Genesis 48:10
in Genesis 48Now Israel’s eyesight was poor because of old age; he could hardly see. Joseph brought his sons to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
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.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Genesis 48
Commentary
5 notes on this verseJacob, like his father before him, when he was old, was dim-sighted. Note, (1.) Those that have the honour of age must therewith be content to take the burden of it. (2.) The eye of faith may be very clear even when the eye of the body is very much clouded.
This site's exposition
When Israel saw the sons of Joseph
on Genesis 48:8-10
Israel's eyes are poor with age, and he asks who the boys are. Isaac's eyes had failed the same way at Genesis 27:1, and a son was passed off as his brother. Joseph answers that God gave him these sons in Egypt. He asks for them to be brought close, so that he may bless them.
This site's exposition
his father kissed them and embraced them
Isaac kissed Jacob before blessing him at 27:27, and Jacob does the same over his grandsons. That kiss was part of a deception. Here the old man knows exactly whom he holds.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age,....
It is common for old people to have a very particular affection for their grand-children, perhaps more than they had for their own children when they were little, which Solomon gives a reason for ( Prov. xvii. 6 ), Children's children are the crown of old men.
The words behind it
14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְעֵינֵ֤י | veeinei | and [the] eyes of | H5869 → | 887 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| כָּבְד֣וּ | kavedu | they were heavy | H3513 → | 113 times |
| מִזֹּ֔קֶן | mizoken | from old age | H2207 → | |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| יוּכַ֖ל | yukhal | he was able | H3201 → | 194 times |
| לִרְא֑וֹת | lirot | to see | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| וַיַּגֵּ֤שׁ | vaiyagesh | and he brought near | H5066 → | 125 times |
| אֹתָם֙ | ʾotam | <obj.> them | H853 → | 10935 times |
| אֵלָ֔יו | ʾelav | to him | H413 → | 5510 times |
| וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק | vaiyishak | and he kissed | H5401 → | 35 times |
| לָהֶ֖ם | lahem | <to> them | ||
| וַיְחַבֵּ֥ק | vaychabek | and he embraced | H2263 → | 13 times |
| לָהֶֽם׃ | lahem | <to> them |
וְעֵינֵ֤יand [the] eyes of
veeineiH5869 →887 times
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
כָּבְד֣וּthey were heavy
kaveduH3513 →113 times
מִזֹּ֔קֶןfrom old age
mizokenH2207 →
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
יוּכַ֖לhe was able
yukhalH3201 →194 times
לִרְא֑וֹתto see
lirotH7200 →1300 times
וַיַּגֵּ֤שׁand he brought near
vaiyageshH5066 →125 times
אֹתָם֙<obj.> them
ʾotamH853 →10935 times
אֵלָ֔יוto him
ʾelavH413 →5510 times
וַיִּשַּׁ֥קand he kissed
vaiyishakH5401 →35 times
לָהֶ֖ם<to> them
lahem
וַיְחַבֵּ֥קand he embraced
vaychabekH2263 →13 times
לָהֶֽם׃<to> them
lahem
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
Isaiah 6:10Make the hearts of this people calloused; deafen their ears and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
it leads to
- Matthew 13:15
For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts,…
- Acts 28:27
For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts,…
- Jeremiah 5:21
“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.
- Jeremiah 6:10
To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find…
- John 3:19–20
And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
- Matthew 13:15
Through
Genesis 27:1When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” Esau replied.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 3:2
And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 Samuel 3:2
Through
Genesis 27:27So he came near and kissed him. When Isaac smelled his clothing, he blessed him and said: “Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field that the LORD has…
it leads to
- Hebrews 6:7
For land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God.
- Psalms 65:10
You soak its furrows and level its ridges; You soften it with showers and bless its growth.
- Hebrews 6:7
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.