Revised Literal Translation

Genesis 48

1And it came to pass afterאַחֲרֵי֙'a.cha.ReiH310these thingsהַדְּבָרִ֣יםha.de.va.RimH1697, that onetoldוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559Josephלְיוֹסֵ֔ףle.yo.SefH3130,Behold, thy fatherאָבִ֖יךָ'a.Vi.khaH1issickחֹלֶ֑הcho.LehH2470:and he tookוַיִּקַּ֞חvai.yi.KachH3947with him his twoשְׁנֵ֤יshe.NeiH8147sonsבָנָיו֙va.NavH1121,Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֖הme.na.ShehH4519and Ephraimאֶפְרָֽיִם׃'ef.Ra.yimH669.

2And onetoldוַיַּגֵּ֣דvai.ya.GedH5046Jacobלְיַעֲקֹ֔בle.ya.'a.KoH3290,and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Behold, thy sonבִּנְךָ֥bin.KhaH1121Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130comethבָּ֣אba'H935unto thee: and Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478strengthenedוַיִּתְחַזֵּק֙vai.yit.cha.ZekH2388himself, and satוַיֵּ֖שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427upon the bedהַמִּטָּֽה׃ha.mi.TahH4296.

3And Jacobיַעֲקֹב֙ya.'a.KoH3290saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130,Godאֵ֥ל'elH410Almightyשַׁדַּ֛יsha.DaiH7706appearedנִרְאָֽה־nir.'ah-H7200unto me at Luzבְּל֖וּזbe.LuzH3870in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anH3667,and blessedוַיְבָ֖רֶךְvay.Va.rekhH1288me,

4And saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitfulמַפְרְךָ֙maf.re.KhaH6509,and multiplyוְהִרְבִּיתִ֔ךָve.hir.bi.Ti.khaH7235thee, and I will makeוּנְתַתִּ֖יךָu.ne.ta.Ti.khaH5414of thee a multitudeלִקְהַ֣לlik.HalH6951of peopleעַמִּ֑ים'a.MimH5971;and will giveוְנָ֨תַתִּ֜יve.Na.ta.TiH5414this landהָאָ֧רֶץha.'A.retzH776to thy seedלְזַרְעֲךָ֥le.zar.'a.KhaH2233after theeאַחֲרֶ֖יךָ'a.cha.Rei.khaH310foran everlastingעוֹלָֽם׃o.LamH5769possessionאֲחֻזַּ֥ת'a.chu.ZatH272.

5And now thy twoשְׁנֵֽי־she.nei-H8147sonsבָנֶיךָ֩va.nei.KhaH1121,Ephraimאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙'ef.Ra.yimH669and Manassehוּמְנַשֶּׁ֔הu.me.na.ShehH4519,which were bornהַנּוֹלָדִ֨יםha.no.la.DimH3205unto thee in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Egyptמִצְרַ֗יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714beforeעַד־'ad-H5704I cameבֹּאִ֥יbo.'IH935unto thee into Egyptמִצְרַ֖יְמָהmitz.Ray.mahH4714, aremine; as Reubenכִּרְאוּבֵ֥ןkir.'u.VenH7205and Simeonוְשִׁמְע֖וֹןve.shim.'onH8095, they shall be mine.

6And thy issueוּמוֹלַדְתְּךָ֛u.mo.lad.te.KhaH4138,which thou begettestהוֹלַ֥דְתָּho.Lad.taH3205afterאַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם'a.cha.rei.HemH310them, shall be thine, andshall be calledיִקָּרְא֖וּyi.ka.re.'UH7121afterעַ֣ל'alH5921the nameשֵׁ֧םshemH8034of their brethrenאֲחֵיהֶ֛ם'a.chei.HemH251in their inheritanceבְּנַחֲלָתָֽם׃be.na.cha.la.TamH5159.

7And as for me, when I cameבְּבֹאִ֣יbe.vo.'IH935from Padanמִפַּדָּ֗ןmi.pa.DanH6307,Rachelרָחֵ֜לra.ChelH7354diedמֵ֩תָה֩me.tahH4191by me in the landבְּאֶ֤רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנַ֙עַן֙ke.Na.'anH3667in the wayבַּדֶּ֔רֶךְba.De.rekhH1870,whenבְּע֥וֹדbe.'odH5750yet there wasbut a littleכִּבְרַת־kiv.rat-H3530wayאֶ֖רֶץ'E.retzH776to comeלָבֹ֣אla.Vo'H935unto Ephrathאֶפְרָ֑תָה'ef.Ra.tahH672:and I buried herוָאֶקְבְּרֶ֤הָva.'ek.be.Re.haH6912there in the wayבְּדֶ֣רֶךְbe.De.rekhH1870of Ephrathאֶפְרָ֔ת'ef.RatH672; the same isBeth–lehemH1035.

8And Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478beheldוַיַּ֥רְאvai.Yar'H7200Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֑ףyo.SefH3130sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121,and saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, Who are these?

9And Josephיוֹסֵף֙yo.SefH3130saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto his fatherאָבִ֔יו'a.VivH1, They aremy sonsבָּנַ֣יba.NaiH1121,whom Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430hath givenנָֽתַן־na.tan-H5414me in this place.And he saidוַיֹּאמַ֕רvai.yo.MarH559,Bring themקָֽחֶם־ka.chem-H3947,I pray thee, unto me, and I will blessוַאֲבָרֲכֵֽם׃va.'a.va.ra.KhemH1288them.

10Now the eyesוְעֵינֵ֤יve.'ei.NeiH5869of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478were dimכָּבְד֣וּka.ve.DuH3513for ageמִזֹּ֔קֶןmi.Zo.kenH2207, so thathe couldיוּכַ֖לyu.KhalH3201not seeלִרְא֑וֹתlir.'otH7200.And he brought them nearוַיַּגֵּ֤שׁvai.ya.GeshH5066unto him; and he kissedוַיִּשַּׁ֥קvai.yi.ShakH5401them, and embracedוַיְחַבֵּ֥קvay.cha.BekH2263them.

11And Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130,I had not thoughtפִלָּ֑לְתִּיfi.Lal.tiH6419to seeרְאֹ֥הre.'OhH7200thy faceפָנֶ֖יךָfa.Nei.khaH6440:and, lo, Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430hath shewedהֶרְאָ֥הher.'AhH7200me also thy seedזַרְעֶֽךָ׃zar.'E.khaH2233.

12And Josephיוֹסֵ֛ףyo.SefH3130brought them outוַיּוֹצֵ֥אvai.yo.Tze'H3318from betweenמֵעִ֣םme.'ImH5973his kneesבִּרְכָּ֑יוbir.KavH1290,and he bowedוַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּvai.yish.Ta.chuH7812himself with his faceלְאַפָּ֖יוle.'a.PavH639to the earthאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tzahH776.

13And Josephיוֹסֵף֮yo.SefH3130tookוַיִּקַּ֣חvai.yi.KachH3947them bothשְׁנֵיהֶם֒she.nei.HemH8147,Ephraimאֶפְרַ֤יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669in his right handבִּֽימִינוֹ֙bi.mi.NoH3225toward Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478left handמִשְּׂמֹ֣אלmi.se.MolH8040,and Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֥הme.na.ShehH4519in his left handבִשְׂמֹאל֖וֹvis.mo.LoH8040toward Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478right handמִימִ֣יןmi.MinH3225, and brought themnearוַיַּגֵּ֖שׁvai.ya.GeshH5066unto him.

14And Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֨לYis.ra.'ElH3478stretched outוַיִּשְׁלַח֩vai.yish.LachH7971his right handיְמִינ֜וֹye.mi.NoH3225,and laidוַיָּ֨שֶׁתvai.Ya.shetH7896itupon Ephraim’sאֶפְרַ֙יִם֙'ef.Ra.yimH669headרֹ֤אשׁroshH7218, who wasthe youngerהַצָּעִ֔ירha.tza.'IrH6810,and his left handשְׂמֹאל֖וֹse.mo.LoH8040upon Manasseh’sמְנַשֶּׁ֑הme.na.ShehH4519headרֹ֣אשׁroshH7218,guidingH7919his handsיָדָ֔יוya.DavH3027wittinglyH7919;for Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֖הme.na.ShehH4519wasthe firstbornהַבְּכֽוֹר׃ha.be.KhorH1060.

15And he blessedוַיְבָ֥רֶךְvay.Va.rekhH1288Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,Godהָֽאֱלֹהִ֡יםha.'E.lo.HimH430,beforeלְפָנָיו֙le.fa.NavH6440whom my fathersאֲבֹתַ֤י'a.vo.TaiH1Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֣ם'av.ra.HamH85and Isaacוְיִצְחָ֔קve.yitz.ChakH3327did walkהִתְהַלְּכ֨וּhit.ha.le.KhuH1980,the Godהָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ha.'E.lo.HimH430which fedהָרֹעֶ֣הha.ro.'EhH7462me all my life longמֵעוֹדִ֖יme.'o.DiH5750unto this dayהַיּ֥וֹםhai.YomH3117,

16The Angelהַמַּלְאָךְ֩ha.mal.'oKhH4397which redeemedהַגֹּאֵ֨לha.go.'ElH1350me from all evilרָ֗עRa'H7451,blessיְבָרֵךְ֮ye.va.reKhH1288the ladsהַנְּעָרִים֒ha.ne.'a.RimH5288;and let my nameשְׁמִ֔יshe.MiH8034be namedוְיִקָּרֵ֤אve.yi.ka.Re'H7121on them, and the nameוְשֵׁ֥םve.ShemH8034of my fathersאֲבֹתַ֖י'a.vo.TaiH1Abrahamאַבְרָהָ֣ם'av.ra.HamH85and Isaacוְיִצְחָ֑קve.yitz.ChakH3327;and let them growוְיִדְגּ֥וּve.yid.GuH1711into a multitudeלָרֹ֖בla.RoH7230in the midstבְּקֶ֥רֶבbe.Ke.revH7130of the earthהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776.

17And when Josephיוֹסֵ֗ףyo.SefH3130sawוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200that his fatherאָבִ֧יו'a.VivH1laidיָשִׁ֨יתya.ShitH7896his rightיְמִינ֛וֹye.mi.NoH3225handיַד־yad-H3027upon the headרֹ֥אשׁroshH7218of Ephraimאֶפְרַ֖יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669,it displeasedבְּעֵינָ֑יוbe.'ei.NavH5869 H3415him: and he held upוַיִּתְמֹ֣ךְvai.yit.MokhH8551his father’sאָבִ֗יו'a.VivH1handיַד־yad-H3027,to removeלְהָסִ֥ירle.ha.SirH5493it from Ephraim’sאֶפְרַ֖יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669headרֹאשׁ־rosh-H7218unto Manasseh’sמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃me.na.ShehH4519headרֹ֥אשׁroshH7218.

18And Josephיוֹסֵ֛ףyo.SefH3130saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto his fatherאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1,Not so, my fatherאָבִ֑י'a.ViH1: for this isthe firstbornהַבְּכֹ֔רha.be.KhorH1060;putשִׂ֥יםsimH7760thy right handיְמִינְךָ֖ye.mi.ne.KhaH3225upon his headרֹאשֽׁוֹ׃ro.ShoH7218.

19And his fatherאָבִ֗יו'a.VivH1refusedוַיְמָאֵ֣ןvay.ma.'EnH3985,and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559,I knowיָדַ֤עְתִּֽיya.Da'.tiH3045it,my sonבְנִי֙ve.NiH1121,I knowיָדַ֔עְתִּיya.Da'.tiH3045it:he also shall become a peopleלְּעָ֖םle.'AmH5971,and he also shall be greatיִגְדָּ֑לyig.DalH1431:but trulyוְאוּלָ֗םve.'u.LamH199his youngerהַקָּטֹן֙ha.ka.TonH6996brotherאָחִ֤יו'a.ChivH251shall be greaterיִגְדַּ֣לyig.DalH1431than he, and his seedוְזַרְע֖וֹve.zar.'OH2233shall become a multitudeמְלֹֽא־me.lo'-H4393of nationsהַגּוֹיִֽם׃ha.go.YimH1471.

20And he blessedוַיְבָ֨רֲכֵ֜םvay.Va.ra.KhemH1288them that dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117,sayingלֵאמוֹר֒le.mOrH559,In thee shall Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478blessיְבָרֵ֤ךְye.va.RekhH1288,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559,Godאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430makeיְשִֽׂמְךָ֣ye.sim.KhaH7760thee as Ephraimכְּאֶפְרַ֖יִםke.'ef.Ra.yimH669and as Manassehוְכִמְנַשֶּׁ֑הve.khim.na.ShehH4519:and he setוַיָּ֥שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760Ephraimאֶפְרַ֖יִם'ef.Ra.yimH669beforeלִפְנֵ֥יlif.NeiH6440Manassehמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃me.na.ShehH4519.

21And Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙Yis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130,Behold, I dieמֵ֑תMetH4191:but Godאֱלֹהִים֙'E.lo.HimH430shall be with you, and bring you againוְהֵשִׁ֣יבve.he.ShivH7725unto the landאֶ֖רֶץ'E.retzH776of your fathersאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃'a.vo.tei.KhemH1.

22Moreover I have givenנָתַ֧תִּֽיna.Ta.tiH5414to thee oneאַחַ֖ד'a.ChadH259portionשְׁכֶ֥םshe.KhemH7926above thy brethrenאַחֶ֑יךָ'a.Chei.khaH251,which I tookלָקַ֙חְתִּי֙la.Kach.tiH3947out of the handמִיַּ֣דmi.YadH3027of the Amoriteהָֽאֱמֹרִ֔יha.'e.mo.RiH567with my swordבְּחַרְבִּ֖יbe.char.BiH2719and with my bowוּבְקַשְׁתִּֽי׃ פu.ve.kash.TiH7198.

Commentaries on Genesis 48