Genesis 48:14-20

New International Version

¹⁴But Israel^(A) reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head,^(B) though he was the younger,^(C) and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.^(D)

¹⁵Then he blessed^(E) Joseph and said,

“May the God before whom my fathers
    Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,^(F)
the God who has been my shepherd^(G)
    all my life to this day,
¹⁶the Angel^(H) who has delivered me from all harm^(I)
    —may he bless^(J) these boys.^(K)
May they be called by my name
    and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,^(L)
and may they increase greatly
    on the earth.”^(M)

¹⁷When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand^(N) on Ephraim’s head^(O) he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. ¹⁸Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”^(P)

¹⁹But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great.^(Q) Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he,^(R) and his descendants will become a group of nations.^(S)” ²⁰He blessed^(T) them that day^(U) and said,

“In your^[a] name will Israel^(V) pronounce this blessing:^(W)
‘May God make you like Ephraim^(X) and Manasseh.^(Y)’”

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

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Footnotes

Genesis 48:20 The Hebrew is singular.

Jeremiah 31:9

New International Version

⁹They will come with weeping;^(A)
    they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead^(B) them beside streams of water^(C)
    on a level^(D) path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,^(E)
    and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

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Jeremiah 31:9 in all English translations

Jeremiah 31:18-20

New International Version

¹⁸“I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:
    ‘You disciplined^(A) me like an unruly calf,^(B)
    and I have been disciplined.
Restore^(C) me, and I will return,
    because you are the Lord my God.
¹⁹After I strayed,^(D)
    I repented;
after I came to understand,
    I beat^(E) my breast.
I was ashamed^(F) and humiliated
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’^(G)
²⁰Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child^(H) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember^(I) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion^(J) for him,”
declares the Lord.