Genesis 48:14

Genesis 48:14 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
• New International Version (NIV)But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

Context of Genesis 48:14

12Then Joseph took them from his knees, and bowed with his face to the ground. 13Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel’s right, and brought them close to him. But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn. 15He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, 16The angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; And may my name live on in them, And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

Genesis 48:14 word by word

וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל אֶת־יְמִינ֜וֹ וַיָּ֨שֶׁת עַל־רֹ֤אשׁ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וְה֣וּא הַצָּעִ֔יר וְאֶת־שְׂמֹאל֖וֹ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה שִׂכֵּל֙ אֶת־יָדָ֔יו כִּ֥י מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה הַבְּכֽוֹר׃Read the interlinear

• But Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• stretchedשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: reachH7971
• out his rightיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• handיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• and laidשִׁיתshîyth · to set: putH7896
• it on the headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218
• of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֫יִם'ephrayim · EphraimH669
• whoהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• was the youngerצָעִירtsâ‛îyr tsâ‛ôr · littleH6810
• and his leftשְׂמֹאלώemô'l ώem'ôl · leftH8040
• handשְׂמֹאלώemô'l ώem'ôl · leftH8040
• on Manasseh’sמְנַשֶּׁהmenashsheh · ManassehH4519
• crossingשָׂכַלώâkal · to cross handsH7919
• his handsיָדyâd · handH3027
• althoughכִּיkîy · forH3588
• was the firstbornבְּכוֹרbekôr · firstbornH1060

Cross-references for Genesis 48:14

• Exodus 15:6Your right hand, O Lord, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.
• Psalms 110:1The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
• Psalms 118:16The right hand of the Lord is exalted; The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
• Numbers 8:10and present the Levites before the Lord; and the sons of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites.
• Deuteronomy 34:9Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him; and the sons of Israel listened to him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.
• Matthew 19:13Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them.
• Matthew 6:5“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.
• Matthew 16:18I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.
• Luke 4:40While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them.
• Luke 13:13And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God.
• Acts 6:6And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.
• Acts 8:17Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit.
• Acts 13:3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
• 1 Timothy 4:14Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.
• 1 Timothy 5:22Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
• Genesis 48:19But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

Commentaries on Genesis 48:14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Israel stretched out his right hand, etc. - Laying hands on the head was always used among the Jews in giving blessings, designating men to any office, and in the consecration of solemn sacrifices. This is the first time we find it mentioned; but we often read of it afterwards. See Numbers 27:18, Numbers 27:23; Deuteronomy 34:9; Matthew 19:13, Matthew 19:15; Acts 6:6; 1 Timothy 4:14. Jacob laid his right hand on the head of the younger, which we are told…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. 14The right hand was for the head of the firstborn, and Jacob was deliberately giving that position to the younger son. That pattern was followed for four consecutive generations: Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuben, and Ephraim over Manasseh. Many years later, Ephraim became the leading tribe in the northern kingdom, superior to the tribe of Manasseh. The entire northern kingdom of Israel was occasionally called Ephraim (see study notes…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 48:14

• Adoption
• Ephraim
• Hand
• Manasseh

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Manasseh
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Left hand
• Dreadful
• Jacob
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Birthright
• Charm

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