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and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/48.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/48.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, &#8220Behold, your father is sick.&#8221 So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/48.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/48.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now it happened after these things that Joseph was told, “Behold, your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/48.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now some time after these things happened, Joseph was told, “Your father is sick.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him [to go to Goshen].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/48.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Some time after this, Joseph was told, “Your father is weaker.” So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/48.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Some time after this, Joseph was told, &#8220Your father is weaker.&#8221 So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/48.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass after these things, that one said to Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/48.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Joseph was told that his father Jacob had become very sick. So Joseph went to see him and took along his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/48.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And it came to pass after these things, that one said to Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/48.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Later Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim [to see Jacob].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/48.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Some time later Joseph was told that his father was ill. So he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to see Jacob. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/48.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Some time later, somebody informed Joseph, "Your father is ill!" So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him to visit Jacob. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/48.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Some time later Joseph was told, ?Your father is ill.? So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/48.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />After these things Joseph was told, "Your father is weakening." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/48.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />And it came about after these things that someone said to Joseph, "Look, your father is sick." And taking with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, he went to Jacob.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/48.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/48.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />After these things, someone said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick.” He took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/48.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And it comes to pass, after these things, that [one] says to Joseph, “Behold, your father is sick”; and he takes his two sons with him, Manasseh and Ephraim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/48.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/48.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And it shall be after these words, and it will be said to Joseph, Behold, thy father was sick: and he will take his two sons with him, Manasseh and Ephraim.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/48.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />After these things, it was told Joseph that his father was sick: and he set out to go to him, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/48.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />After these things were done, it was reported to Joseph that his father was sick. And taking his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim, he went directly to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/48.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Some time afterward, Joseph was informed, “Your father is failing.” So he took along with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/48.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />After this Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/48.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />AND it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, Behold, your father is sick; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/48.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And after these matters, it was told to Yoseph, “Behold, your father is ill”, and he took his two sons with him, Menasheh and Aphreim.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/48.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And it came to pass after these things, that one said to Joseph: 'Behold, thy father is sick.' And he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/48.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And it came to pass after these things, that it was reported to Joseph, Behold, thy father is ill; and, having taken his two sons, Manasse and Ephraim, he came to Jacob.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/48-1.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=12553" 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">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: way·hî (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass."></a> <a href="/hebrew/310.htm" title="310: ’a·ḥă·rê (Prep) -- The hind or following part. From 'achar; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after.">Some time later</a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: had·də·ḇā·rîm (Art:: N-mp) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause."></a> <a href="/hebrew/428.htm" title="428: hā·’êl·leh (Art:: Pro-cp) -- These. Prolonged from 'el; these or those."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3130.htm" title="3130: lə·yō·w·sêp̄ (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- Future of yacaph; let him add; Joseph, the name of seven Israelites.">Joseph</a> <a href="/hebrew/2009.htm" title="2009: hin·nêh (Interjection) -- Lo! behold! Prolongation for hen; lo!"></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">was told,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ā·ḇî·ḵā (N-msc:: 2ms) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">“Your father</a> <a href="/hebrew/2470.htm" title="2470: ḥō·leh (V-Qal-Prtcpl-ms) -- A primitive root; properly, to be rubbed or worn; hence to be weak, sick, afflicted; or to grieve, make sick; also to stroke, entreat.">is ill.”</a> <a href="/hebrew/3947.htm" title="3947: way·yiq·qaḥ (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To take. A primitive root; to take.">So he set out</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/5973.htm" title="5973: ‘im·mōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- From amam; adverb or preposition, with, in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix.">with</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/8147.htm" title="8147: šə·nê (Number-mdc) -- Two (a card. number). Dual of sheniy; feminine shttayim; two; also twofold.">his two</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ḇā·nāw (N-mpc:: 3ms) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">sons,</a> <a href="/hebrew/4519.htm" title="4519: mə·naš·šeh (N-proper-ms) -- From nashah; causing to forget; Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory.">Manasseh</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: wə·’eṯ- (Conj-w:: DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/669.htm" title="669: ’ep̄·rā·yim (N-proper-ms) -- Dual of masculine form of 'Ephraath; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory.">and Ephraim.</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed.…<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/47-29.htm">Genesis 47:29-31</a></span><br />When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, / but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.” / “Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/50-1.htm">Genesis 50:1-14</a></span><br />Then Joseph fell upon his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him. / And Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him, / taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-21.htm">Hebrews 11:21</a></span><br />By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/35-9.htm">Genesis 35:9-12</a></span><br />After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. / And God said to him, “Though your name is Jacob, you will no longer be called Jacob. Instead, your name will be Israel.” So God named him Israel. / 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. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/41-51.htm">Genesis 41:51-52</a></span><br />Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.” / And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/46-1.htm">Genesis 46:1-4</a></span><br />So Israel set out with all that he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. / And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob. / “I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/49-1.htm">Genesis 49:1-28</a></span><br />Then Jacob called for his sons and said, “Gather around so that I can tell you what will happen to you in the days to come: / Come together and listen, O sons of Jacob; listen to your father Israel. / Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power. ...<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="/genesis/17-1.htm">Genesis 17:1-8</a></span><br />When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless. / I will establish My covenant between Me and you, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” / Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/28-13.htm">Genesis 28:13-15</a></span><br />And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. / Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. / Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/37-1.htm">Genesis 37:1-11</a></span><br />Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had resided, the land of Canaan. / This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them. / 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/45-25.htm">Genesis 45:25-28</a></span><br />So the brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. / “Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them. / However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/50-22.htm">Genesis 50:22-26</a></span><br />Now Joseph and his father’s household remained in Egypt, and Joseph lived to the age of 110. / 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. / Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-1.htm">Exodus 1:1-7</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="/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.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, your father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.</p><p class="hdg">thy father.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/11-3.htm">John 11:3</a></b></br> Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.</p><p class="hdg">his two sons.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/41-50.htm">Genesis 41:50-52</a></b></br> And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/46-20.htm">Genesis 46:20</a></b></br> And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/50-23.htm">Genesis 50:23</a></b></br> And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third <i>generation</i>: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/46-20.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/genesis/46-20.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/genesis/43-6.htm">Ill</a> <a href="/genesis/47-31.htm">Joseph</a> <a href="/genesis/40-1.htm">Later</a> <a href="/genesis/46-20.htm">Manasseh</a> <a href="/genesis/46-20.htm">Manas'seh</a> <a href="/james/5-15.htm">Sick</a> <a href="/genesis/17-12.htm">Someone</a> <a href="/genesis/47-29.htm">Time</a> <a href="/genesis/47-30.htm">Word</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/48-5.htm">Ephraim</a> <a href="/genesis/48-5.htm">E'phraim</a> <a href="/exodus/5-19.htm">Ill</a> <a href="/genesis/48-2.htm">Joseph</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-26.htm">Later</a> <a href="/genesis/48-5.htm">Manasseh</a> <a href="/genesis/48-5.htm">Manas'seh</a> <a href="/leviticus/15-33.htm">Sick</a> <a href="/genesis/48-2.htm">Someone</a> <a href="/genesis/50-3.htm">Time</a> <a href="/genesis/50-16.htm">Word</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>Some time later</b><br>This phrase indicates a passage of time since the previous events in <a href="/genesis/47.htm">Genesis 47</a>, where Jacob settled in Egypt. It suggests a period of relative peace and prosperity for Jacob's family in Goshen, a fertile region in Egypt.<p><b>Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.”</b><br>The notification of Jacob's illness marks a significant moment, as it prompts Joseph to visit his father. In the ancient Near Eastern context, family ties were crucial, and the presence of a son at a father's deathbed was a sign of respect and duty. This moment foreshadows the impending death of Jacob, a patriarch whose life and legacy are central to the narrative of Israel.<p><b>So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.</b><br>Joseph's decision to bring his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, is significant. It reflects the importance of family blessings and the transmission of covenant promises. Manasseh and Ephraim, born in Egypt, represent the next generation of Israelites. Their inclusion in this visit highlights their future roles in the tribes of Israel. This act also sets the stage for Jacob's adoption of them as his own sons, which will have lasting implications for the tribal structure of Israel.<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, who rose to power in Egypt. He is a key figure in the preservation of the Israelites during a time of famine.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob (Israel)</a></b><br>The patriarch of the Israelite tribes, father of Joseph, and recipient of God's covenant promises. He is nearing the end of his life in this passage.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/m/manasseh_and_ephraim.htm">Manasseh and Ephraim</a></b><br>The two sons of Joseph, born in Egypt. They are significant as they will be adopted by Jacob and become heads of their own tribes in 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/i/illness_of_jacob.htm">Illness of Jacob</a></b><br>This event marks the beginning of Jacob's final blessings to his sons and grandsons, a significant moment in the account of the Israelite people.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_family_legacy.htm">The Importance of Family Legacy</a></b><br>Jacob's desire to bless Joseph's sons underscores the importance of passing on faith and blessings to the next generation. Consider how you can impart spiritual heritage to your family.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_illness_and_health.htm">God's Sovereignty in Illness and Health</a></b><br>Jacob's illness is a reminder of human frailty, yet it is within God's sovereign plan. Trust in God's timing and purposes, even in times of sickness.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_faith_in_uncertain_times.htm">The Role of Faith in Uncertain Times</a></b><br>Joseph's response to his father's illness shows faith and obedience. In times of uncertainty, rely on God's promises and act in faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_significance_of_spiritual_adoption.htm">The Significance of Spiritual Adoption</a></b><br>Jacob's adoption of Manasseh and Ephraim into his family line prefigures the spiritual adoption believers have in Christ. Reflect on your identity as a child of God.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/preparation_for_end-of-life_matters.htm">Preparation for End-of-Life Matters</a></b><br>Jacob's actions remind us of the importance of preparing for the end of life, both spiritually and practically. Consider how you can prepare your heart and affairs in light of eternity.<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/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_favor_ephraim_over_manasseh.htm">Genesis 48:17-19 - Why would God supposedly favor Ephraim over Manasseh despite established primogeniture traditions, and is there any extrabiblical data supporting this choice?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_genesis_49_22-26_a_failed_prophecy.htm">In Genesis 49:22-26, Joseph receives extraordinary blessings, yet historical records of his descendants (Ephraim and Manasseh) show decline--can this be viewed as a failed prophecy?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_the_tribe_of_joseph_important.htm">What is the significance of the Tribe of Joseph?</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>XLVIII.<p>THE BLESSING OF MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM, AND THE RECOGNITION OF THEM BY JACOB AS HEADS OF TRIBES.</span><p>(1) <span class= "bld">His two sons.</span>--We have already seen that the purpose of the genealogy given in Genesis 46 was not the enumeration of Jacob's children and grandchildren, but the recognition of those of his descendants who were to hold the high position of heads of "families." In this chapter a still more important matter is settled; for Jacob, exercising to the full his rights as the father and head of the Israelite race, and moved thereto both by his love for Rachel, the high rank of Joseph, and also by the spirit of prophecy, bestows upon Joseph two tribes. No authority less than that of Jacob would have sufficed for this, and therefore the grant is carefully recorded, and holds its right place immediately before the solemn blessing given by the dying patriarch to his sons. The occasion of Joseph's visit was the sickness of his father, who not merely felt generally that his death was near, as in <a href="/genesis/47-29.htm" title="And the time drew near that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, If now I have found grace in your sight, put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray you, in Egypt:">Genesis 47:29</a>, but was now suffering from some malady; and Joseph naturally took with him his two sons, that they might see and be blessed by their grandfather before his death.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/48.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 1.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And it came to pass after these things</span> (<span class="accented">i.e.</span> the events recorded in the preceding chapter, and in particular after the arrangements which had been made for Jacob s funeral), <span class="cmt_word">that one told Joseph</span>, - the verb <span class="hebrew">וַלֺיּאמֶר</span> is here used impersonally, or passively, for "<span class="accented">one</span> told," or "it was told," to Joseph (LXX., <span class="greek">ἀπεγγέλη</span>; Vulgate, <span class="accented">munciatum est</span>; Rosenmüller, Keil, Kalisch, Murphy, <span class="accented">et alii</span>); or probably emphatically, by way of calling attention to the circumstance - denoting perhaps a special messenger (Tayler Lewis). <span class="cmt_word">Behold, thy father is sick</span>. The word in the original conveys the idea of being worn down or becoming infirm through age or disease, and may suggest the notion that Jacob was now regarded as rapidly approaching dissolution. <span class="cmt_word">And he took with him his two sons, Manasseh end Ephraim</span> - who at this time must have been about eighteen or twenty years of age (Keil), and who appear to have accompanied their father from respectful affection to their aged relative (Murphy), or to have been taken in the hope that "the words of their blessed grand father would make an indelible impression on their hearts (Lawson), rather than in order to obtain from Jacob "a pledge of their unqualified admission as members of his house," of their exclusion from which Joseph was not altogether groundlessly apprehensive, in consequence of their being the children of an Egyptian mother (Kalisch). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/48-1.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">Some time later,</span><br /><span class="heb">אַחֲרֵי֙</span> <span class="translit">(’a·ḥă·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<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">Joseph</span><br /><span class="heb">לְיוֹסֵ֔ף</span> <span class="translit">(lə·yō·w·sêp̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | 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">was 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">“Your father</span><br /><span class="heb">אָבִ֖יךָ</span> <span class="translit">(’ā·ḇî·ḵā)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> </span><span class="str2">Father</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is ill.”</span><br /><span class="heb">חֹלֶ֑ה</span> <span class="translit">(ḥō·leh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2470.htm">Strong's 2470: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be weak or sick</span><br /><br /><span class="word">So he set out</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּקַּ֞ח</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiq·qaḥ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3947.htm">Strong's 3947: </a> </span><span class="str2">To take</span><br /><br /><span class="word">with</span><br /><span class="heb">עִמּ֔וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(‘im·mōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine singular<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 two</span><br /><span class="heb">שְׁנֵ֤י</span> <span class="translit">(šə·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - mdc<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8147.htm">Strong's 8147: </a> </span><span class="str2">Two (a cardinal number)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">sons,</span><br /><span class="heb">בָנָיו֙</span> <span class="translit">(ḇā·nāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> </span><span class="str2">A son</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Manasseh</span><br /><span class="heb">מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(mə·naš·šeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4519.htm">Strong's 4519: </a> </span><span class="str2">Manasseh -- 'causing to forget', a son of Joseph, also a king of Judah, also two Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and Ephraim.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶפְרָֽיִם׃</span> <span class="translit">(’ep̄·rā·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_669.htm">Strong's 669: </a> </span><span class="str2">Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/48-1.htm">Genesis 48:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/48-1.htm">Genesis 48:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/48-1.htm">Genesis 48:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/48-1.htm">Genesis 48:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/48-1.htm">Genesis 48:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/48-1.htm">Genesis 48:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/48-1.htm">Genesis 48:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/48-1.htm">Genesis 48:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/48-1.htm">Genesis 48:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/48-1.htm">Genesis 48:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/48-1.htm">OT Law: Genesis 48:1 It happened after these things that someone (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/47-31.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 47:31"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 47:31" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/48-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 48:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 48:2" /></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>