Genesis 50:23 kjv

And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.

Genesis 50:23 nkjv

Joseph saw Ephraim's children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph's knees.

Genesis 50:23 niv

and saw the third generation of Ephraim's children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph's knees.

Genesis 50:23 esv

And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph's own.

Genesis 50:23 nlt

He lived to see three generations of descendants of his son Ephraim, and he lived to see the birth of the children of Manasseh's son Makir, whom he claimed as his own.

Genesis 50 verses

MeaningGenesis 50:23 states that Joseph lived long enough to witness his great-grandchildren from his son Ephraim, and that the children of Machir, son of Manasseh, were taken upon Joseph's knees. This verse signifies God's blessing of longevity and fruitfulness upon Joseph, reflecting the broader covenant promise of numerous descendants given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The idiom "brought up upon Joseph's knees" indicates a special act of acknowledgment, blessing, and possibly a formal adoption, reinforcing Joseph's role as a patriarch who saw his lineage thrive within Egypt, even as a prelude to their future growth into a nation.

Cross References

ContextGenesis 50:23 is situated at the very end of Joseph's life, shortly before his death. The broader chapter (Gen 50) begins with the mourning and burial of Jacob in Canaan, fulfilling his dying request. Upon returning to Egypt, Joseph's brothers fear his reprisal but Joseph reassures them, highlighting God's redemptive plan ("ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good"). The verse then shifts to Joseph's remarkable longevity and the flourishing of his family. Historically, this period represents the golden age for the Israelites in Egypt, where they were protected and allowed to prosper under Joseph's influence, leading to significant population growth before the subsequent period of oppression. The verse underscores God's faithfulness in fulfilling the promise of numerous descendants, setting the stage for the eventual Exodus, which Joseph prophetically anticipates in the subsequent verses (Gen 50:24-25).

Word analysis

• And Joseph: (Hebrew: וַיּוֹסֶף - vayyosef) "And Joseph did." Joseph's life is presented as one divinely blessed with continuity and flourishing, even at an advanced age. His name Yosef (יוֹסֵף) means "He adds" or "He shall add," symbolically reflecting God adding generations to his family and prosperity to his life.
• saw: (Hebrew: וַיַּרְא - vayyar') "and he saw." This implies not just casual observation, but a deep personal experience and affirmation. Joseph lived to literally see the promise of his descendants' increase begin to materialize. This visual confirmation emphasizes the tangibility of God's blessing.
• Ephraim's children: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי אֶפְרַיִם - bney 'Efrayim) "children of Ephraim." Ephraim (אֶפְרַיִם), meaning "double fruit" or "fruitful," was Joseph's second son, but through Jacob's blessing (Gen 48), he was granted the prominence over Manasseh, indicating a future multitude. The mention of his children (plural) indicates ongoing propagation.
• of the third generation: (Hebrew: שִׁלֵּשִׁים - shillesim) "thirds" or "grandchildren/great-grandchildren." Specifically, it refers to children born to Ephraim's grandchildren, indicating Joseph saw his great-grandchildren. This is a profound measure of longevity and family flourishing, often seen as a significant blessing in ancient Near Eastern culture, fulfilling the ideal of a full and blessed life (Job 42:16, Ps 128:6).
• the children also: (Hebrew: וְגַם - vgam - "and also" or "furthermore") This transitions to the other branch of Joseph's descendants, from Manasseh.
• of Machir: (Hebrew: מָכִיר - Makhir) "Machir." Machir was the firstborn son of Manasseh (Num 26:29), known for his strength and leadership (1 Chr 7:15). His lineage forms a significant part of the tribe of Manasseh, eventually settling in Gilead. His mention alongside Ephraim's lineage emphasizes the thriving of both branches of Joseph's house.
• the son of Manasseh: (Hebrew: בֶן-מְנַשֶּׁה - ben-Menaššeh) Further identifies Machir, clarifying his connection to Joseph. Manasseh (מְנַשֶּׁה) means "causing to forget," referring to Joseph's forgetting of his toil and father's house.
• were brought up upon Joseph's knees: (Hebrew: יֻלְּדוּ עַל בִּרְכֵּי יוֹסֵף - yullĕdu ʿal birkhey Yosef) This is a crucial Hebrew idiom. Literally, "were born upon Joseph's knees." It signifies an act of paternal acceptance and legitimation, particularly common in adoption or where children born to secondary wives (concubines or handmaidens) were legally recognized by the patriarch sitting on his knees as if the children were birthed from him.
  • Words-group Analysis ("upon Joseph's knees"): This idiom carries significant legal and symbolic weight:
    • Formal adoption/Legitimacy: In the ancient Near East, a child being received "on the knees" of the patriarch signified a formal act of acknowledgement, conferring legitimacy and full rights as an heir. Examples include Jacob with Bilhah and Zilpah's children (Gen 30:3), and the practice among Hittites where adopted children were placed on the adopting parent's lap. This highlights Joseph's active role as a patriarch, ensuring his descendants were fully integrated and blessed under his authority.
    • Blessing and Nurturing: It also connotes tender care, nurturing, and the imparting of blessing, as a grandfather would cradle and dote on his beloved grandchildren, extending paternal protection and guidance. Joseph actively embraced his extended family.
    • Continuity of Covenant: By receiving these descendants, Joseph confirmed the generational continuity of the Abrahamic covenant within his own family line, showing the fulfillment of God's promise to "multiply thy seed" (Gen 22:17).

CommentaryGenesis 50:23 provides a profound snapshot of God's faithfulness, particularly in fulfilling His covenant promise of multiplication to Abraham. Joseph, as the pivotal figure linking the patriarchal period with the nascent nation of Israel, lives to a ripe old age, not only experiencing prosperity but actively witnessing the rapid expansion of his own lineage. The mention of "Ephraim's children of the third generation" testifies to the swift and continuous growth of the clan, reflecting the blessing of fruitfulness that pervaded the Israelites' initial time in Egypt. Furthermore, the act of "Machir's children...brought up upon Joseph's knees" is highly significant. It is a powerful cultural image of adoption and deep personal acknowledgment. It underscores Joseph's role as a benevolent patriarch who personally validated and embraced his numerous descendants, ensuring their integration and continuation as a blessed seed, consistent with the promise that Israel would become a vast nation. This verse highlights the triumph of life and fertility as a divine gift, reinforcing the notion that despite the family's turbulent past, God's promise remained active and visible in the thriving generations of Joseph's own household.

Bonus sectionThis verse subtly serves as a bridge, marking the culmination of the blessings within Joseph's lifetime even as it foreshadows the larger fulfillment of Israel's national growth mentioned in subsequent texts like Acts 7:17. The specificity of "third generation" from Ephraim, combined with the reception of Machir's children (from Manasseh), underscores that the entire house of Joseph was indeed experiencing significant numerical growth. This demonstrates that Israel's multiplication began organically and divinely, well before the period of oppressive slavery. The cultural practice signified by "upon Joseph's knees" further establishes Joseph's high status and authority within the extended family, exercising patriarchal rights much like Jacob had done with Joseph's own sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen 48:5). This ritualistic reception of children would ensure their legal and spiritual standing within the family and clan, guaranteeing their portion in the blessings of Israel.