Genesis 48:13 kjv
And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.
Genesis 48:13 nkjv
And Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him.
Genesis 48:13 niv
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, and brought them close to him.
Genesis 48:13 esv
And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near him.
Genesis 48:13 nlt
Then he positioned the boys in front of Jacob. With his right hand he directed Ephraim toward Jacob's left hand, and with his left hand he put Manasseh at Jacob's right hand.
Genesis 48 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Primogeniture & Divine Reversal | ||
| Gen 48:14 | But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger... | Jacob crosses hands, elevating Ephraim. |
| Gen 48:17-20 | When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him... | Joseph tries to correct Jacob, but Jacob affirms divine choice. |
| Gen 25:23 | The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb...the older shall serve the younger.” | God’s pre-birth selection of Jacob over Esau. |
| 1 Sam 16:6-13 | But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance...for the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” | God chooses David, the youngest, over his older brothers. |
| Rom 9:10-13 | ...though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad, in order that God’s purpose of election might continue...Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated. | Paul cites Esau/Jacob to explain God's sovereign election. |
| Mal 1:2-3 | “I have loved you,” says the Lord...“Was not Esau Jacob’s brother? Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated.” | Divine preference demonstrated, affirming God’s free choice. |
| Patriarchal Blessings & Inheritance | ||
| Gen 48:5-6 | And now your two sons, who were born to you...are mine...Ephraim and Manasseh shall be to me as Reuben and Simeon. | Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh, elevating their tribal status. |
| Gen 49:1-28 | Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come.” | Jacob’s comprehensive prophetic blessings to his sons. |
| Gen 12:2-3 | And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. | The foundational promise of blessing to Abraham. |
| Gen 17:6 | I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. | God’s covenant promise of fruitfulness and lineage to Abraham. |
| Deut 21:17 | He shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved wife, by giving him a double portion... | Law affirming the rights of the firstborn in inheritance. |
| Heb 11:20-21 | By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph... | Faith exercised by patriarchs in giving blessings. |
| Symbolism of Hands & Right Hand | ||
| Ps 118:16 | The right hand of the Lord is exalted; the right hand of the Lord does valiantly. | Right hand as a symbol of God's power and victory. |
| Matt 25:34 | Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you...' | The "right hand" symbolizes divine favor and blessing in judgment. |
| Eph 1:20 | ...which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places... | Christ's exaltation to God's position of power and authority. |
| Acts 2:33 | Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing. | Jesus' post-resurrection power and gifting through the Spirit. |
| Lev 9:22 | Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. | Priestly blessing involves uplifted hands. |
| Num 6:23-26 | “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: The Lord bless you and keep you..." | The Aaronic blessing given with specific posture. |
| Generational Continuity & Fruitfulness | ||
| Gen 41:51 | Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.” | Meaning of Manasseh (forgetting). |
| Gen 41:52 | The name of the second he called Ephraim, “For,” he said, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.” | Meaning of Ephraim (fruitfulness). |
| Gal 3:29 | And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. | Spiritual inheritance extended to all believers through Christ. |
Genesis 48 verses
Genesis 48 13 Meaning
Genesis 48:13 describes Joseph’s actions as he presents his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to his aging father, Jacob (also called Israel), for a patriarchal blessing. Joseph intentionally positions his older son, Manasseh, to Jacob’s right hand (the position of preeminence for the greater blessing) and his younger son, Ephraim, to Jacob’s left hand (the lesser position). This positioning reflects Joseph's cultural understanding and expectation for the firstborn to receive the principal blessing from the patriarch. Joseph brings them close to Jacob, facilitating the sacred moment of blessing.
Genesis 48 13 Context
Genesis chapter 48 unfolds as Jacob, sensing his impending death, calls Joseph to him. This chapter specifically records Jacob’s final blessing and adoption of Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. This act elevates them to the status of Jacob's own direct sons, thereby giving them a full share in the tribal inheritance of Israel (Gen 48:5). This is significant because it doubles Joseph’s portion among the tribes, making him, through his sons, a foundational pillar of Israel’s future. The historical and cultural context centers on the vital importance of the patriarchal blessing as a divinely inspired pronouncement concerning future prosperity, status, and destiny within the family lineage and the unfolding covenant. Joseph’s specific arrangement of his sons, placing the elder Manasseh to Jacob’s right and the younger Ephraim to Jacob’s left, indicates his adherence to the established cultural custom of primogeniture, where the firstborn received the preeminent blessing. This customary expectation sets the stage for Jacob's surprising action in the subsequent verses, where he intentionally crosses his hands to bestow the primary blessing upon the younger son, Ephraim, a demonstration of God's sovereign will overriding human custom.
Genesis 48 13 Word analysis
- And Joseph (וַיִּקַּח יוֹסֵף - wayyiqqaḥ yôsēp̄): The Hebrew verb lāqaḥ (לָקַח), "took," indicates a deliberate action on Joseph’s part, actively presenting his sons to his father. Joseph acts as the respectful and attentive son, preparing his children for a critical moment with the patriarch.
- took them both (אֶת־שְׁנֵיהֶם - ʾeṯ-šĕnêhem): Highlights that both sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, were significant to Joseph and central to Jacob's purpose. It underscores the inclusivity of the blessing.
- Ephraim (אֶפְרָיִם - ʾEphrayim): Meaning "doubly fruitful" or "my fruitfulness." He was the younger of Joseph's two sons (Gen 41:52). His positioning is on Jacob's left, the position for the secondary blessing according to human custom.
- in his right hand (בִּימִינוֹ - bîmînô): Refers to Joseph's right hand. Joseph places Ephraim strategically on his (Joseph's) right, intending Ephraim to approach Jacob from that side, thus presenting Ephraim to Jacob's left.
- toward Israel's left hand (שְׂמֹאול יִשְׂרָאֵל - sĕmōʾwl Yiśrāʾēl): The preposition "toward" (אֶל - ʾel) indicates the intended destination or recipient of the action. This phrasing confirms Joseph’s careful arrangement for the conventional order of blessing, with Ephraim meant for the less significant left-hand blessing.
- and Manasseh (וְאֶת־מְנַשֶּׁה - wĕʾeṯ-mĕnaššeh): Meaning "causing to forget." He was the elder son (Gen 41:51). He is positioned on Jacob's right, anticipating the premier blessing.
- in his left hand (בִּשְׂמֹאולוֹ - biśĕmōʾwlô): Refers to Joseph's left hand. Joseph holds Manasseh with his left hand, aiming for Manasseh to approach Jacob from that side, thus presenting Manasseh to Jacob's right.
- toward Israel's right hand (יְמִין יִשְׂרָאֵל - yĕmîn Yiśrāʾēl): The term yāmîn (יָמִין) literally means "right hand" and carries deep cultural and spiritual significance, symbolizing power, authority, honor, favor, and the chief blessing. Joseph's intent is clear: Manasseh for the preeminent blessing.
- and brought them near him (וַיַּגֵּשׁ אֹתָם אֵלָיו - wayyaggēš ʾōṯām ʾēlāyw): The verb nāgaš (נָגַשׁ) means "to draw near," "present," or "approach." This suggests a formal and reverent presentation for the solemn act of receiving a patriarchal blessing. The act of bringing them "near" is essential for Jacob, who is old and frail, allowing him to perceive and bless them properly.
Words-group analysis
- "Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand": This phrase perfectly illustrates Joseph's intention for Ephraim, the younger, to receive the second blessing. Joseph holds Ephraim in his own right hand, placing the boy in a position to approach Jacob’s left hand. This is the natural order for a father arranging his children for a conventional blessing ceremony based on age.
- "and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand": Conversely, Joseph positions Manasseh, the elder, in his own left hand, bringing the boy into position to approach Jacob’s right hand, signifying the first and greater blessing. Joseph adheres strictly to the custom of primogeniture, attempting to orchestrate the outcome according to societal norms. This highlights human wisdom and planning versus divine intent.
- "brought them near him": This simple yet profound phrase concludes the verse by depicting the culmination of Joseph's arrangement. It underscores the active role of Joseph in presenting his sons, setting the scene for the spiritual interaction between the patriarch and the next generation. The nearness allows for the laying on of hands, a physical act symbolic of the transfer of blessing and authority.
Genesis 48 13 Bonus section
The positioning of the children by Joseph highlights the universal human inclination to follow established custom and tradition, particularly concerning inheritance and honor. This very adherence to human norm in the verse amplifies the extraordinary nature of Jacob's subsequent actions in the narrative. Jacob's cross-handed blessing (Gen 48:14) becomes not just a deviation but a divine statement, emphasizing God’s ability to transcend human convention. The choice of Ephraim over Manasseh established Ephraim as the more prominent tribe in later Israelite history (e.g., controlling territory where Shiloh, the place of the tabernacle, resided for a long time, and being central to the northern kingdom's identity). This narrative serves as a vital reminder that God's ways are not our ways (Isa 55:8-9) and His election is by grace, not by human merit or birth order.
Genesis 48 13 Commentary
Genesis 48:13 lays the groundwork for one of the most poignant and theologically significant moments in the patriarchal narratives. It captures Joseph's dutiful adherence to custom, preparing his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, for a formal blessing from their grandfather, Jacob. Joseph, the son who deeply understood human customs, positions Manasseh, the firstborn, for the principal blessing by placing him to Jacob's right. Ephraim, the younger, is placed to Jacob's left, anticipating the lesser blessing. This deliberate arrangement reflects Joseph's cultural understanding of primogeniture and his human expectation that the established order would be followed. The verse sets the stage for the dramatic and prophetic twist that follows, where Jacob, guided by divine insight rather than human tradition, purposefully crosses his hands, bestowing the greater blessing on the younger Ephraim. This foreshadows a recurring biblical theme: God’s sovereign choice often overrides human expectations and conventional norms, frequently elevating the younger, the weaker, or the seemingly less significant, as seen with Jacob over Esau, David over his brothers, and ultimately in Christ's Kingdom where the first are last and the last are first. This verse establishes the "before" picture against which Jacob's divine reversal stands in sharp relief.