Genesis 48:18-20

Contemporary English Version

¹⁸ Joseph said, “Father, you have made a mistake. This is the older boy. Put your right hand on him.”

¹⁹ But his father said, “Son, I know what I am doing. It's true that Manasseh's family will someday become a great nation. But Ephraim will be even greater than Manasseh, because his descendants will become many great nations.”

^20 (A) Jacob told him that in the future the people of Israel would ask God's blessings on one another by saying, “I pray for God to bless you as much as he blessed Ephraim and Manasseh.” Jacob put Ephraim's name first to show that he would be greater than Manasseh.