Keraia
Genesis 48

Genesis 48:14

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh · Genesis 48:1–22
Read Genesis 48

Translations

Modern
But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger; and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn.
Traditional
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
Literal
And Israel stretched out his right hand and set it on the head of Ephraim—and he was the younger—and his left hand on the head of Manasseh; he acted wisely with his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn.
Latin
Qui extendens manum dexteram, posuit super caput Ephraim minoris fratris: sinistram autem super caput Manasse qui major natu erat, commutans manus.

Original

Hebrew
English
But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger; and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn.

Notes

Genesis 48:14

The right hand was for the head of the firstborn, and Jacob was deliberately giving that position to the younger son. That pattern was followed for four consecutive generations:

  • Isaac over Ishmael,

  • Jacob over Esau,

  • Joseph over Reuben, and

  • Ephraim over Manasseh.

Many years later, Ephraim became the leading tribe in the northern kingdom, superior to the tribe of Manasseh. The entire northern kingdom of Israel was occasionally called Ephraim (see study notes on 2 Chronicles 28:12; Isaiah 11:13; Ezekiel 37:15–28; Hosea 6:4; Zechariah 9:10).

Genesis 48:1–22

When 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.

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Jacob Joseph Blessing Symbolic Numbers

People

Ephraim: Second son of Joseph, and a tribe of Israel Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Manasseh: Firstborn son of Joseph, blessed by Jacob

Glossary

Archaeology and the Bible Book of Exodus Genesis, Book of Jacob Joseph Joshua, Book of Laying on of Hands Manasseh (Person) Patriarchs, Period of the

Topics

Adoption of Joseph's Sons Adoption: Illustrated: Joseph's Sons Ephraim: Second Son of Joseph: Blessed Before Manasseh; Prophecies Concerning Hand in Consecration Parents: Good - Exemplified: Joseph The First Born: Privileges of Precedence in the Family The Hands: Imposition of, Used in Blessing