New American Standard Bible 1995

Genesis 48:1-21

1Now it cameוַיְהִ֗יvay.HiH1961about afterאַחֲרֵי֙'a.cha.ReiH310theseהָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.lehH428thingsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697thatJosephלְיוֹסֵ֔ףle.yo.SefH3130was toldוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Beholdהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009,your fatherאָבִ֖יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1is sickחֹלֶ֑הcho.LehH2470.”So he tookוַיִּקַּ֞חvai.yi.KachH3947his twoשְׁנֵ֤יshe.NeiH8147sonsבָנָיו֙va.NavH1121Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֖הme.na.ShehH4519and Ephraimאֶפְרָֽיִם׃'ef.Ra.yimH669with him.

2Whenit was toldוַיַּגֵּ֣דvai.ya.GedH5046to Jacobלְיַעֲקֹ֔בle.ya.'a.KoH3290, “Beholdהִנֵּ֛הhi.NehH2009,your sonבִּנְךָ֥bin.KhaH1121Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130has comeבָּ֣אba'H935to you,” Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478collectedH2388his strengthH2388and satוַיֵּ֖שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427up in the bedהַמִּטָּֽה׃ha.mi.TahH4296.

3Then Jacobיַעֲקֹב֙ya.'a.KoH3290saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130, “Godאֵ֥ל'elH410Almightyשַׁדַּ֛יsha.DaiH7706appearedנִרְאָֽה־nir.'ah-H7200to me atLuzבְּל֖וּזbe.LuzH3870in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anH3667and blessedוַיְבָ֖רֶךְvay.Va.rekhH1288me,

4and He saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to me, ‘BeholdH2009,I will makeמַפְרְךָ֙maf.re.KhaH6509you fruitfulH6509and numerousוְהִרְבִּיתִ֔ךָve.hir.bi.Ti.khaH7235,and I will makeוּנְתַתִּ֖יךָu.ne.ta.Ti.khaH5414you a companyלִקְהַ֣לlik.HalH6951of peoplesעַמִּ֑ים'a.MimH5971,and will giveוְנָ֨תַתִּ֜יve.Na.ta.TiH5414thisH2088landהָאָ֧רֶץha.'A.retzH776to yourdescendantsלְזַרְעֲךָ֥le.zar.'a.KhaH2233afterאַחֲרֶ֖יךָ'a.cha.Rei.khaH310you foran everlastingעוֹלָֽם׃o.LamH5769possessionאֲחֻזַּ֥ת'a.chu.ZatH272.’

5Nowוְעַתָּ֡הve.'a.TahH6258your twoשְׁנֵֽי־she.nei-H8147sonsבָנֶיךָ֩va.nei.KhaH1121,who were bornהַנּוֹלָדִ֨יםha.no.la.DimH3205to you in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרַ֗יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714beforeעַד־'ad-H5704I cameבֹּאִ֥יbo.'IH935to you in Egyptמִצְרַ֖יְמָהmitz.Ray.mahH4714, are mine;Ephraimאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙'ef.Ra.yimH669and Manassehוּמְנַשֶּׁ֔הu.me.na.ShehH4519shall be mine, asReubenכִּרְאוּבֵ֥ןkir.'u.VenH7205and Simeonוְשִׁמְע֖וֹןve.shim.'onH8095are.

6But your offspringוּמוֹלַדְתְּךָ֛u.mo.lad.te.KhaH4138thathave been bornהוֹלַ֥דְתָּho.Lad.taH3205afterאַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם'a.cha.rei.HemH310them shall be yours; they shall be calledיִקָּרְא֖וּyi.ka.re.'UH7121by thenamesשֵׁ֧םshemH8034of their brothersאֲחֵיהֶ֛ם'a.chei.HemH251in their inheritanceבְּנַחֲלָתָֽם׃be.na.cha.la.TamH5159.

7Now as for me, when I cameבְּבֹאִ֣יbe.vo.'IH935fromPaddanמִפַּדָּ֗ןmi.pa.DanH6307,Rachelרָחֵ֜לra.ChelH7354diedמֵ֩תָה֩me.tahH4191,to my sorrowעָלַ֨י'a.LaiH5921,in the landבְּאֶ֤רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנַ֙עַן֙ke.Na.'anH3667on the journeyבַּדֶּ֔רֶךְba.De.rekhH1870,when there was stillבְּע֥וֹדbe.'odH5750someH3530distanceכִּבְרַת־ אֶ֖רֶץkiv.rat- 'E.retzH3530 H776to goלָבֹ֣אla.Vo'H935to Ephrathאֶפְרָ֑תָה'ef.Ra.tahH672;and I buriedוָאֶקְבְּרֶ֤הָva.'ek.be.Re.haH6912her thereשָּׁם֙shamH8033on the wayבְּדֶ֣רֶךְbe.De.rekhH1870to Ephrathאֶפְרָ֔ת'ef.RatH672(that is, BethlehemH1035).”

8When Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478sawוַיַּ֥רְאvai.Yar'H7200Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֑ףyo.SefH3130sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121,he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Whoמִי־mi-H4310are theseאֵֽלֶּה׃'E.lehH428?”

9Josephיוֹסֵף֙yo.SefH3130saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his fatherאָבִ֔יו'a.VivH1, “They are my sonsבָּנַ֣יba.NaiH1121,whomאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430has givenנָֽתַן־na.tan-H5414me hereבָּזֶ֑הba.ZehH2088.”So he saidוַיֹּאמַ֕רvai.yo.MarH559, “Bringקָֽחֶם־ka.chem-H3947them to me, pleaseנָ֥אna'H4994, thatI may blessוַאֲבָרֲכֵֽם׃va.'a.va.ra.KhemH1288them.”

10Nowthe eyesוְעֵינֵ֤יve.'ei.NeiH5869of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478were sodimכָּבְד֣וּka.ve.DuH3513from ageמִזֹּ֔קֶןmi.Zo.kenH2207thathe couldיוּכַ֖לyu.KhalH3201not seeלִרְא֑וֹתlir.'otH7200. ThenJoseph broughtH5066them closeH5066to him, and hekissedוַיִּשַּׁ֥קvai.yi.ShakH5401them and embracedוַיְחַבֵּ֥קvay.cha.BekH2263them.

11Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130, “I neverלֹ֣אlo'H3808expectedפִלָּ֑לְתִּיfi.Lal.tiH6419to seeרְאֹ֥הre.'OhH7200your faceפָנֶ֖יךָfa.Nei.khaH6440,and beholdוְהִנֵּ֨הve.hi.NehH2009,Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430has let me seeהֶרְאָ֥הher.'AhH7200yourchildrenזַרְעֶֽךָ׃zar.'E.khaH2233as wellגַּ֥םgamH1571.”

12Then Josephיוֹסֵ֛ףyo.SefH3130tookוַיּוֹצֵ֥אvai.yo.Tze'H3318them from his kneesבִּרְכָּ֑יוbir.KavH1290, andbowedוַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuH7812with his faceלְאַפָּ֖יוle.'a.PavH639to the groundאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tzahH776.

13Josephיוֹסֵף֮yo.SefH3130tookוַיִּקַּ֣חvai.yi.KachH3947them bothשְׁנֵיהֶם֒she.nei.HemH8147,Ephraimאֶפְרַ֤יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669with his rightבִּֽימִינוֹ֙bi.mi.NoH3225handH3225towardH4480Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478leftH8040,and Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֥הme.na.ShehH4519with his leftH8040handH8040towardH4480Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478rightמִימִ֣יןmi.MinH3225,and broughtH5066them closeH5066to him.

14But Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֨לYis.ra.'ElH3478stretchedוַיִּשְׁלַח֩vai.yish.LachH7971out his rightיְמִינ֜וֹye.mi.NoH3225handH3225and laidוַיָּ֨שֶׁתvai.Ya.shetH7896it on the headרֹ֤אשׁroshH7218of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙'ef.Ra.yimH669,whoוְה֣וּאve.Hu'H1931was the youngerהַצָּעִ֔ירha.tza.'IrH6810,and his leftH8040handשְׂמֹאל֖וֹse.mo.LoH8040on Manasseh’sמְנַשֶּׁ֑הme.na.ShehH4519headרֹ֣אשׁroshH7218,crossingשִׂכֵּל֙si.KelH7919his handsיָדָ֔יוya.DavH3027,althoughכִּ֥יkiH3588Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֖הme.na.ShehH4519was the firstbornהַבְּכֽוֹר׃ha.be.KhorH1060.

15He blessedוַיְבָ֥רֶךְvay.Va.rekhH1288Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559, “The Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֡יםha.'E.lo.HimH430beforeלְפָנָיו֙le.fa.NavH6440whomאֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherH834my fathersאֲבֹתַ֤י'a.vo.TaiH1Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֣ם'av.ra.HamH85and Isaacוְיִצְחָ֔קve.yitz.ChakH3327walkedהִתְהַלְּכ֨וּhit.ha.le.KhuH1980,The Godהָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ha.'E.lo.HimH430who has been my shepherdהָרֹעֶ֣הha.ro.'EhH7462allH4480 H5750my lifeH5750to thisהַזֶּֽה׃ha.ZehH2088dayהַיּ֥וֹםhai.YomH3117,

16The angelהַמַּלְאָךְ֩ha.mal.'oKhH4397who has redeemedהַגֹּאֵ֨לha.go.'ElH1350me from allמִכָּל־mi.kolH3605evilרָ֗עRa'H7451,Blessיְבָרֵךְ֮ye.va.reKhH1288the ladsהַנְּעָרִים֒ha.ne.'a.RimH5288;And may my nameשְׁמִ֔יshe.MiH8034liveוְיִקָּרֵ֤אve.yi.ka.Re'H7121on in them, And thenamesוְשֵׁ֥םve.ShemH8034of my fathersאֲבֹתַ֖י'a.vo.TaiH1Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֣ם'av.ra.HamH85and Isaacוְיִצְחָ֑קve.yitz.ChakH3327; Andmay they growוְיִדְגּ֥וּve.yid.GuH1711into a multitudeלָרֹ֖בla.RoH7230in the midstבְּקֶ֥רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130of the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776.”

17When Josephיוֹסֵ֗ףyo.SefH3130sawוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200that his fatherאָבִ֧יו'a.VivH1laidיָשִׁ֨יתya.ShitH7896his rightיְמִינ֛וֹye.mi.NoH3225handיַד־yad-H3027on Ephraim’sאֶפְרַ֖יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669headרֹ֥אשׁroshH7218,it displeasedוַיֵּ֣רַעvai.Ye.ra'H7489him; and he graspedוַיִּתְמֹ֣ךְvai.yit.MokhH8551his father’sאָבִ֗יו'a.VivH1handיַד־yad-H3027to removeלְהָסִ֥ירle.ha.SirH5493it from Ephraim’sאֶפְרַ֖יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669headרֹאשׁ־rosh-H7218to Manasseh’sמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃me.na.ShehH4519headרֹ֥אשׁroshH7218.

18Josephיוֹסֵ֛ףyo.SefH3130saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his fatherאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1, “Not soכֵ֣ןkhenH3651,my fatherאָבִ֑י'a.ViH1,for thisH2088oneH2088is the firstbornהַבְּכֹ֔רha.be.KhorH1060.Placeשִׂ֥יםsimH7760your rightיְמִינְךָ֖ye.mi.ne.KhaH3225handH3225on his headרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ro.ShoH7218.”

19But his fatherאָבִ֗יו'a.VivH1refusedוַיְמָאֵ֣ןvay.ma.'EnH3985and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, “I knowיָדַ֤עְתִּֽיya.Da'.tiH3045,my sonבְנִי֙ve.NiH1121,I knowיָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045;he alsoגַּם־gam-H1571will becomeיִֽהְיֶה־yih.yeh-H1961a peopleלְּעָ֖םle.'AmH5971and he alsoוְגַם־ve.gam-H1571will be greatיִגְדָּ֑לyig.DalH1431.Howeverוְאוּלָ֗םve.'u.LamH199,his youngerהַקָּטֹן֙ha.ka.TonH6996brotherאָחִ֤יו'a.ChivH251shall be greaterיִגְדַּ֣לyig.DalH1431thanמִמֶּ֔נּוּmi.Me.nuH4480he, and hisdescendantsוְזַרְע֖וֹve.zar.'OH2233shall becomeיִהְיֶ֥הyih.YehH1961amultitudeמְלֹֽא־me.lo'-H4393of nationsהַגּוֹיִֽם׃ha.go.YimH1471.”

20He blessedH1288them that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117,sayingלֵאמוֹר֒le.mOrH559, “By you Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478will pronounceH1288blessingH1288,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, ‘May Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430makeיְשִֽׂמְךָ֣ye.sim.KhaH7760you like Ephraimכְּאֶפְרַ֖יִםke.'ef.Ra.yimH669and Manassehוְכִמְנַשֶּׁ֑הve.khim.na.ShehH4519!’”Thus he putוַיָּ֥שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760Ephraimאֶפְרַ֖יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440Manassehמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃me.na.ShehH4519.

21Then Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130, “Beholdהִנֵּ֥הhi.NehH2009,I am about to dieמֵ֑תMetH4191, butGodאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430will be with you, andbringוְהֵשִׁ֣יבve.he.ShivH7725you backH7725to the landאֶ֖רֶץ'E.retzH776of your fathersאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃'a.vo.tei.KhemH1.

Read all of Genesis 48

Commentaries on Genesis 48