Genesis 48:17

While 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.

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.

In Context

16You 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.”

18And Joseph said to Jacob, “Father, don’t put your right hand on my younger son’s head. Look, here is my older son. Put your right hand on his head.”

Read all of Genesis 48

Cross References

Genesis 38:10But God was angry with Onan for doing that bad thing, so God finished up Onan too.

1 Samuel 16:7But God said to Samuel, “No, not this one. I didn’t pick him. You just see that he has a strong tall body. You people look at the outside of a person, but I know what they are like inside. I know the way they think.”

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 →

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Study Genesis 48:17