Genesis 48

Genesis 48:1

one said to Joseph

"someone said to Joseph"

So he took

"So Joseph took"

Genesis 48:2

your son Joseph has arrived to see you

"your son Joseph has come to you"

Israel gathered strength and sat up in bed

"Israel made a great effort to sit up in bed" or "Israel struggled as he sat up in bed"

Genesis 48:3

Luz

This is the name of a city.

Genesis 48:4

said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you. I will make of you an assembly of nations. I will give this land to your descendants as an everlasting possession.'

"said to me that he would make me fruitful and multiply me. And, he said that he would make me an assembly of nations and he would give this land to my descendants as an everlasting possession."God used the word "behold" here to alert Jacob to pay attention to what he was about to tell him.

I will make you fruitful, and multiply you

"I will give you very many descendants"

I will make of you an assembly of nations

"I will make your descendants into many nations"

an everlasting possession

"a permanent possession"

Genesis 48:5

Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine

Ephraim and Manasseh each will receive a portion of land just like Joseph's brothers.

Genesis 48:6

they will be listed under the names of their brothers in their inheritance

"as for their inheritance, you will list them under the names of their brothers"

Genesis 48:7

Ephrath

This is another name for the town of Bethlehem.

Genesis 48:8

Whose are these?

"Whose sons are these?"

Genesis 48:9

bless

A father would often pronounce a formal blessing on his children or grandchildren.

Genesis 48:10

he kissed them

"Israel kissed them"

Genesis 48:11

to see your face again

"to see you again"

Genesis 48:12

between Israel's knees

When Joseph placed his sons on Israel's lap or knees it was a sign that Israel was adopting them. This gave the children special inheritance rights from Jacob.

then he bowed with his face to the earth

Joseph bowed down to show honor to his father.

Genesis 48:13

Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand

Joseph places the boys so that Israel will put his right hand on Manasseh. Manasseh was the oldest brother and the right hand was the sign he would receive the greater blessing.

Genesis 48:14

his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim's head

Placing the right hand on Ephraim's head was the sign that he would receive the greater blessing.

Genesis 48:15

Israel blessed Joseph

Here "Joseph" also stands for Ephraim and Manasseh. Since Joseph is the father, he is the only one mentioned here.

The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked

"The God who my grandfather Abraham and father Isaac served"

who has cared for me

"who has cared for me like a shepherd cares for his animals"

Genesis 48:16

the angel

These words could refer to 1) the angel that God sent to protect Jacob or 2) God, who appeared in angel form to protect Jacob.

protected me

"delivered me"

May my name be named in them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac

"May people remember Abraham, Isaac, and me because of Ephraim and Manasseh"

May they grow into a multitude on the earth

"May they have many descendants who will live all over the earth"

Genesis 48:19

He also will become a people, and he also will be great

"Your older son will have many descendants, and they will become a great people"

Genesis 48:20

that day with these words

"that day, saying"

The people of Israel will pronounce blessings by your names saying

"The people of Israel will speak your names when they are blessing others"

by your names saying, 'May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh'

"by your names. They will ask God to make others like Ephraim and like Manasseh"

Israel put Ephraim before Manasseh

Giving Ephraim the greater blessing and making him more important than Manasseh is spoken of as if Israel physically put Ephraim in front of Manasseh.

Genesis 48:21

will be with you ... bring you back ... your fathers

Here "you" and "your" are plural and refer to all the people of Israel.

will be with you

"God will help you" or "God will bless you"

land of your fathers

"land of your ancestors"

Genesis 48:22

To you, as one who is above your brothers, I give to you the mountain slope

"To you, I give one more ridge than I give your brothers. I give to you the mountain slope"

To you

Here "you" is singular and refers to Joseph.

the mountain slope that I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow

"the portion of land I fought for and took from the Amorites"