God’s Word Translation
Genesis 48:18
18Then he said to his father, “That’s not right, Father! This 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.”
- 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
16may the Messenger, who has rescued me from all evil, bless these boys. May they be called by my name and by the names of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac. May they have many children on the earth.” 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. Then 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 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 19:18Lot answered, “Oh no!
- Exodus 10:11No! Only the men may go to worship the Lord, since that’s what you’ve been asking for.” Then Moses and Aaron were thrown out of Pharaoh’s palace.
- Matthew 25:9“But the wise bridesmaids replied, ‘We can’t do that. There won’t be enough for both of us. Go! Find someone to sell you some oil.’
- Acts 10:14Peter answered, “I can’t do that, Lord! I’ve never eaten anything that is impure or unclean.”
- Acts 11:8“But I answered, ‘I can’t do that, Lord! I’ve never put anything impure or unclean into my mouth.’
- Genesis 27:15Then Rebekah took her older son Esau’s good clothes, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob.
- Genesis 29:26Laban answered, “It’s not our custom to give the younger daughter ⌞in marriage⌟ before the older one.
- Genesis 43:33The brothers were seated facing him according to their ages—from the oldest to the youngest. They looked at each other in amazement.
- Genesis 49:3“Reuben, you are my firstborn, my strength, the very first son I had, first in majesty and first 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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