Genesis 48:1-14

Lexham English Bible

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

48 And it happened that after these things, it was said to Joseph, “Behold, your father is ill.” And he took his two sons with him, Ephraim and Manasseh. ² And it was told to Jacob, “Behold, your son Joseph has come to you.” Then Israel strengthened himself and he sat up in the bed. ³ Then Jacob said to Joseph, “El-Shaddai^[a] appeared to me in Luz, in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, ⁴ and said to me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and make you numerous, and will make you a company of nations. And I will give this land to your offspring after you as an everlasting possession.’ ⁵ And now, your two sons who were born to you in the land of Egypt before my coming to you in Egypt, are mine. Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine as Reuben and Simeon are. ⁶ And your children whom you father after them shall be yours. By the name of their brothers they shall be called, with respect to their inheritance. ⁷ As for me, when I came to Paddan-Aram Rachel died to my sorrow^[b] in the land of Canaan on the way when there was still some distance to go to Ephrath. And I buried her there on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem).” ⁸ When Israel saw the sons of Joseph he said, “Who are these?” ⁹ Then Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons whom God has given me here.” And he said, “Please bring them to me that I may bless them.” ¹⁰ Now the eyes of Israel were dim^[c] on account of old age; he was not able to see. So he brought them near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. ¹¹ And Israel said to Joseph, “I did not expect to see your face and behold, God has also shown me your offspring.” ¹² Then Joseph removed them from his knees and bowed down with his face to the ground. ¹³ And Joseph took the two of them, Ephraim at his right to the left of Israel, and Manasseh at his left to the right of Israel. And he brought them near to him. ¹⁴ And Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim (now he was the younger), and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn.