Genesis 48:1
in Genesis 48Some time later Joseph was told, “Your father is ill.” So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And it came to pass after these things, that one said to Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
KJV
And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
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This verse in Genesis 48
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
- Joseph Visits His Sick Father The right of primogeniture has been forfeited by Reuben. The double portion in the inheritance is now transferred to Joseph. He is the first-born of her who was intended by Jacob to be his first and only wife. He has also been the means of saving all his father’s house, even after he had been sold into slavery by his brethren. He has therefore, undeniable claims to this part of the first-born’s rights.
This site's exposition
he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim
on Genesis 48:1-2
Joseph comes with both sons the moment he hears his father is ill. Verse 1 names them in birth order, Manasseh then Ephraim, with the order reversed by verse 20. He is called Jacob when the message reaches him and Israel when he rallies his strength and sits up in bed. The chapter trades the two names throughout.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
(Chapter 48, Verse 1) And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. And from this, what we said above is demonstrated, that Joseph had only two sons in that place, Ephraim and Manasseh.
The Reformation1 voice
For, since he knew that he was invested by God with no common character, in being made the father of the fathers of the Church, he fulfilled, in the immediate prospect of death, the prophetic office, respecting the future state of the Church, which had been enjoined upon him.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And it came to pass after these things,....
It is good to acquaint young people that are coming into the world with the aged servants of God that are going out of it, whose dying testimony to the goodness of God, and the pleasantness of wisdom's ways, may be a great encouragement to the rising generation.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
One told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick - He was ill before, and Joseph knew it; but it appears that a messenger had been now dispatched to inform Joseph that his father was apparently at the point of death.
The words behind it
18 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִ֗י | vayhi | and it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| אַחֲרֵי֙ | ʾacharei | after | H310 → | 715 times |
| הַדְּבָרִ֣ים | hadevarim | the things | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| הָאֵ֔לֶּה | haeleh | <the> these | H428 → | 746 times |
| וַיֹּ֣אמֶר | vaiyomer | and someone said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| לְיוֹסֵ֔ף | leyosef | to Joseph | H3130 → | 213 times |
| הִנֵּ֥ה | hineh | there! | H2009 → | 843 times |
| אָבִ֖יךָ | ʾavikha | father your | H1 → | 1212 times |
| חֹלֶ֑ה | choleh | [is] sick | H2470 → | |
| וַיִּקַּ֞ח | vaiyikach | and he took | H3947 → | 966 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| שְׁנֵ֤י | shenei | [the] two | H8147 → | 768 times |
| בָנָיו֙ | vanav | sons his | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| עִמּ֔וֹ | imo | with him | H5973 → | 1050 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה | menasheh | Manasseh | H4519 → | 146 times |
| וְאֶת־ | veet | and <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ | ʾefrayim | Ephraim | H669 → | 180 times |
וַיְהִ֗יand it was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
אַחֲרֵי֙after
ʾachareiH310 →715 times
הַדְּבָרִ֣יםthe things
hadevarimH1697 →1440 times
הָאֵ֔לֶּה<the> these
haelehH428 →746 times
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand someone said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
לְיוֹסֵ֔ףto Joseph
leyosefH3130 →213 times
הִנֵּ֥הthere!
hinehH2009 →843 times
אָבִ֖יךָfather your
ʾavikhaH1 →1212 times
חֹלֶ֑ה[is] sick
cholehH2470 →
וַיִּקַּ֞חand he took
vaiyikachH3947 →966 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
שְׁנֵ֤י[the] two
sheneiH8147 →768 times
בָנָיו֙sons his
vanavH1121 →4930 times
עִמּ֔וֹwith him
imoH5973 →1050 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
מְנַשֶּׁ֖הManasseh
menashehH4519 →146 times
וְאֶת־and <obj.>
veetH853 →10935 times
אֶפְרָֽיִם׃Ephraim
ʾefrayimH669 →180 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 128:6that you may see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
it leads to
- Job 42:16
After this, Job lived 140 years and saw his children and their children to the fourth generation.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Genesis 50:23
He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir son of Manasseh were brought up on Joseph’s knees.
- Isaiah 66:12
For this is what the LORD says: “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flowing stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm,…
- Proverbs 17:6
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
- Psalms 125:5
But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.
- Job 42:16
Through
John 11:3So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one You love is sick.”
it leads to
- John 11:5
Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.
- Revelation 3:19
Those I love, I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.
- John 11:5
Through
Genesis 50:23He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir son of Manasseh were brought up on Joseph’s knees.
it leads to
- Numbers 32:39
The descendants of Machir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it, and drove out the Amorites who were there.
- Numbers 32:39
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
Who and where
3 names in this verse with a page on the site.
- PersonPatriarchsJosephThe rejected-then-exalted son — Genesis's great Christ-type; preserver of his family and of Egypt; the bridge into Exodus.
- PersonLate monarchyManassehJudah's longest-reigning and worst king, who filled Jerusalem with innocent blood; the book names his apostasy as the cause of 586…
- PlaceJudeaEphraimThe town near the wilderness where Jesus withdrew with His disciples before the last Passover (John 11:54).
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jerome, Hebrew Questions on Genesis; John Calvin, Commentaries; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.