Genesis 48:8 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 48:8 kjv
And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?
Genesis 48:8 nkjv
Then Israel saw Joseph's sons, and said, "Who are these?"
Genesis 48:8 niv
When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, "Who are these?"
Genesis 48:8 esv
When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, "Who are these?"
Genesis 48:8 nlt
Then Jacob looked over at the two boys. "Are these your sons?" he asked.
Genesis 48 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 27:1 | "When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim... he called Esau his elder son..." | Isaac's dim sight before blessing sons. |
| Gen 48:10 | "Now the eyes of Israel were dim from old age; he could not see..." | Direct confirmation of Jacob's dim vision. |
| 1 Sam 3:2 | "Eli, whose eyes had begun to grow dim so that he could not see..." | Similar physical limitation in a leader. |
| Gen 48:5 | "And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt... are mine..." | Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as his own. |
| Heb 11:21 | "By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph..." | Faith-driven blessing by Jacob. |
| Gen 12:2-3 | "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you... and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." | Covenant promise of nationhood and blessing. |
| Gen 49:1-28 | "Then Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come..." | Jacob's final blessings for all his sons. |
| Deut 33:1-29 | "This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the people of Israel before his death." | Moses' patriarchal blessing to tribes. |
| Rom 9:6-8 | "For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel... but the children of the promise are counted as offspring." | Emphasizes spiritual lineage over physical. |
| Eph 1:5 | "He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ..." | Spiritual adoption in Christ. |
| Gal 4:4-5 | "...born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons." | Redemption leading to spiritual adoption. |
| Gen 48:9 | "And Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." | Joseph introduces his sons to Jacob. |
| Gen 45:7-8 | "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth..." | God's providential hand in Joseph's life. |
| Prov 20:24 | "A person's steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way?" | God's guidance, even amid human limitation. |
| Ps 73:25 | "Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you." | Focus on spiritual vision over physical. |
| Isa 6:9-10 | "Go, and say to this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive." | Physical sight vs. spiritual blindness. |
| Matt 13:13-16 | "This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see..." | Jesus explains spiritual blindness/sight. |
| John 9:39 | "For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind." | Christ giving spiritual sight. |
| 2 Cor 4:18 | "So we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen." | Spiritual focus beyond physical observation. |
| Luke 10:23-24 | "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it..." | Spiritual vision as a blessing. |
Genesis 48 verses
Genesis 48 8 meaning
Genesis 48:8 describes Jacob (also called Israel) as he discerns the presence of two young men accompanying Joseph, his son. Due to his old age and failing eyesight, Jacob's vision was dim, preventing him from clearly identifying them. He directly asks Joseph, "Who are these?" This query sets the stage for Joseph to introduce his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, who will then receive a crucial patriarchal blessing from Jacob, establishing their place among the tribes of Israel.
Genesis 48 8 Context
Genesis chapter 48 details one of Jacob's final and most significant acts: the blessing of Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. This event takes place as Jacob nears the end of his life, having summoned Joseph to his bedside in Egypt. Earlier in the chapter, Jacob recounted God's covenant promises to him at Luz (Bethel) and reaffirms his belief in the Lord's blessing. Verse 8 is a pivotal moment within this narrative, signaling Jacob's recognition of the younger generation whom he is about to elevate. It follows Joseph bringing his sons close to his aging father, leading to the question born of Jacob's impaired physical sight but preparing for a blessing rooted in spiritual insight and divine revelation, ensuring their inclusion as full tribes within the nation of Israel, thereby increasing Joseph's inheritance twofold.
Genesis 48 8 Word analysis
- And Israel (וַיַּרְא יִשְׂרָאֵל, vayyar Yisra'el):
- וַיַּרְא (vayyar'): Conjunction "and" + verb "he saw/beheld". From the root ra'ah (רָאָה), meaning "to see," "to look at," "to perceive," or even "to discern." Here, it implies an effort to look, despite the physical limitation, setting the scene for a question.
- יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisra'el): This is Jacob's God-given name (Gen 32:28), signifying "he struggles with God" or "God contends," but widely interpreted as "prince with God" or "God prevails." Its use here emphasizes his patriarchal authority and the spiritual significance of the moment, as he is about to act in his capacity as the covenant patriarch.
- beheld (וַיַּרְא, vayyar'א): This is a repeat from "And Israel beheld" showing action. As discussed, from ra'ah, meaning to see or perceive. It stresses the active gaze despite blurred vision, focusing Jacob's attention on the figures near Joseph.
- Joseph's sons (בְּנֵי יוֹסֵף, b'ney Yosef):
- בְּנֵי (b'ney): "sons of." This highlights the direct familial relationship and the focus of Jacob's attention.
- יוֹסֵף (Yosef): Joseph. His name means "he adds" or "may He add," reflecting Rachel's desire for more sons (Gen 30:24). The sons here are Manasseh and Ephraim, crucial figures for the future tribes.
- and said (וַיֹּאמֶר, vayyomer): A common Hebrew construct connecting actions, "and he said." Indicates Jacob's verbal response following his perception.
- Who are these? (מִי אֵלֶּה, mi eleh):
- מִי (mi): Interrogative pronoun, "who?" It conveys his inability to clearly identify the individuals due to his vision, requiring an explanation.
- אֵלֶּה (eleh*): Demonstrative pronoun, "these." Points to the plural subjects present before him. The direct question underscores his diminished physical capacity while also signaling his active engagement in the moment.
- "And Israel beheld Joseph's sons": This phrase introduces Jacob's observation. It highlights the patriarch's age-related visual impairment yet also his enduring paternal and patriarchal concern. Despite his weakness, his focus is on the next generation and their future place in the covenant. This act of "beholding" despite physical limits emphasizes the subsequent actions are divinely guided rather than purely human-sighted.
- "and said, Who are these?": This rhetorical question is critical. It does not imply complete ignorance but rather an inability to visually identify, setting the necessary conversational context for Joseph to present his sons. This directness clears the way for the formal introduction and the ensuing significant blessing. It ensures Jacob's conscious act of blessing is specific and deliberate, distinguishing it from Isaac's accidental blessing of Jacob (Gen 27).
Genesis 48 8 Bonus section
The motif of elderly patriarchs having diminished physical eyesight but profound spiritual insight is a recurring theme in Genesis, seen both in Isaac (Gen 27:1) and Jacob. This contrast underscores that divine revelation and the transmission of covenant blessings do not depend on human physical capabilities but on God's chosen means and the patriarch's spiritual walk. Jacob's question here is not one of confusion or disorientation, but a practical need for clear identification to fulfill his divinely appointed role in conferring the patriarchal blessing, a blessing that had implications for the entire future of the twelve tribes of Israel. This setting of dim sight also adds dramatic tension and solemnity to the profound spiritual act about to unfold.
Genesis 48 8 Commentary
Genesis 48:8, though seemingly a simple query, serves as a crucial setup for Jacob's powerful patriarchal blessing. Jacob, identified as "Israel"—his covenant name, underscoring the divine weight of the moment—attempts to discern the figures before him. His failing physical sight, described explicitly in verse 10, necessitates his direct question to Joseph: "Who are these?" This moment subtly contrasts physical blindness with spiritual discernment. Like Isaac before him (Gen 27:1), Jacob’s old age and dim sight mean he must rely on Joseph's verbal introduction and God’s guidance. This seeming human limitation paradoxically emphasizes God's sovereign control over the transmission of covenant blessings, as Jacob will, by divine insight, proceed to "knowingly" bless Ephraim before Manasseh, despite the usual custom (Gen 48:14). This verse ensures the subsequent blessing is a conscious and specific act upon Joseph's named sons, foundational for the two tribes they represent in Israel.