Genesis 48:1 kjv

And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Genesis 48:1 nkjv

Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, "Indeed your father is sick"; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Genesis 48:1 niv

Some time later Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him.

Genesis 48:1 esv

After this, Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is ill." So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Genesis 48:1 nlt

One day not long after this, word came to Joseph, "Your father is failing rapidly." So Joseph went to visit his father, and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Genesis 48 verses

Genesis 48 1 Meaning

Genesis 48:1 signifies a pivotal moment in the life of Jacob (Israel), setting the stage for the transfer of the Abrahamic covenantal blessing to the next generation. It records the solemn news reaching Joseph that his elderly father, Jacob, is gravely ill and the immediate, dutiful response of Joseph, who takes his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to be with Jacob. This event marks the beginning of Jacob's final instructions, blessings, and the formal adoption of Joseph's sons, crucial for the tribal lineage of Israel.

Genesis 48 1 Context

Genesis 48:1 follows Jacob's 17-year residence in Egypt (Gen 47:28). During this time, he enjoyed peace and prosperity under Joseph's care. Critically, in Gen 47:29-31, Jacob had already secured an oath from Joseph that he would not be buried in Egypt but would be carried back to Canaan to lie with his forefathers. This verse, therefore, marks the beginning of the culmination of Jacob's life, his final arrangements, and the formal passing of the Abrahamic covenant's promises and blessings to his sons, specifically focusing on Joseph and his lineage through Manasseh and Ephraim. It ushers in the significant patriarchal blessings recorded in chapters 48 and 49, crucial for establishing the future tribal identities of Israel.

Genesis 48 1 Word analysis

• Now it came to pass after these things (וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, vay’hi achar ha-d’varim ha-eleh):

  • Now it came to pass (וַיְהִי, vay’hi): A common narrative marker in Hebrew, signaling the commencement of a new event or phase in a story. It emphasizes the sequential nature of God's plan unfolding.
  • After these things (אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, achar ha-d'varim ha-eleh): More than a mere chronological note, this phrase often introduces a significant new development or divine action following a series of events. Here, it refers to the settlement of Jacob's family in Goshen and Jacob's arrangement for his burial in Canaan. It signifies the end of one phase (establishing the family in Egypt) and the beginning of another (transferring the covenantal blessing).

• that one told Joseph:

  • that one told: The Hebrew text simply uses a passive verb form, implying an unspecified messenger. The emphasis is not on who conveyed the message, but on the crucial information itself and Joseph's immediate response. This implies the news was urgent and critical.
  • Joseph: The key figure here, responsible for his family's welfare and entrusted with Jacob's burial oath. His role as second-in-command in Egypt highlights his access to prompt information regarding his father.

• Behold, your father is sick:

  • Behold (הִנֵּה, hinneh): An interjection used to draw immediate attention or indicate something significant or urgent. It heightens the solemnity and importance of the news.
  • your father: Highlights the deeply personal and familial nature of the news for Joseph. It speaks to the son's filial duty and impending responsibility.
  • is sick (חֹלֶה, choleh): The Hebrew word signifies not just an ailment but a serious or even terminal illness. This is Jacob's final illness, marking his preparation for death. It initiates the transfer of blessings and prophetic words.

• and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim:

  • and he took with him (וַיִּקַּח אִתּוֹ, vayikach itto): Demonstrates Joseph's immediate and dutiful action. There is no hesitation. His accompanying his father signals a proper filial response.
  • his two sons: Their presence is crucial. This prefigures their impending adoption by Jacob, which would grant them equal tribal status with Reuben and Simeon, effectively giving Joseph a "double portion" equivalent to two tribes within Israel. This implicitly fulfills the firstborn's blessing, which Reuben had forfeited.
  • Manasseh and Ephraim: These are the first and second-born sons of Joseph, born to an Egyptian mother. Their inclusion is vital for their subsequent elevation and tribal formation within Israel. This moment confirms the integration of Joseph's Egyptian-born lineage into the Abrahamic covenant line.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Now it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph": This phrase establishes the critical transition and the urgency of the communication. It signifies God's sovereign timing, orchestrating the exact moment for Jacob to pronounce his final blessings. The unidentified messenger underscores that the message, not the messenger, is paramount in God's providence.
• "Behold, your father is sick": This is a direct, momentous revelation. It points to a divinely appointed illness, not just a random ailment, designed to set in motion the final patriarchal blessings and secure the future lineage of Israel through Jacob's declarations. The term "sick" here strongly implies a life-ending condition.
• "and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim": Joseph's immediate and purposeful action underscores his deep respect and understanding of the importance of this moment. He doesn't go alone, indicating an implicit knowledge or anticipation that his sons needed to be present for a crucial patriarchal blessing and establishment of their future identity within Israel. This proactive step sets the stage for the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant in an unexpected way through his two half-Egyptian sons gaining full tribal status.

Genesis 48 1 Bonus section

The seemingly simple act of Joseph bringing his sons to Jacob's sickbed holds profound theological implications: it implicitly points to the understanding, either by Joseph or Jacob, or both, that the blessing to be pronounced would encompass more than just Jacob's direct children. The adoption of Manasseh and Ephraim, a critical act that follows this verse, reflects the unique favor God had shown Joseph throughout his life. By making them co-equal to his own sons (like Reuben and Simeon), Jacob effectively grants Joseph the 'double portion' inheritance traditionally due to the firstborn (which Reuben had forfeited). This act sets the precedent for the tribal structure of Israel, recognizing these two sons as distinct tribes and solidifying Joseph's extraordinary place in the lineage. The timing of Jacob's illness, following his command for his burial in Canaan, ties together the continuity of faith from Abraham to Jacob, with Joseph ensuring its future through the upcoming generations.

Genesis 48 1 Commentary

Genesis 48:1 serves as a precise chronological and thematic hinge, marking the climax of Jacob's life in Egypt and preparing for the next phase of God's covenantal plan. The understated notification of Jacob's illness to Joseph signals a deeply significant event: the imminent death of another patriarch. Joseph's immediate and purposeful response—bringing his sons, Manasseh and Ephraim—highlights his filial devotion, awareness of the gravity of the situation, and perhaps an intuitive understanding that this meeting would be critical for their future tribal inheritance. This singular verse is therefore not merely a record of an old man's declining health but the divine initiation of Jacob's prophetic declarations and the formal integration of Joseph's two sons as co-heirs with the other sons of Israel, thereby ensuring the foundational tribal structure. It powerfully illustrates God's ongoing faithfulness in orchestrating the precise circumstances through which His promises continue to unfold, even through the mortal limitations of His chosen servants.