Genesis 48:18

Genesis 48:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
• New International Version (NIV)Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Joseph said to his father, "Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head."
• New King James Version (NKJV)And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

Context of Genesis 48:18

16the angel 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. “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.

Genesis 48:18 word by word

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶל־אָבִ֖יו לֹא־כֵ֣ן אָבִ֑י כִּי־זֶ֣ה הַבְּכֹ֔ר שִׂ֥ים יְמִינְךָ֖ עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃Read the interlinear

• Notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• soכֵּןkên · soH3651
• my fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
• Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• ·אֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• ·כִּיkîy · forH3588
• Thisזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• one is the firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060
• putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• your right handיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• onעַל‛al · uponH5921
• his headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218

Cross-references for Genesis 48:18

• Genesis 19:18But Lot replied, “No, my lords, please!
• Exodus 10:11No, only the men may go and worship the LORD, since that is what you have been requesting.” And Moses and Aaron were driven from Pharaoh’s presence.
• Matthew 25:9‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
• Acts 10:14“No, Lord!” Peter answered. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
• Acts 11:8‘No, Lord,’ I said, ‘for nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’
• Genesis 27:15And Rebekah took the finest clothes in the house that belonged to her older son Esau, and she put them on her younger son Jacob.
• Genesis 29:26Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.
• Genesis 43:33They were seated before Joseph in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men looked at one another in astonishment.
• Genesis 49:3Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

Commentaries on Genesis 48:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Joseph said - Not so, my father - Joseph supposed that his father had made a mistake in laying his right hand on the head of the youngest, because the right hand was considered as the most noble, and the instrument of conveying the highest dignities, and thus it has ever been considered among all nations, though the reason of it is not particularly obvious. Even in the heavens the right hand of God is the place of the most exalted dignity. It has been…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-22Verses 1-22 - Joseph Visits His Sick Father The right of primogeniture has been forfeited by Reuben. The double portion in the inheritance is now transferred to Joseph. He is the first-born of her who was intended by Jacob to be his first and only wife. He has also been the means of saving all his father‘s house, even after he had been sold into slavery by his brethren. He has therefore, undeniable claims to this part of the first-born‘s rights. Genesis…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 8-22Verses 8-22 The two good men own God in their comforts. Joseph says, They are my sons whom God has given me. Jacob says, God hath showed me thy seed. Comforts are doubly sweet to us when we see them coming from God's hand. He not only prevents our fears, but exceeds our hopes. Jacob mentions the care the Divine providence had taken of him all his days. A great deal of hardship he had known in his time, but God kept him from the evil of his troubles. Now…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-19Not so, my father!: Joseph was upset because he expected God to act in a predictable way. But faith understands that God's ways and thoughts are different from human ones. Jacob spent his life learning this lesson, but he eventually understood and acted on it.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-221. one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick--Joseph was hastily sent for, and on this occasion he took with him his two sons.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 48:18

• Birthright
• Ephraim
• Firstborn
• Intercession
• Jacob
• Manasseh
• Parents

In the dictionaries

• Bless
• Dreadful
• Jacob
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Birthright
• Charm
• Genesis
• Hand
• Head
• Intercession

Commentaries on Genesis 48

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings