Genesis 48:15-22
King James Version
15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head.
18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.
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Genesis 48:15-22
English Standard Version
15 And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God (A)before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 (B)the angel who has (C)redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let (D)my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
and let them (E)grow into a multitude[a] in the midst of the earth.”
17 When Joseph saw that his father (F)laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, (G)“I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, (H)his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude[b] of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,
(I)‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”
Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am about to die, but (J)God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover, I have given to (K)you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope[c] that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow.”
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 48:16 Or let them be like fish for multitude
- Genesis 48:19 Hebrew fullness
- Genesis 48:22 Or one portion of the land; Hebrew shekem, which sounds like the town and district called Shechem
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
