Genesis 48
GW
Commentaries

Show in the text

Up to 5 commentaries at a time. Each excerpt opens in full.

God’s Word Translation

Genesis 48:17-20

17When Joseph saw that his father had put his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he didn’t like it. So he took his father’s hand in order to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s.

18Then he said to his father, “That’s not right, Father! This is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

19His father refused and said, “I know, Son, I know! Manasseh, too, will become a nation, and he, too, will be important. Nevertheless, his younger brother will be more important than he, and his descendants will become many nations.”

20That day he blessed them. He said, “Because of you, Israel will speak this blessing, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’ ” In this way Israel put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

Read all of Genesis 48

Commentaries on Genesis 48

God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society