:10-11</a></span><br />I will multiply the people upon you—the house of Israel in its entirety. The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. / I will fill you with people and animals, and they will multiply and be fruitful. I will make you as inhabited as you once were, and I will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-5.htm">Acts 7:5</a></span><br />He gave him no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised to give possession of the land to Abraham and his descendants, even though he did not yet have a child.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/4-13.htm">Romans 4:13</a></span><br />For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world was not given through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And said to me, Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you, and I will make of you a multitude of people; and will give this land to your seed after you for an everlasting possession.</p><p class="hdg">Behold I.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/12-2.htm">Genesis 12:2</a></b></br> And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/13-15.htm">Genesis 13:15,16</a></b></br> For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/22-17.htm">Genesis 22:17</a></b></br> That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which <i>is</i> upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;</p><p class="hdg">will give.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/deuteronomy/32-8.htm">Deuteronomy 32:8</a></b></br> When the most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/amos/9-14.htm">Amos 9:14,15</a></b></br> And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit <i>them</i>; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them… </p><p class="hdg">everlasting.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/17-8.htm">Genesis 17:8,13</a></b></br> And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/21-33.htm">Age-During</a> <a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Community</a> <a href="/genesis/37-25.htm">Company</a> <a href="/genesis/46-26.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/genesis/21-33.htm">Everlasting</a> <a href="/genesis/46-27.htm">Family</a> <a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Fertile</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Fruitful</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Great</a> <a href="/genesis/47-11.htm">Heritage</a> <a href="/genesis/47-24.htm">Increase</a> <a href="/genesis/39-3.htm">Making</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Multiplied</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/genesis/35-11.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Numbers</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Numerous</a> <a href="/genesis/35-29.htm">Peoples</a> <a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Possession</a> <a href="/genesis/47-24.htm">Seed</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/12-14.htm">Age-During</a> <a href="/exodus/12-3.htm">Community</a> <a href="/genesis/49-6.htm">Company</a> <a href="/genesis/48-19.htm">Descendants</a> <a href="/genesis/49-26.htm">Everlasting</a> <a href="/genesis/48-6.htm">Family</a> <a href="/genesis/49-25.htm">Fertile</a> <a href="/genesis/49-22.htm">Fruitful</a> <a href="/genesis/48-16.htm">Great</a> <a href="/genesis/48-6.htm">Heritage</a> <a href="/genesis/48-16.htm">Increase</a> <a href="/genesis/50-3.htm">Making</a> <a href="/exodus/1-7.htm">Multiplied</a> <a href="/exodus/1-7.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/genesis/48-16.htm">Multitude</a> <a href="/genesis/48-19.htm">Nations</a> <a href="/genesis/50-20.htm">Numbers</a> <a href="/genesis/50-20.htm">Numerous</a> <a href="/genesis/49-10.htm">Peoples</a> <a href="/genesis/49-30.htm">Possession</a> <a href="/genesis/48-11.htm">Seed</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 48</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/48-1.htm">Joseph with his sons visits his sick father.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">2. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/48-2.htm">Jacob strengthens himself to bless them.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">3. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/48-3.htm">He repeats God's promise.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">5. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/48-5.htm">He takes Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/48-7.htm">He tells Joseph of his mother's grave.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/48-8.htm">He blesses Ephraim and Manasseh.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">17. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/48-17.htm">He prefers the younger before the elder.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/48-21.htm">He prophesies their return to Canaan.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/48.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/48.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>and told me</b><br>This phrase refers to God speaking to Jacob, also known as Israel. The context is Jacob recounting God's promise to him, which is a continuation of the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac. This divine communication underscores the personal relationship between God and the patriarchs, emphasizing the importance of divine revelation in the biblical narrative.<p><b>‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you;</b><br>This promise echoes the original blessing given to Adam and Eve in <a href="/genesis/1-28.htm">Genesis 1:28</a> and is reiterated to Noah in <a href="/genesis/9.htm">Genesis 9:1</a>. It signifies not only physical progeny but also spiritual prosperity and influence. The phrase "fruitful and multiply" is a recurring theme in Genesis, highlighting God's intention for His people to grow and fill the earth.<p><b>I will make you a multitude of peoples,</b><br>This part of the promise points to the future nation of Israel, which will consist of twelve tribes descending from Jacob's sons. It also foreshadows the inclusion of Gentiles into God's family, as seen in the New Testament (<a href="/galatians/3-28.htm">Galatians 3:28-29</a>), where believers in Christ are considered Abraham's seed.<p><b>and will give this land to your descendants after you</b><br>The land promise is central to the Abrahamic Covenant, first given in <a href="/genesis/12-7.htm">Genesis 12:7</a>. It refers to the land of Canaan, which becomes the Promised Land for the Israelites. This promise is foundational for understanding the historical and theological significance of the land in the Bible, as it represents God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises.<p><b>as an everlasting possession.’</b><br>The term "everlasting possession" indicates the perpetual nature of God's covenant with Israel. While the physical possession of the land has varied throughout history, the promise remains a testament to God's unchanging commitment. This phrase also points to the eschatological hope of a future restoration and fulfillment in the Messianic kingdom, where Christ reigns as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promises to Israel.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob (Israel)</a></b><br>The patriarch who receives God's promise. He is recounting God's covenant to his son Joseph.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/joseph.htm">Joseph</a></b><br>Jacob's son, who is present as Jacob blesses his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/g/god.htm">God</a></b><br>The divine being who made the covenant with Jacob, promising him fruitfulness and land.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/c/canaan.htm">Canaan</a></b><br>The land promised by God to Jacob's descendants as an everlasting possession.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/e/ephraim_and_manasseh.htm">Ephraim and Manasseh</a></b><br>Joseph's sons, who are being blessed by Jacob in this chapter.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_faithfulness.htm">God's Faithfulness</a></b><br>God's promises are steadfast and reliable. Just as He was faithful to Jacob, He remains faithful to His promises to us today.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/generational_blessing.htm">Generational Blessing</a></b><br>The blessings and promises of God often extend beyond the individual to their descendants. Our faithfulness can impact future generations.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/fruitfulness_and_multiplication.htm">Fruitfulness and Multiplication</a></b><br>God's desire is for His people to be fruitful and multiply, not just physically but spiritually, expanding His kingdom on earth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/e/everlasting_possession.htm">Everlasting Possession</a></b><br>The land promised to Jacob's descendants symbolizes the eternal inheritance believers have in Christ, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment in the new heavens and new earth.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/covenant_relationship.htm">Covenant Relationship</a></b><br>Understanding our relationship with God as a covenant relationship helps us grasp the depth of His commitment to us and our response to Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_48.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 48</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_do_blessing_and_birthright_differ.htm">How do a blessing and a birthright differ?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_tribe_of_ephraim.htm">What is the Tribe of Ephraim?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/who_was_ephraim_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Ephraim in the Bible?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/holy_spirit's_functions.htm">What are the functions of the Holy Spirit?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/48.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">A multitude of people.</span>--In <a href="/genesis/35-11.htm" title="And God said to him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of you, and kings shall come out of your loins;">Genesis 35:11</a> the words are "a congregation (or church) of nations;" here "a congregation (same word) of peoples." (<span class= "ital">See </span>Note there.)<p><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/48-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">and told</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֣אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">me,</span><br /><span class="heb">אֵלַ֗י</span> <span class="translit">(’ê·lay)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">‘Behold,</span><br /><span class="heb">הִנְנִ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(hin·nî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Interjection | first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2005.htm">Strong's 2005: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo! behold!</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I will make you fruitful</span><br /><span class="heb">מַפְרְךָ֙</span> <span class="translit">(map̄·rə·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6509.htm">Strong's 6509: </a> </span><span class="str2">To bear fruit, be fruitful</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and multiply you;</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהִרְבִּיתִ֔ךָ</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hir·bî·ṯi·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7235.htm">Strong's 7235: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become much, many or great</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I will make you</span><br /><span class="heb">וּנְתַתִּ֖יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(ū·nə·ṯat·tî·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a multitude</span><br /><span class="heb">לִקְהַ֣ל</span> <span class="translit">(liq·hal)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6951.htm">Strong's 6951: </a> </span><span class="str2">Assembly, convocation, congregation</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of peoples,</span><br /><span class="heb">עַמִּ֑ים</span> <span class="translit">(‘am·mîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5971.htm">Strong's 5971: </a> </span><span class="str2">A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and will give</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנָ֨תַתִּ֜י</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nā·ṯat·tî)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this</span><br /><span class="heb">הַזֹּ֛את</span> <span class="translit">(haz·zōṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Pronoun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2063.htm">Strong's 2063: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that, </span><br /><br /><span class="word">land</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָ֧רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to your descendants</span><br /><span class="heb">לְזַרְעֲךָ֥</span> <span class="translit">(lə·zar·‘ă·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2233.htm">Strong's 2233: </a> </span><span class="str2">Seed, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity</span><br /><br /><span class="word">after you</span><br /><span class="heb">אַחֲרֶ֖יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(’a·ḥă·re·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_310.htm">Strong's 310: </a> </span><span class="str2">The hind or following part</span><br /><br /><span class="word">as an everlasting</span><br /><span class="heb">עוֹלָֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(‘ō·w·lām)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5769.htm">Strong's 5769: </a> </span><span class="str2">Concealed, eternity, frequentatively, always</span><br /><br /><span class="word">possession.’</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲחֻזַּ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·ḥuz·zaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_272.htm">Strong's 272: </a> </span><span class="str2">Something seized, a possession</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/48-4.htm">Genesis 48:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/48-4.htm">Genesis 48:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/48-4.htm">Genesis 48:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/48-4.htm">Genesis 48:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/48-4.htm">Genesis 48:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/48-4.htm">Genesis 48:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/48-4.htm">Genesis 48:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/48-4.htm">Genesis 48:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/48-4.htm">Genesis 48:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/48-4.htm">Genesis 48:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/48-4.htm">OT Law: Genesis 48:4 And said to me 'Behold I will (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/48-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 48:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 48:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/48-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 48:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 48:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>