Genesis 48:22 kjv

Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

Genesis 48:22 nkjv

Moreover I have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow."

Genesis 48:22 niv

And to you I give one more ridge of land than to your brothers, the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow."

Genesis 48:22 esv

Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow."

Genesis 48:22 nlt

And beyond what I have given your brothers, I am giving you an extra portion of the land that I took from the Amorites with my sword and bow."

Genesis 48 verses

Genesis 48 22 Meaning

Jacob, on his deathbed, declares to Joseph that he is granting him a special portion of land, "one portion (shekhem) above your brothers." This "double portion" signifies that Joseph, through his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh, would receive the inheritance equivalent to a firstborn son among the tribes of Israel, displacing Reuben who had forfeited his birthright. Jacob then explains how he acquired this specific portion of land: "which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow," asserting personal struggle or military engagement, or more likely, a divinely backed securing of land that would be a foundational piece of their inheritance in Canaan.

Genesis 48 22 Context

Genesis 48 unfolds as Jacob nears the end of his life in Egypt. Aware of his impending death, he sends for Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob's primary act in this chapter is to adopt Joseph's two sons as his own, equating them with his own direct sons, Reuben and Simeon. This action ensures that Joseph, through his two sons, effectively receives a double portion of the inheritance—two tribal shares in the future land of Canaan. This specific verse (48:22) is Jacob's explicit pronouncement of this unique and significant grant to Joseph, providing its surprising justification concerning its acquisition. The setting is intimate and weighty, with the patriarch bestowing a final, profound blessing that reorders the tribal lineage and destiny.

Genesis 48 22 Word analysis

• Moreover (וַאֲנִי֙ – va'ani): Lit. "And I." The prefix 'and' (va) links it to the preceding discourse. The emphatic pronoun "I" underscores that this is a personal, deliberate, and sovereign act of Jacob as the patriarch, bestowing a special favor.
• I have given (נָתַתִּ֤י – natatati): A completed past action in Hebrew, denoting a firm and irreversible grant. It reflects Jacob's authority as the head of the family and custodian of the divine promises.
• to you (לְךָ֙ – lekha): Singular, directly addressing Joseph. The grant is made to Joseph, but the implementation is through his two sons.
• one portion (שְׁכֶ֤ם אַחַד֙ – shekhem echad): The Hebrew word shekhem (שְׁכֶם) literally means "shoulder" (an anatomical term). It metaphorically refers to a "portion," "ridge," or "tract of land," especially a double or leading share, signifying a heavier burden or responsibility. This likely alludes to the land near the city of Shechem, which Jacob had purchased (Gen 33:19) and where significant events concerning his family transpired (Gen 34). It also points to the firstborn's double inheritance.
• above your brothers (מֵאֶחָ֗יךָ – me'ekheikha): "More than" or "beyond" your brothers. This explicitly states the elevated status and greater inheritance granted to Joseph's lineage compared to his other brothers, reflecting his special favor and the fulfillment of the birthright previously held by Reuben.
• which I took (אֲשֶׁ֤ר לָקַ֙חְתִּי֙ – asher lakaḥti): "Which I have taken." Again, emphasizes Jacob's direct involvement in securing this land.
• from the hand of the Amorite (מִיַּ֤ד הָאֱמֹרִי֙ – miy ad ha'Emori): "From the power/control of the Amorite." The Amorites were one of the powerful Canaanite tribes inhabiting the land. While Jacob purchased land from the Hivites in Shechem (Gen 33:19), "Amorite" may be used generically for the inhabitants of Canaan, particularly its strong, mountain-dwelling people. It signifies the transfer of control, likely implying dispossession through conflict or assertion of right.
• with my sword (בְּחַרְבִּ֖י – bekharbi): "With my sword." This is a striking statement given Jacob's usual depiction as a peaceful patriarch and not a warrior. It implies active use of force or struggle to secure the land.
• and with my bow (וּבְקַשְׁתִּֽי – uvekashti): "And with my bow." Reinforces the previous phrase, depicting military or combative action.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "one portion above your brothers": This phrase directly announces Joseph's unique elevated inheritance, signaling his effective reception of the birthright portion due to Reuben's disqualification (1 Chron 5:1-2). The "portion" is shekhem, tying the grant to a specific piece of land while also representing the idea of a pre-eminent share.
• "which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow": This highly debated phrase clarifies how Jacob acquired this specific portion of land. Given Jacob's character and the prior account of purchasing the land (Gen 33:19), this statement suggests several interpretations: it could be a hyperbolic expression for the secure acquisition despite challenges; a collective reference to his sons' actions at Shechem (Gen 34), with Jacob implicitly taking responsibility as patriarch despite condemning their cruelty; or it could imply God's "sword and bow" fighting on Jacob's behalf, as divine intervention often uses human means, and a general "terror of God" indeed fell on surrounding cities after the Shechem incident (Gen 35:5), preventing retaliation. This emphasizes a significant, possibly contested, acquisition rather than a mere commercial transaction.

Genesis 48 22 Bonus section

The concept of shekhem (shoulder/portion) also has eschatological significance in Jewish thought, as it is sometimes seen as representing the leadership or messianic portion of the tribes. Jacob’s statement provides an underlying biblical justification for Joseph's later two-tribe distribution in the land of Canaan, making Ephraim and Manasseh distinct and prominent. This act highlights Jacob's paternal authority and his role in stewarding God's covenant promises, ensuring the integrity of the future tribal distribution in the Promised Land according to divine design. Despite the ambiguous nature of its acquisition, the emphasis remains on the divinely intended destiny and Jacob’s active role in its manifestation for his favored son, Joseph.

Genesis 48 22 Commentary

Genesis 48:22 stands as a pivotal declaration within Jacob's final blessings, securing Joseph's prominence through a unique double portion of inheritance. The grant of "one portion" (shekhem) directly elevates Joseph's standing among his brothers, affirming the transfer of the birthright from Reuben. The controversial claim of taking this land "with my sword and with my bow" is central to understanding the verse. Given Jacob's persona as a peaceful man (Gen 25:27) and his condemnation of Simeon and Levi's violence (Gen 49:5-7) despite it leading to the seizure of Shechem, this phrase is generally interpreted not as a literal historical battle fought by Jacob himself, but rather in a more nuanced way. It likely speaks to Jacob's active struggle or God's powerful protection and intervention on his behalf (Gen 35:5), which implicitly secured the land for his lineage from hostile elements ("the Amorite" being a broad term for Canaanites). It prophetically foreshadows the future Israelite conquest of Canaan, positioning Jacob's securement of this land as an initial step and a divine endorsement of their future inheritance, reinforcing God's promise. Joseph's eventual burial at this very plot in Shechem (Josh 24:32) gives further deep symbolic weight to Jacob's special bequest.