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Genesis 48:13-20
English Standard Version
Genesis 48:13-20
English Standard Version
13 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. 14 (A)And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, (B)crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). 15 And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God (C)before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 (D)the angel who has (E)redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let (F)my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
and let them (G)grow into a multitude[a] in the midst of the earth.”
17 When Joseph saw that his father (H)laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, (I)“I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, (J)his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude[b] of nations.” 20 So he blessed them that day, saying,
“By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying,
(K)‘God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.’”
Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 48:16 Or let them be like fish for multitude
- Genesis 48:19 Hebrew fullness
Genesis 48:13-20
New International Version
Genesis 48:13-20
New International Version
13 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,(A) and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel(B) reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head,(C) though he was the younger,(D) and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.(E)
15 Then he blessed(F) Joseph and said,
“May the God before whom my fathers
Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,(G)
the God who has been my shepherd(H)
all my life to this day,
16 the Angel(I) who has delivered me from all harm(J)
—may he bless(K) these boys.(L)
May they be called by my name
and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,(M)
and may they increase greatly
on the earth.”(N)
17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand(O) on Ephraim’s head(P) he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”(Q)
19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great.(R) Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he,(S) and his descendants will become a group of nations.(T)” 20 He blessed(U) them that day(V) and said,
“In your[a] name will Israel(W) pronounce this blessing:(X)
‘May God make you like Ephraim(Y) and Manasseh.(Z)’”
So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
Footnotes
- Genesis 48:20 The Hebrew is singular.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.