Genesis 48:5

Translations

Modern

And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.

Traditional

And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

Literal

And now, your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before my coming to you in Egypt, they are mine: Ephraim and Manasseh; like Reuben and like Simeon, they shall be mine.

Latin

Duo ergo filii tui, qui nati sunt tibi in terra Ægypti antequam huc venirem ad te, mei erunt: Ephraim et Manasses, sicut Ruben et Simeon reputabuntur mihi.

Original

Hebrew

English

And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.

Notes

Genesis 48:5–7

Jacob remembered Rachel (see 35:16–20) and blessed Joseph by making his two sons equal heirs with his other sons. The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh would share equally with Jacob's other tribes (see Joshua 16–17). Jacob also gave Ephraim, Joseph’s younger son, the birthright (see 1 Chronicles 5:1–2). Because of this blessing, Ephraim and Manasseh became large and powerful tribes (see Joshua 17:14–18).

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

Related verses

Genesis 41:50–52
Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
Genesis 46:20
Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
Joshua 14:4
The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion of the land was given to the Levites, except for cities in which to live, along with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.
1 Chronicles 5:1–2
These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.
Joshua 13:7
Now therefore divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
Revelation 7:6–7
…from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
2 Corinthians 6:18
And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Numbers 26:28–37
The descendants of Joseph included the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim.
Joshua 16:1–10
The allotment for the descendants of Joseph extended from the Jordan at Jericho to the waters of Jericho on the east, through the wilderness that goes up from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.
Numbers 1:32–35
From the sons of Joseph: From the sons of Ephraim, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,
Leviticus 20:26
You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.
Malachi 3:17
“They will be Mine,” says the LORD of Hosts, “on the day when I prepare My treasured possession. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.

People

Ephraim: Second son of Joseph, and a tribe of Israel Manasseh: Firstborn son of Joseph, blessed by Jacob Reuben: Firstborn son of Jacob and Leah Simeon: Son of Jacob and Leah, one of the twelve tribes

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Book of Exodus Ephraim (Person) Genesis, Book of Jacob Joshua, Book of Manasseh (Person) Manasseh, Tribe of Patriarchs, Period of the

Topics

Adoption of Joseph's Sons Adoption: Illustrated: Joseph's Sons Ephraim: Second Son of Joseph: Adopted by Jacob Israel: The Descendants of Levi Were Consecrated to the Rites of Religion Manasseh:: Adopted by Jacob the Tribe of Manasseh: Descended from Joseph's Eldest Son Adopted by Jacob The Tribes of Israel: Manasseh and Ephraim Numbered Among, Instead of Joseph Tribe of Ephraim: Descended from Joseph's Second Son Adopted by Jacob

Genesis 48:5

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