Genesis 48:18

Compare all

16 The Angel ^awho has redeemed me from all evil,
Bless the lads;
Let ^bmy name be named upon them,
And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
And let them ^cgrow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

17 Now when Joseph saw that his father ^alaid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.

18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused and said, ^a“I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly ^bhis younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations.”

20 So he blessed them that day, saying, ^a“By you Israel will bless, saying, ‘May God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh!’ ” And thus he set Ephraim before Manasseh.

21 Then Israel said to Joseph, “Behold, I am dying, but ^aGod will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.

22 Moreover ^aI have given to you one portion above your brothers, which I took from the hand ^bof the Amorite with my sword and my bow.”

Commentaries:

Adam Clarke

<< Genesis 48:17

Genesis 48:19 >>

Genesis 48:18

Joseph said - Not so, my father - Joseph supposed that his father had made a mistake in laying his right hand on the head of the youngest, because the right hand was considered as the most noble, and the instrument of conveying the highest dignities, and thus it has ever been considered among all nations, though the reason of it is not particularly obvious. Even in the heavens the right hand of God is the place of the most exalted dignity. It has been observed that Joseph spoke here as he was moved by natural affection, and that Jacob acted as he was influenced by the Holy Spirit.

**Other Adam Clarke entries containing Genesis 48:18:**

Luke 24:50

<< Genesis 48:17

Genesis 48:19 >>

DISCLAIMER: Church of the Great God (CGG) provides these resources to aid the individual in studying the Bible. However, it is up to the individual to "prove all things, and hold fast to that which is good" (I Thessalonians 5:21). The content of these resources does not necessarily reflect the views of CGG. They are provided for information purposes only.