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Genesis 48
Christian Standard Bible

Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh

48 Some time after this, Joseph was told, “Your father is weaker.” So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel summoned his strength and sat up in bed.

3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty(A) appeared to me at Luz(B) in the land of Canaan and blessed me. 4 He said to me, ‘I will make you fruitful and numerous; I will make many nations come from you, and I will give this land as a permanent possession(C) to your future descendants.’(D) 5 Your two sons(E) born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt are now mine.(F) Ephraim and Manasseh belong to me just as Reuben and Simeon do. 6 Children born to you after them will be yours and will be recorded under the names of their brothers with regard to their inheritance. 7 When I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way,(G) some distance from Ephrath in the land of Canaan. I buried her there along the way to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).

8 When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”

9 And Joseph said to his father, “They are my sons God has given me here.”

So Israel said, “Bring them to me and I will bless them.”(H) 10 Now his eyesight was poor because of old age; he could hardly[a] see.(I) Joseph brought them to him, and he kissed and embraced them.(J) 11 Israel said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, but now God has even let me see your offspring.” 12 Then Joseph took them from his father’s knees and bowed with his face to the ground.(K)

Ephraim’s Greater Blessing

13 Then Joseph took them both—with his right hand Ephraim toward Israel’s left, and with his left hand Manasseh toward Israel’s right—and brought them to Israel. 14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger, and crossing his hands, put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn.(L) 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said:

The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,(M)
the God who has been my shepherd(N) all my life to this day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me from all harm(O)—
may he bless these boys.
And may they be called by my name
and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,(P)
and may they grow to be numerous within the land.

17 When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he thought it was a mistake[b] and took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s. 18 Joseph said to his father, “Not that way, my father! This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know! He too will become a tribe,[c] and he too will be great; nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring will become a populous nation.”[d] 20 So he blessed them that day, putting Ephraim before Manasseh when he said, “The nation Israel will invoke blessings by you, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”

21 Israel said to Joseph, “Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers.(Q) 22 Over and above what I am giving your brothers, I am giving you the one mountain slope[e] that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”(R)

Footnotes

  1. 48:10 Lit he was not able to
  2. 48:17 Or he was displeased; lit head, it was bad in his eyes
  3. 48:19 Lit people
  4. 48:19 Or a multitude of nations; lit a fullness of nations
  5. 48:22 Or Shechem, Joseph’s burial place; lit one shoulder
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Genèse 48
La Bible du Semeur

Jacob adopte les fils de Joseph et les bénit

48 Peu après cela, on vint prévenir Joseph que son père était malade. Il prit avec lui ses deux fils Manassé et Ephraïm. 2 On annonça à Jacob que son fils Joseph venait le voir. Israël rassembla ses forces et s’assit sur sa couche. 3 Jacob dit à Joseph : Le Dieu tout-puissant m’est apparu à Louz au pays de Canaan et il m’a béni[a]. 4 Il m’a dit : « Je te rends fécond et te multiplierai, je te ferai devenir une multitude de peuples et, après toi, je donnerai ce pays pour toujours en propriété à ta descendance. » 5 Et maintenant, les deux fils qui te sont nés en Egypte, avant mon arrivée ici, je les adopte comme miens. Ephraïm et Manassé seront mes fils au même titre que Ruben et Siméon[b]. 6 Quant aux enfants qui te naîtront après eux, ils seront à toi. C’est au nom de leurs frères aînés qu’ils recevront leur part d’héritage. 7 Car lorsque je revenais de Paddân-Aram, j’eus la douleur de voir Rachel mourir au pays de Canaan à peu de distance d’Ephrata. C’est là, sur le chemin d’Ephrata – qui s’appelle Bethléhem – que je l’ai enterrée.

8 Israël regarda les fils de Joseph et demanda : Qui est-ce ?

9 Joseph lui répondit : Ce sont les fils que Dieu m’a donnés dans ce pays.

– Fais-les approcher, je te prie, dit Jacob, pour que je les bénisse.

10 La vue d’Israël était affaiblie par l’âge de sorte qu’il n’y voyait plus. Il les fit donc approcher de lui et les embrassa. 11 Israël dit à Joseph : Je ne m’imaginais pas te revoir et voici que Dieu me fait voir même tes descendants.

12 Joseph reprit ses deux enfants d’entre les genoux[c] de son père et se prosterna face contre terre. 13 Puis il les prit tous les deux, Ephraïm à sa droite – donc à gauche d’Israël – et Manassé à sa gauche – donc à la droite de son père – et les fit approcher de lui. 14 Mais Israël tendit la main droite et la posa sur la tête d’Ephraïm, qui était le plus jeune, et sa main gauche sur la tête de Manassé. Il croisa donc ses mains, bien que Manassé fût l’aîné.

15 Il bénit Joseph et dit :

Que ces garçons ╵soient bénis par le Dieu
devant qui ont vécu mes pères ╵Abraham et Isaac,
le Dieu qui a pris soin de moi ╵comme un berger ╵depuis que j’existe et jusqu’à ce jour,
16 l’ange qui m’a délivré de tout mal.
Qu’ils perpétuent mon nom ╵et celui de mes pères ╵Abraham et Isaac !
Qu’ils aient beaucoup d’enfants ╵partout dans le pays.

17 Joseph remarqua que son père avait posé sa main droite sur la tête d’Ephraïm. Cela lui déplut et il prit la main de son père pour la faire passer de la tête d’Ephraïm sur celle de Manassé. 18 Il dit à son père : Pas ainsi, mon père, c’est celui-là l’aîné ; mets donc ta main droite sur sa tête.

19 Mais son père refusa et dit : Je sais, mon fils, je sais. Celui-là aussi deviendra un peuple ! Lui aussi sera grand. Pourtant son frère cadet sera plus grand que lui et sa descendance formera plusieurs peuples.

20 Ce jour-là, il les bénit ainsi :

Le peuple d’Israël vous nommera dans ses bénédictions en disant : « Que Dieu te rende semblable à Ephraïm et à Manassé ! »

Ainsi il plaça Ephraïm avant Manassé. 21 Puis Israël dit à Joseph : Je vais bientôt mourir. Dieu sera avec vous et vous fera retourner au pays de vos ancêtres. 22 Quant à moi, je te donne une part de plus qu’à tes frères : Sichem[d], que j’ai conquise sur les Amoréens avec mon épée et mon arc.

Footnotes

  1. 48.3 Pour les v. 3-4, voir Gn 28.13-14. Voir Ac 7.5.
  2. 48.5 Ephraïm et Manassé deviendront chefs de tribus à la place de Joseph.
  3. 48.12 Jacob avait pris les enfants sur ses genoux (ou entre ses genoux), un geste d’adoption.
  4. 48.22 En hébreu, un seul terme a été rendu deux fois, par part et par Sichem, à cause d’un jeu sur les deux sens de ce terme.
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Génesis 48
La Biblia de las Américas

Jacob bendice a los hijos de José

48 Y sucedió que después de estas cosas, le dijeron a José[a]: He aquí, tu padre está enfermo. Y él tomó consigo a sus dos hijos, Manasés y Efraín(A). 2 Cuando se le avisó a Jacob diciendo[b]: He aquí, tu hijo José ha venido a ti, Israel hizo un esfuerzo[c] y se sentó en la cama. 3 Entonces Jacob dijo a José: El Dios Todopoderoso[d](B) se me apareció en Luz(C), en la tierra de Canaán; me bendijo, 4 y me dijo: «He aquí, yo te haré fecundo y te multiplicaré; y haré de ti multitud de pueblos y daré esta tierra a tu descendencia[e] después de ti en posesión perpetua(D)». 5 Ahora pues, tus dos hijos que te nacieron en la tierra de Egipto, antes de que yo viniera a ti a Egipto, míos son; Efraín y Manasés(E) serán míos, como lo son Rubén(F) y Simeón. 6 Pero los hijos[f] que has engendrado después de ellos, serán tuyos; serán llamados por el nombre de sus hermanos en su heredad. 7 En cuanto a mí, cuando vine de Padán(G), Raquel se me murió[g] en la tierra de Canaán, en el camino, cuando faltaba todavía cierta distancia para llegar a Efrata, y la sepulté allí en el camino a Efrata, esto es Belén(H).

8 Cuando Israel vio a los hijos de José(I), dijo: ¿Quiénes son estos? 9 Y José respondió a su padre: Son mis hijos, los que Dios me ha dado aquí(J). Y él dijo: Acércalos a mí, te ruego, para que yo los bendiga(K). 10 Y los ojos de Israel estaban tan débiles por la vejez que no podía ver(L). Entonces José se los acercó, y él los besó(M) y los abrazó. 11 E Israel dijo a José: Nunca esperaba[h] ver tu rostro, y he aquí, Dios me ha permitido ver también a tus hijos[i]. 12 Entonces José los tomó de las[j] rodillas de Jacob, y se inclinó con su rostro en tierra(N). 13 Y José tomó a los dos, a Efraín con la derecha, hacia la izquierda de Israel, y a Manasés con la izquierda, hacia la derecha de Israel, y se los acercó. 14 Pero Israel extendió su derecha y la puso sobre la cabeza de Efraín, que era el menor, y su izquierda sobre la cabeza de Manasés, cruzando adrede sus manos, aunque[k] Manasés era el primogénito(O). 15 Y bendijo a José, y dijo:

El Dios delante de quien anduvieron mis padres Abraham e Isaac(P),
el Dios que ha sido mi pastor(Q) toda mi vida[l] hasta este día,
16 el ángel que me ha rescatado de todo mal(R),
bendiga a estos muchachos(S);
y viva[m] en ellos mi nombre,
y el nombre de mis padres Abraham e Isaac;
y crezcan para ser multitud en medio de la tierra(T).

17 Cuando José vio que su padre había puesto su mano derecha sobre la cabeza de Efraín(U), esto le desagradó; y asió la mano de su padre para cambiarla de la cabeza de Efraín a la cabeza de Manasés. 18 Y José dijo a su padre: No sea así, padre mío, pues este es el primogénito. Pon tu derecha sobre su cabeza. 19 Mas su padre rehusó y dijo: Lo sé, hijo mío, lo sé; él también llegará a ser un pueblo, y él también será grande. Sin embargo, su hermano menor será más grande que él, y su descendencia[n] llegará a ser multitud[o] de naciones(V). 20 Y los bendijo aquel día(W), diciendo:

Por ti[p] bendecirá Israel, diciendo:
Que Dios te haga como Efraín y Manasés.

Así puso a Efraín antes de Manasés. 21 Entonces Israel dijo a José: He aquí, yo estoy a punto de morir, pero Dios estará con vosotros(X) y os hará volver a la tierra de vuestros padres(Y). 22 Y yo te doy una parte[q] más que a tus hermanos, la cual tomé de mano del amorreo(Z) con mi espada y con mi arco.

Footnotes

  1. Génesis 48:1 Lit., uno dijo a José
  2. Génesis 48:2 Lit., y dijo
  3. Génesis 48:2 Lit., se fortaleció
  4. Génesis 48:3 Heb., El Shaddai
  5. Génesis 48:4 Lit., simiente
  6. Génesis 48:6 Lit., tu prole
  7. Génesis 48:7 Lit., Raquel murió sobre mí
  8. Génesis 48:11 Lit., juzgaba
  9. Génesis 48:11 Lit., tu simiente
  10. Génesis 48:12 Lit., los hizo salir de sus
  11. Génesis 48:14 Lit., cuando
  12. Génesis 48:15 Lit., desde mi continuidad
  13. Génesis 48:16 Lit., sea llamado
  14. Génesis 48:19 O, simiente
  15. Génesis 48:19 Lit., plenitud
  16. Génesis 48:20 Algunos mss. dicen: vosotros
  17. Génesis 48:22 Lit., un hombro, heb., Shekem
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Genesis 48
New International Version

Manasseh and Ephraim

48 Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim(A) along with him. 2 When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel(B) rallied his strength and sat up on the bed.

3 Jacob said to Joseph, “God Almighty[a](C) appeared to me at Luz(D) in the land of Canaan, and there he blessed me(E) 4 and said to me, ‘I am going to make you fruitful and increase your numbers.(F) I will make you a community of peoples, and I will give this land(G) as an everlasting possession to your descendants after you.’(H)

5 “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt(I) before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine,(J) just as Reuben(K) and Simeon(L) are mine. 6 Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. 7 As I was returning from Paddan,[b](M) to my sorrow(N) Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem).(O)

8 When Israel(P) saw the sons of Joseph,(Q) he asked, “Who are these?”

9 “They are the sons God has given me here,”(R) Joseph said to his father.

Then Israel said, “Bring them to me so I may bless(S) them.”

10 Now Israel’s eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see.(T) So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them(U) and embraced them.(V)

11 Israel(W) said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again,(X) and now God has allowed me to see your children too.”(Y)

12 Then Joseph removed them from Israel’s knees(Z) and bowed down with his face to the ground.(AA) 13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand,(AB) and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel(AC) reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head,(AD) though he was the younger,(AE) and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.(AF)

15 Then he blessed(AG) Joseph and said,

“May the God before whom my fathers
    Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,(AH)
the God who has been my shepherd(AI)
    all my life to this day,
16 the Angel(AJ) who has delivered me from all harm(AK)
    —may he bless(AL) these boys.(AM)
May they be called by my name
    and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,(AN)
and may they increase greatly
    on the earth.”(AO)

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

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great.(AS) Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he,(AT) and his descendants will become a group of nations.(AU)” 20 He blessed(AV) them that day(AW) and said,

“In your[c] name will Israel(AX) pronounce this blessing:(AY)
    ‘May God make you like Ephraim(AZ) and Manasseh.(BA)’”

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you[d](BB) and take you[e] back to the land of your[f] fathers.(BC) 22 And to you I give one more ridge of land[g](BD) than to your brothers,(BE) the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword(BF) and my bow.”

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 48:3 Hebrew El-Shaddai
  2. Genesis 48:7 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia
  3. Genesis 48:20 The Hebrew is singular.
  4. Genesis 48:21 The Hebrew is plural.
  5. Genesis 48:21 The Hebrew is plural.
  6. Genesis 48:21 The Hebrew is plural.
  7. Genesis 48:22 The Hebrew for ridge of land is identical with the place name Shechem.
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Genesis 48
The Message

48 1-2 Some time after this conversation, Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” He took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and went to Jacob. When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come,” he roused himself and sat up in bed.

3-7 Jacob said to Joseph, “The Strong God appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan and blessed me. He said, ‘I’m going to make you prosperous and numerous, turn you into a congregation of tribes; and I’ll turn this land over to your children coming after you as a permanent inheritance.’ I’m adopting your two sons who were born to you here in Egypt before I joined you; they have equal status with Reuben and Simeon. But any children born after them are yours; they will come after their brothers in matters of inheritance. I want it this way because, as I was returning from Paddan, your mother Rachel, to my deep sorrow, died as we were on our way through Canaan when we were only a short distance from Ephrath, now called Bethlehem.”

8 Just then Jacob noticed Joseph’s sons and said, “Who are these?”

9-11 Joseph told his father, “They are my sons whom God gave to me in this place.”

“Bring them to me,” he said, “so I can bless them.” Israel’s eyesight was poor from old age; he was nearly blind. So Joseph brought them up close. Old Israel kissed and embraced them and then said to Joseph, “I never expected to see your face again, and now God has let me see your children as well!”

12-16 Joseph took them from Israel’s knees and bowed respectfully, his face to the ground. Then Joseph took the two boys, Ephraim with his right hand setting him to Israel’s left, and Manasseh with his left hand setting him to Israel’s right, and stood them before him. But Israel crossed his arms and put his right hand on the head of Ephraim who was the younger and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, the firstborn. Then he blessed them:

The God before whom walked
    my fathers Abraham and Isaac,
The God who has been my shepherd
    all my life long to this very day,
The Angel who delivered me from every evil,
    Bless the boys.
May my name be echoed in their lives,
    and the names of Abraham and Isaac, my fathers,
And may they grow
    covering the Earth with their children.

17-18 When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he thought he had made a mistake, so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s, saying, “That’s the wrong head, Father; the other one is the firstborn; place your right hand on his head.”

19-20 But his father wouldn’t do it. He said, “I know, my son; but I know what I’m doing. He also will develop into a people, and he also will be great. But his younger brother will be even greater and his descendants will enrich nations.” Then he blessed them both:

Israel will use your names to give blessings:
    May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.

In that he made it explicit: he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

21-22 Israel then said to Joseph, “I’m about to die. God be with you and give you safe passage back to the land of your fathers. As for me, I’m presenting you, as the first among your brothers, the ridge of land I took from Amorites with my sword and bow.”

* * *

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Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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