Genesis 48:7

Translations

Modern

Now as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way in the land of Canaan, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

Traditional

And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Beth–lehem.

Literal

And I, when I was coming from Paddan, Rachel died upon me in the land of Canaan, on the way, when there was a distance of land to go to to Ephrathah. And I buried her there on the way to Ephrath” (that is, in Bethlehem).

Latin

Mihi enim, quando veniebam de Mesopotamia, mortua est Rachel in terra Chanaan in ipso itinere, eratque vernum tempus: et ingrediebar Ephratam, et sepelivi eam juxta viam Ephratæ, quæ alio nomine appellatur Bethlehem.

Original

Hebrew

English

Now as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way in the land of Canaan, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

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 Rachel Blessing Symbolic Numbers

Related verses

Matthew 2:18
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Genesis 35:16–19
Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.
Genesis 35:9
After Jacob had returned from Paddan-aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him.
Ruth 1:2
The man’s name was Elimelech, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah, and they entered the land of Moab and settled there.
1 Samuel 1:1
Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
1 Samuel 17:12
Now David was the son of a man named Jesse, an Ephrathite from Bethlehem of Judah who had eight sons. And in the days of Saul, Jesse was old and well along in years.
Genesis 25:20
…and Isaac was forty years old when he married Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram and the sister of Laban the Aramean.
1 Samuel 10:2
When you leave me today, you will find two men at Rachel’s tomb in Zelzah on the border of Benjamin. They will say to you, ‘The donkeys you seek have been found, and now your father has stopped worrying about the donkeys and started worrying about you, asking, “What should I do about my son?”’
Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.

People

Rachel: Wife of Jacob; mother of Joseph and Benjamin

Places

Bethlehem: City of David's birth and Jesus' birth Canaan: Ancient region; descendants of Ham; promised to Abraham's descendants Paddan: The homeland of the patriarchs in Mesopotamia

Glossary

Bethlehem Book of Exodus Genesis, Book of Jacob Joshua, Book of Paddan, Paddan-Aram Patriarchs, Period of the Rachel’s Tomb

Topics

Bethlehem: A City Southwest of Jerusalem: Called Ephratah and Ephrath Bethlehem: A City Southwest of Jerusalem: Rachel Dies and is Buried At Ephratah: Also Called Ephrath: The Ancient Name of Beth-Lehem-Judah Jacob: Journeys to Ephrath Rachel: Her Death and Burial

Genesis 48:7

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