Genesis

Genesis 48:15–22

15Then he blessed Joseph and said:

“May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,

the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,

16the angelc who has redeemed me from all harm—

may He bless these boys.

And may they be called by my name

and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,

and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.”

17When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was displeased and took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s. 18“Not so, my father!” Joseph said. “This one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

19But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”

20So that day Jacob blessed them and said:

“By you shall Israel pronounce this blessing:

‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”

So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

21Then Israel said to Joseph, “Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers. 22And to you, as one who is above your brothers, I give the ridge of landd that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”

Footnotes

  • c 48:16 Or Angel
  • d 48:22 Or one portion of the land; Hebrew shekem, which sounds like the town and district called Shechem

Read all of Genesis 48

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 48:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then he blessedוַיְבָ֥רֶךְway·ḇā·reḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1288 kneel, bless
Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyō·w·sêp̄Noun - proper - masculine singularH3130 Joseph
and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רway·yō·marConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
May the Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֡יםhā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
beforeלְפָנָיו֙lə·p̄ā·nāwPreposition-l; Noun - common plural construct; third person masculine singularH6440 face, before
whomאֲשֶׁר֩’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
my fathersאֲבֹתַ֤י’ă·ḇō·ṯayNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH1 father
Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֣ם’aḇ·rā·hāmNoun - proper - masculine singularH85 Abraham
and Isaacוְיִצְחָ֔קwə·yiṣ·ḥāqConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3327 Isaac
walkedהִתְהַלְּכ֨וּhiṯ·hal·lə·ḵūVerb - Hitpael - Perfect - third person common pluralH1980 go, come, walk
the Godהָֽאֱלֹהִים֙hā·’ĕ·lō·hîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
who has been my shepherdהָרֹעֶ֣הhā·rō·‘ehArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH7462 pasture, tend, graze
all my lifeמֵעוֹדִ֖יmê·‘ō·w·ḏîPreposition-m; Adverb; first person common singularH5750 a going round, continuance
toעַד־‘aḏ-PrepositionH5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
thisהַזֶּֽה׃haz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
dayהַיּ֥וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day

Genesis 48:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
the angelהַמַּלְאָךְ֩ham·mal·’āḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4397 messenger
who has redeemedהַגֹּאֵ֨לhag·gō·’êlArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH1350 redeem, act as kinsman
meאֹתִ֜י’ō·ṯîDirect object marker; first person common singularH853 mark of the accusative
from allמִכָּל־mik·kālPreposition-m; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
harmרָ֗עrā‘Adjective - masculine singularH7451 bad, evil
may He blessיְבָרֵךְ֮yə·ḇā·rêḵVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1288 kneel, bless
these boysהַנְּעָרִים֒han·nə·‘ā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5288 a shaking, scattering
And may they be calledוְיִקָּרֵ֤אwə·yiq·qā·rêConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
by my nameשְׁמִ֔יšə·mîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH8034 name
and the namesוְשֵׁ֥םwə·šêmConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH8034 name
of my fathersאֲבֹתַ֖י’ă·ḇō·ṯayNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH1 father
Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֣ם’aḇ·rā·hāmNoun - proper - masculine singularH85 Abraham
and Isaacוְיִצְחָ֑קwə·yiṣ·ḥāqConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3327 Isaac
and may they growוְיִדְגּ֥וּwə·yiḏ·gūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1711 multiply, increase
into a multitudeלָרֹ֖בlā·rōḇPreposition-l, Article; Noun - masculine singularH7230 multitude, abundance, greatness
uponבְּקֶ֥רֶבbə·qe·reḇPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH7130 inward part, midst
the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃hā·’ā·reṣArticle; Noun - feminine singularH776 earth, land

Genesis 48:17

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
When Josephיוֹסֵ֗ףyō·w·sêp̄Noun - proper - masculine singularH3130 Joseph
sawוַיַּ֣רְאway·yarConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7200 see
thatכִּי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
his fatherאָבִ֧יו’ā·ḇîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1 father
had placedיָשִׁ֨יתyā·šîṯVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH7896 put, set
his rightיְמִינ֛וֹyə·mî·nōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3225 right hand
handיַד־yaḏ-Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
onעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
Ephraim’sאֶפְרַ֖יִם’ep̄·ra·yimNoun - proper - masculine singularH669 Ephraim
headרֹ֥אשׁrōšNoun - masculine singular constructH7218 head
he was displeasedוַיֵּ֣רַעway·yê·ra‘Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7489 be evil, bad
and tookוַיִּתְמֹ֣ךְway·yiṯ·mōḵConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH8551 grasp, support, attain
his father’sאָבִ֗יו’ā·ḇîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1 father
handיַד־yaḏ-Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
to moveלְהָסִ֥ירlə·hā·sîrPreposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructH5493 turn aside
itאֹתָ֛הּ’ō·ṯāhDirect object marker; third person feminine singularH853 mark of the accusative
fromמֵעַ֥לmê·‘alPreposition-mH5921 height
Ephraim’sאֶפְרַ֖יִם’ep̄·ra·yimNoun - proper - masculine singularH669 Ephraim
headרֹאשׁ־rōš-Noun - masculine singular constructH7218 head
toעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
Manasseh’sמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃mə·naš·šehNoun - proper - masculine singularH4519 Manasseh

Genesis 48:18

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Notלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
soכֵ֣ןḵênAdverbH3651 right, veritable, honest
my fatherאָבִ֑י’ā·ḇîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1 father
Josephיוֹסֵ֛ףyō·w·sêp̄Noun - proper - masculine singularH3130 Joseph
saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Thisזֶ֣הzehPronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
one is the firstbornהַבְּכֹ֔רhab·bə·ḵōrArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1060 first-born
putשִׂ֥יםśîmVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH7760 put, place, set
your right handיְמִינְךָ֖yə·mî·nə·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH3225 right hand
onעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
his headרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃rō·šōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7218 head

Genesis 48:19

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But his fatherאָבִ֗יו’ā·ḇîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1 father
refusedוַיְמָאֵ֣ןway·mā·’ênConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3985 refuse
I knowיָדַ֤עְתִּֽיyā·ḏa‘·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH3045 know
my sonבְנִי֙ḇə·nîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1121 son
I knowיָדַ֔עְתִּיyā·ḏa‘·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH3045 know
he saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙way·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Heה֥וּאhūPronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
tooגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
shall becomeיִֽהְיֶה־yih·yeh-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a peopleלְּעָ֖םlə·‘āmPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
and heה֣וּאhūPronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
tooוְגַם־wə·ḡam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
shall be greatיִגְדָּ֑לyiḡ·dālVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1431 grow up, become great
neverthelessוְאוּלָ֗םwə·’ū·lāmConjunctionH199 but, but indeed
his youngerהַקָּטֹן֙haq·qā·ṭōnArticle; Adjective - masculine singularH6996 small, young, unimportant
brotherאָחִ֤יו’ā·ḥîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
shall be greaterיִגְדַּ֣לyiḡ·dalVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1431 grow up, become great
than heמִמֶּ֔נּוּmim·men·nūPreposition; third person masculine singularH4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
and his offspringוְזַרְע֖וֹwə·zar·‘ōwConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH2233 sowing, seed, offspring
shall becomeיִהְיֶ֥הyih·yehVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
a multitudeמְלֹֽא־mə·lō-Noun - masculine singular constructH4393 fulness, that which fills
of nationsהַגּוֹיִֽם׃hag·gō·w·yimArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH1471 nation, people

Genesis 48:20

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbay·yō·wmPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
blessedוַיְבָ֨רֲכֵ֜םway·ḇā·ră·ḵêmConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine pluralH1288 kneel, bless
themהַהוּא֮ha·hūArticle; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
and saidלֵאמֹ֔רlê·mōrPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH559 utter, say
By youבְּךָ֗bə·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singular
shall Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙yiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
pronounceלֵאמוֹר֒lê·mō·wrPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH559 utter, say
this blessingיְבָרֵ֤ךְyə·ḇā·rêḵVerb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH1288 kneel, bless
May Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
makeיְשִֽׂמְךָ֣yə·śim·ḵāVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular; second person masculine singularH7760 put, place, set
you like Ephraimכְּאֶפְרַ֖יִםkə·’ep̄·ra·yimPreposition-k; Noun - proper - masculine singularH669 Ephraim
and Manassehוְכִמְנַשֶּׁ֑הwə·ḵim·naš·šehConjunctive waw, Preposition-k; Noun - proper - masculine singularH4519 Manasseh
So he putוַיָּ֥שֶׂםway·yā·śemConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7760 put, place, set
Ephraimאֶפְרַ֖יִם’ep̄·ra·yimNoun - proper - masculine singularH669 Ephraim
beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlip̄·nêPreposition-l; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
Manassehמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃mə·naš·šehNoun - proper - masculine singularH4519 Manasseh

Genesis 48:21

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙yiś·rā·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH3478 Israel
saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyō·w·sêp̄Noun - proper - masculine singularH3130 Joseph
Lookהִנֵּ֥הhin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
Iאָנֹכִ֖י’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
am about to dieמֵ֑תmêṯVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH4191 die
but Godאֱלֹהִים֙’ĕ·lō·hîmNoun - masculine pluralH430 God
will beוְהָיָ֤הwə·hā·yāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
with youעִמָּכֶ֔ם‘im·mā·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine pluralH5973 with
and bringוְהֵשִׁ֣יבwə·hê·šîḇConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularH7725 turn back, return
youאֶתְכֶ֔ם’eṯ·ḵemDirect object marker; second person masculine pluralH853 mark of the accusative
back toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the landאֶ֖רֶץ’e·reṣNoun - feminine singular constructH776 earth, land
of your fathersאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃’ă·ḇō·ṯê·ḵemNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine pluralH1 father

Genesis 48:22

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And to youלְךָ֛lə·ḵāPreposition; second person masculine singular
as one who is aboveעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
your brothersאַחֶ֑יךָ’a·ḥe·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH251 brother
Iוַאֲנִ֞יwa·’ă·nîConjunctive waw; Pronoun - first person common singularH589 I
giveנָתַ֧תִּֽיnā·ṯat·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH5414 give, put, set
theאַחַ֖ד’a·ḥaḏNumber - masculine singularH259 one
ridge of landשְׁכֶ֥םšə·ḵemNoun - masculine singularH7926 shoulder
thatאֲשֶׁ֤ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
I tookלָקַ֙חְתִּי֙lā·qaḥ·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH3947 take
fromמִיַּ֣דmî·yaḏPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
the Amoritesהָֽאֱמֹרִ֔יhā·’ĕ·mō·rîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH567 Amorites
with my swordבְּחַרְבִּ֖יbə·ḥar·bîPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH2719 sword
and bowוּבְקַשְׁתִּֽי׃פū·ḇə·qaš·tîConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH7198 bow

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Genesis 48:15 Genesis 17:1 · Hebrews 11:21 · Colossians 2:6

Genesis 48:16 Psalm 34:22 · Genesis 48:5 · Genesis 28:13–15 · Genesis 49:22 · Numbers 26:28–37 · Psalm 121:7 · Joshua 17:17 · Acts 15:17 · 2 Timothy 4:18 · Isaiah 63:9 · Amos 9:12 · Hebrews 11:21

Genesis 48:17 Romans 9:7–8 · Genesis 48:14

Genesis 48:19 Deuteronomy 33:17 · Numbers 1:33–35 · Genesis 25:28 · Genesis 48:14 · Genesis 17:20–21

Genesis 48:20 Ruth 4:11–12 · Genesis 28:3 · Genesis 24:60

Genesis 48:21 Genesis 46:4 · Genesis 50:24 · Genesis 26:3 · Genesis 28:15 · Hebrews 7:3 · Hebrews 7:23–25

Genesis 48:22 John 4:5 · Joshua 24:32 · 1 Chronicles 5:2

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.