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cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad12.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/48-11.htm" title="Genesis 48:11">◄</a> Genesis 48:12 <a href="/genesis/48-13.htm" title="Genesis 48:13">►</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 />Then Joseph removed them from Israel&#8217s knees and bowed down with his face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/48.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Joseph moved the boys, who were at their grandfather’s knees, and he bowed with his face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/48.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/48.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Joseph removed his sons from his father’s knees and bowed facedown.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/48.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/48.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So Joseph brought them from beside his knees, and he bowed down with his face to the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/48.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Joseph took them from his knees, and bowed with his face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/48.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Then Joseph took them from his knees, and bowed with his face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/48.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Then Joseph took them from his knees, and bowed with his face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/48.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Then Joseph took them from his knees and bowed with his face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/48.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Then Joseph took the boys [from his father’s embrace], and he bowed [before him] with his face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/48.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Joseph took them from his father’s knees and bowed with his face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/48.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Joseph took them from his father&#8217s knees and bowed with his face to the ground. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/48.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And Joseph brought them out from between his knees; and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/48.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Then Joseph made his sons move away from Jacob's knees, and Joseph bowed down in front of him with his face to the ground. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/48.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And Joseph brought them out from between his knees; and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/48.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Joseph took them off his father's lap and bowed with his face touching the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/48.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Then Joseph took them from Jacob's lap and bowed down before him with his face to the ground. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/48.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Joseph took them off his knees and then bowed low with his face to the ground. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/48.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />So Joseph moved them from Israel's knees and bowed down with his face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/48.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Then Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/48.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/48.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Then Joseph removed his sons from his father’s knees and bowed facedown.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/48.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/48.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And Joseph brings them out from between his knees, and bows himself on his face to the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/48.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And Joseph bringeth them out from between his knees, and boweth himself on his face to the earth;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/48.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And Joseph will bring them forth from his knees, and will bow himself with his face to the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/48.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And when Joseph had taken them from his father's lap, he bowed down with his face to the ground. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/48.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And when Joseph had taken them from his father’s lap, he reverenced prone on the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/48.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Joseph removed them from his father’s knees and bowed down before him with his face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/48.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Then Joseph removed them from his father’s knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/48.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Joseph removed them from before his knees, and they bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/48.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And he removed them from before his knees and they bowed before him on their faces on the ground.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/48.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And Joseph brought them out from between his knees; and he fell down on his face to the earth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/48.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And Joseph brought them out from <i>between</i> his knees, and they did reverence to him, with their face to the ground.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/48-12.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=12663" 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">11</span>“I never expected to see your face again,” Israel said to Joseph, “but now God has let me see your children as well.” <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3130.htm" title="3130: yō·w·sêp̄ (N-proper-ms) -- Future of yacaph; let him add; Joseph, the name of seven Israelites.">Then Joseph</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯām (DirObjM:: 3mp) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3318.htm" title="3318: way·yō·w·ṣê (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to go out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.">removed his sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/5973.htm" title="5973: mê·‘im (Prep-m) -- From amam; adverb or preposition, with, in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix.">from</a> <a href="/hebrew/1290.htm" title="1290: bir·kāw (N-fdc:: 3ms) -- The knee. From barak; a knee.">his father’s knees</a> <a href="/hebrew/7812.htm" title="7812: way·yiš·ta·ḥū (Conj-w:: V-Hitpael-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To bow down. A primitive root; to depress, i.e. Prostrate.">and bowed</a> <a href="/hebrew/639.htm" title="639: lə·’ap·pāw (Prep-l:: N-mdc:: 3ms) -- A nostril, nose, face, anger. From 'anaph; properly, the nose or nostril; hence, the face, and occasionally a person; also ire.">facedown.</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: ’ā·rə·ṣāh (N-fs:: 3fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth."></a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>And Joseph took both of them—with Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand—and brought them close to him.…<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/27-30.htm">Genesis 27:30-33</a></span><br />As soon as Isaac had finished blessing him and Jacob had left his father’s presence, his brother Esau returned from the hunt. / He too made some tasty food, brought it to his father, and said to him, “My father, sit up and eat of your son’s game, so that you may bless me.” / But his father Isaac replied, “Who are you?” “I am Esau, your firstborn son,” he answered. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/37-3.htm">Genesis 37:3</a></span><br />Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/41-51.htm">Genesis 41:51</a></span><br />Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/50-23.htm">Genesis 50:23</a></span><br />He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir son of Manasseh were brought up on Joseph’s knees.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-1.htm">Exodus 1:1-5</a></span><br />These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: / Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; / Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/33-17.htm">Deuteronomy 33:17</a></span><br />His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/joshua/14-4.htm">Joshua 14:4</a></span><br />The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion of the land was given to the Levites, except for cities in which to live, along with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/5-1.htm">1 Chronicles 5:1-2</a></span><br />These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright. / And though Judah prevailed over his brothers and a ruler came from him, the birthright belonged to Joseph.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/127-3.htm">Psalm 127:3-5</a></span><br />Children are indeed a heritage from the LORD, and the fruit of the womb is His reward. / Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are children born in one’s youth. / Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. He will not be put to shame when he confronts the enemies at the gate.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/8-18.htm">Isaiah 8:18</a></span><br />Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me as signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD of Hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/19-13.htm">Matthew 19:13-15</a></span><br />Then little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them. / But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” / And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/10-13.htm">Mark 10:13-16</a></span><br />Now people were bringing the little children to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them, and the disciples rebuked those who brought them. / But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. / Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/18-15.htm">Luke 18:15-17</a></span><br />Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them. / But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. / Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-12.htm">John 1:12-13</a></span><br />But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— / children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-14.htm">Acts 7:14-15</a></span><br />Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all. / So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.</p><p class="hdg">he bowed himself.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/18-2.htm">Genesis 18:2</a></b></br> And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw <i>them</i>, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/19-1.htm">Genesis 19:1</a></b></br> And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing <i>them</i> rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/23-7.htm">Genesis 23:7</a></b></br> And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, <i>even</i> to the children of Heth.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/47-31.htm">Bowed</a> <a href="/genesis/47-31.htm">Boweth</a> <a href="/genesis/45-7.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/48-11.htm">Face</a> <a href="/genesis/46-29.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/genesis/47-26.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/genesis/48-10.htm">Israel's</a> <a href="/genesis/48-11.htm">Joseph</a> <a href="/genesis/30-3.htm">Knees</a> <a href="/genesis/47-21.htm">Removed</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/49-15.htm">Bowed</a> <a href="/exodus/18-7.htm">Boweth</a> <a href="/genesis/48-16.htm">Earth</a> <a href="/genesis/50-1.htm">Face</a> <a href="/genesis/50-1.htm">Fell</a> <a href="/exodus/3-5.htm">Ground</a> <a href="/genesis/48-13.htm">Israel's</a> <a href="/genesis/48-13.htm">Joseph</a> <a href="/genesis/50-23.htm">Knees</a> <a href="/exodus/8-31.htm">Removed</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>Then Joseph removed his sons from his father’s knees</b><br>In this scene, Joseph is presenting his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to his father Jacob for a blessing. The act of placing children on the knees of a patriarch was a symbolic gesture, signifying acceptance and adoption into the family lineage. This is significant as it underscores the importance of the blessing Jacob is about to bestow, which will integrate Joseph's sons into the tribes of Israel. The cultural context of the time placed great importance on blessings and inheritance, and this act signifies the formal recognition of Ephraim and Manasseh as Jacob's own sons, thus granting them equal status with Jacob's other sons. This moment also foreshadows the future prominence of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh in Israel's history.<p><b>and bowed facedown</b><br>Joseph's act of bowing facedown is a demonstration of deep respect and humility before his father, Jacob. This gesture is consistent with the cultural norms of the ancient Near East, where bowing was a common expression of reverence and submission, especially towards elders and those in authority. It also reflects Joseph's acknowledgment of Jacob's spiritual authority and the significance of the blessing about to be given. This act of humility can be seen as a type of Christ, who, though equal with God, humbled Himself in obedience. Additionally, Joseph's bowing may remind readers of the earlier dreams he had, where his brothers bowed to him, highlighting the fulfillment of God's promises and the reversal of roles in God's providential plan.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joseph.htm">Joseph</a></b><br>The son of Jacob and Rachel, Joseph is a key figure in the Genesis account. He rose to power in Egypt and saved his family from famine.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob (Israel)</a></b><br>The patriarch of the Israelite tribes, Jacob is Joseph's father. In this chapter, he is blessing Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/ephraim_and_manasseh.htm">Ephraim and Manasseh</a></b><br>The sons of Joseph, born in Egypt. They are being blessed by their grandfather Jacob, which is a significant event as it establishes their place among the tribes of Israel.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The land where Joseph rose to power and where Jacob and his family settled during the famine.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/b/blessing_ceremony.htm">Blessing Ceremony</a></b><br>A significant event where Jacob blesses Joseph's sons, symbolizing the passing of the covenantal promise to the next generation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_blessings.htm">The Importance of Blessings</a></b><br>In biblical times, blessings were more than just words; they were seen as prophetic and powerful, shaping the future of those who received them.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/generational_faithfulness.htm">Generational Faithfulness</a></b><br>Jacob's blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh underscores the importance of passing down faith and God's promises to the next generation.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/h/humility_and_reverence.htm">Humility and Reverence</a></b><br>Joseph's act of bowing down demonstrates humility and reverence, both towards his father and towards God, acknowledging the significance of the moment.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_family_dynamics.htm">God's Sovereignty in Family Dynamics</a></b><br>Despite the complexities and dysfunctions in Jacob's family, God's purposes prevail, showing His sovereignty in family dynamics.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_the_patriarch.htm">The Role of the Patriarch</a></b><br>Jacob's role as a patriarch is crucial in the spiritual and physical lineage of Israel, emphasizing the responsibility of spiritual leadership in families.<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/what_is_the_tribe_of_ephraim.htm">What is the Tribe of Ephraim?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_does_jacob_adopt_joseph's_sons.htm">Genesis 48:5 - Why does Jacob adopt Joseph's sons as his own, and does this practice have any verifiable historical precedent?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_include_joseph's_kids_in_genesis_46_20.htm">Why does Genesis 46:20 include Joseph's Egyptian-born children in the lineage, and is there extrabiblical evidence for Joseph's high status in Egypt?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what's_the_biblical_birthright.htm">What is the biblical concept of birthright?</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>(12) <span class= "bld">He bowed himself.</span>--The Samaritan, Syriac, and LXX. Versions regard the Hebrew verb as a contracted plural, and many modern commentators adopt this view. It would thus be Manasseh and Ephraim who stood before Jacob with faces bent towards the ground. The pronoun, however, is in favour of the verb being singular, and the sense it gives is equally satisfactory.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/48.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 12.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And Joseph brought them out from between his knees</span> (literally, <span class="accented">from near</span> his knees, <span class="accented">i.e.</span> the knees of his father, who while in the act of embracing had drawn them into that position), <span class="cmt_word">and he</span> (viz. Joseph) <span class="cmt_word">bowed himself with his face to the earth</span>. The reading "and they bowed themselves," <span class="accented">i.e.</span> Ephraim and Manasseh (Samaritan, Michaelis), and the rendering <span class="greek">καὶ προσκύνησαν</span> <span class="greek">αὐτῴ</span> (LXX.), are incorrect. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/48-12.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">Then Joseph</span><br /><span class="heb">יוֹסֵ֛ף</span> <span class="translit">(yō·w·sêp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3130.htm">Strong's 3130: </a> </span><span class="str2">Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">took</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיּוֹצֵ֥א</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·w·ṣê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3318.htm">Strong's 3318: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, bring, out, direct and proxim</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them from</span><br /><span class="heb">מֵעִ֣ם</span> <span class="translit">(mê·‘im)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5973.htm">Strong's 5973: </a> </span><span class="str2">With, equally with</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his father’s knees</span><br /><span class="heb">בִּרְכָּ֑יו</span> <span class="translit">(bir·kāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1290.htm">Strong's 1290: </a> </span><span class="str2">The knee</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and bowed down</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiš·ta·ḥū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7812.htm">Strong's 7812: </a> </span><span class="str2">To depress, prostrate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with his face</span><br /><span class="heb">לְאַפָּ֖יו</span> <span class="translit">(lə·’ap·pāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - mdc | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_639.htm">Strong's 639: </a> </span><span class="str2">The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to the ground.</span><br /><span class="heb">אָֽרְצָה׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·rə·ṣāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular | third person 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 /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/48-12.htm">Genesis 48:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/48-12.htm">Genesis 48:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/48-12.htm">Genesis 48:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/48-12.htm">Genesis 48:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/48-12.htm">Genesis 48:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/48-12.htm">Genesis 48:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/48-12.htm">Genesis 48:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/48-12.htm">Genesis 48:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/48-12.htm">Genesis 48:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/48-12.htm">Genesis 48:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/48-12.htm">OT Law: Genesis 48:12 Joseph brought them out from between his (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/48-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 48:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 48:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/48-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 48:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 48:13" /></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>