New Living Translation
Genesis 48:2
2When Joseph arrived, Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to see you.” So Jacob gathered his strength and sat up in his bed.
Genesis 48:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
- New International Version (NIV)When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And it was told to Jacob, "Your son Joseph has come to you." Then Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed.
Context of Genesis 48:2
1One day not long after this, word came to Joseph, “Your father is failing rapidly.” So Joseph went to visit his father, and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. When Joseph arrived, Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to see you.” So Jacob gathered his strength and sat up in his bed. 3Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. 4He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful, and I will multiply your descendants. I will make you a multitude of nations. And I will give this land of Canaan to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’
Read all of Genesis 48Genesis 48:2 word by word
וַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֛ה בִּנְךָ֥ יוֹסֵ֖ף בָּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יךָ וַיִּתְחַזֵּק֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב עַל־הַמִּטָּֽה׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Behold, thy sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
- Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
- comethבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- unto thee: and Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- strengthenedחָזַקchâzaq · to strengthen: strengthenH2388
- himself, and satיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
- upon the bedמִטָּהmiţţâh · bedH4296
Cross-references for Genesis 48:2
- Deuteronomy 3:28Instead, commission Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead the people across the Jordan. He will give them all the land you now see before you as their possession.’
- 1 Samuel 23:16Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God.
- Nehemiah 2:18Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.
- Psalms 41:3The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health.
- Proverbs 23:15My child, if your heart is wise, my own heart will rejoice!
- Ephesians 6:10A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
Commentaries on Genesis 48:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed - He had been confined to his bed before, (see Genesis 47:31;), and now, hearing that Joseph was come to see him, he made what efforts his little remaining strength would admit, to sit up in bed to receive his son. This verse proves that a bed, not a staff, is intended in the preceding chapter, Genesis 47:31.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
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-22When Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh, he showed faith in God's promise to continue. He understood that God's ways differ from human ways. From Jacob's long life, the writer of Hebrews chose the blessing of Joseph's sons as his greatest act of faith (Hebrews 11:21). Jacob followed God's will by giving the main blessing to the younger son instead of the older one, without any trickery or negative outcomes.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed--In the chamber where a good man lies, edifying and spiritual discourse may be expected.Read the comment
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
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries