English Standard Version
Genesis 48:18
18And Joseph said to his father, "Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head."
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.”
- 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.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“No, my father,” he said. “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 evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." 17When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. And Joseph said to his father, "Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head." 19But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations." 20So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, 'God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.'" Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
Read all of Genesis 48Genesis 48:18 word by word
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶל־אָבִ֖יו לֹא־כֵ֣ן אָבִ֑י כִּי־זֶ֣ה הַבְּכֹ֔ר שִׂ֥ים יְמִינְךָ֖ עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 48:18
- Genesis 19:18And Lot said to them, "Oh, no, my lords.
- Exodus 10:11No! Go, the men among you, and serve the Lord, for that is what you are asking." And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.
- Matthew 25:9But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.'
- Acts 10:14But Peter said, "By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean."
- Acts 11:8But I said, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing common or unclean has ever entered my mouth.'
- Genesis 27:15Then Rebekah took the best garments of Esau her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob her younger son.
- Genesis 29:26Laban said, "It is not so done in our country, to give the younger before the firstborn.
- Genesis 43:33And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement.
- Genesis 49:3"Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent 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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries