Genesis 48:16

You are the one that saved me and set me free from all the bad things that happened to me. So now, I’m asking you to be good to these 2 boys, Ephraim and Manasseh. Let them be just like my own sons, and give them those good things that you promised to me, and to my grand-father Abraham, and to my father Isaac. Let them have lots of kids and grand-kids, so that their families will become a really big mob here on earth.”

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.

In Context

15Then Jacob asked God to be good to Joseph and his sons. Jacob said, “God, my grand-father Abraham always lived your way, and so did my father Isaac. God, you took care of me all my life, and you still take care of me today.

17While Jacob said all those things, he had his right hand on Ephraim’s head, and he had his left hand on Manasseh’s head. But Joseph wanted Jacob to put his right hand on Manasseh, because he was the older son. So Joseph got upset, and he tried to move Jacob’s right hand from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head.

Read all of Genesis 48

Cross References

Genesis 16:7Hagar started walking through the desert, along the road that went to a town called Shur, near Egypt. She sat down next to a water-hole there in the desert. God’s angel messenger went to her there.

Genesis 28:13Then Jacob saw God standing near him. And God talked to Jacob. He said, “I am God, my name is Yahweh. I am the one that looked after your grand-father Abraham and your father Isaac. I’m making you a promise about this country where you are sleeping right now. I will give all this country to you and to the people that will be born into your family later on.

Genesis 32:28Then the man said, “Now I’m giving you a new name. Your name will not be Jacob any more. You tried to fight with God and with people, and you won. So I’m giving you the name Israel.” That name Israel means fight with God.

Genesis 49:22Then Jacob said, “Lots of people will be born into Joseph’s family. Yes, Joseph’s family will grow big, just like a grape vine that grows near a spring of water, and has lots of fruit. Its branches are so long, they grow over a big wall.

Matthew Henry on Genesis 48:9-22

Jacob Blesses the Sons of Joseph; Jacob's Dying Prophecy. ( b. c. 1689.) 8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? 9 And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 48:16