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18 And Joseph said to his father, Father, it accordeth not so; for this is the first begotten (for Manasseh is the first-born); set thy right hand on his head.

19 Which forsook to do so, and said, I know, my son, I know; and soothly this child shall be into peoples (and truly this child shall become a people), and he shall be multiplied; but his younger brother shall be more than he, and his seed shall increase into (a multitude of) folks, (or into a multitude of nations).

20 And he blessed them in that time, and said, Israel shall be blessed in thee, Joseph, and it shall be said, God do to thee as to Ephraim and as to Manasseh. And he set Ephraim before Manasseh; (And he blessed them at that time, and said, When they say a blessing in Israel, they shall say, God do to thee as to Ephraim and Manasseh. And so he put Ephraim before Manasseh;)

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18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”(A)

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great.(B) Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he,(C) and his descendants will become a group of nations.(D) 20 He blessed(E) them that day(F) and said,

“In your[a] name will Israel(G) pronounce this blessing:(H)
    ‘May God make you like Ephraim(I) and Manasseh.(J)’”

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 48:20 The Hebrew is singular.