Genesis 48:17

Translations

Modern

When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was displeased and took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s.

Traditional

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.

Literal

And Joseph saw that his father had set his right hand on the head of Ephraim, and it was evil in his eyes; and he took hold of the hand of his father to remove it from the head of Ephraim to the head of Manasseh.

Latin

Videns autem Joseph quod posuisset pater suus dexteram manum super caput Ephraim, graviter accepit: et apprehensam manum patris levare conatus est de capite Ephraim, et transferre super caput Manasse.

Original

Hebrew

English

When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was displeased and took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s.

Notes

Genesis 48:17–19

Not so, my father!: Joseph was upset because he expected God to act in a predictable way. But faith understands that God's ways and thoughts are different from human ones. Jacob spent his life learning this lesson, but he eventually understood and acted on it.

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 The Priestly Blessing

Related verses

Genesis 48:14
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.
Romans 9:7–8
Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.”
Proverbs 24:18
…or the LORD will see and disapprove, and turn His wrath away from him.
1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
Romans 9:11
Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand,
1 Chronicles 21:7
This command was also evil in the sight of God; so He struck Israel.
Genesis 28:8
And seeing that his father Isaac disapproved of the Canaanite women,
1 Kings 16:25
But Omri did evil in the sight of the LORD and acted more wickedly than all who were before him.
Numbers 11:1
Soon the people began to complain about their hardship in the hearing of the LORD, and when He heard them, His anger was kindled, and fire from the LORD blazed among them and consumed the outskirts of the camp.
Genesis 38:10
What he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, so He put Onan to death as well.
Numbers 22:34
“I have sinned,” Balaam said to the angel of the LORD, “for I did not realize that you were standing in the road to confront me. And now, if this is displeasing in your sight, I will go back home.”

People

Ephraim: Second son of Joseph, and a tribe of Israel Joseph: Son of Jacob, ruler in Egypt 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

Birthright: Set Aside: That of Manasseh Ephraim: Second Son of Joseph: Blessed Before Manasseh; Prophecies Concerning Firstborn: Birthright of The: Set Aside: That of Manasseh Intercession: Exemplified Jacob: His Benediction Upon Joseph and his Two Sons Parents: Good - Exemplified: Joseph Parents: Paternal Blessings of Jacob The First Born: Superseded: Manasseh

Genesis 48:17

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