Genesis 48:16
in Genesis 48the angel who has redeemed me from all harm—may He bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
the angel who hath 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.
KJV
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.
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This verse in Genesis 48
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThe Angel which redeemed me from all evil - המלאך הגאל hammalac haggoel. The Messenger, the Redeemer or Kinsman; for so גאל goel signifies; for this term, in the law of Moses, is applied to that person whose right it is, from his being nearest akin, to redeem or purchase back a forfeited inheritance. But of whom does Jacob speak?
This site's exposition
the angel who has redeemed me
This is the first time the canon uses the word redeem. The Hebrew is goel, the near kinsman whose right it is to buy back a relative's forfeited land or freedom. Matthew Henry reads the angel who has redeemed me as Christ, the Angel of the covenant. Jacob asks that his own name and his fathers' names be called on the boys.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
Words of a grateful heart, of a God-fearing spirit keeping fresh in his mind God's kindnesses. He to whom my forebears were pleasing, he is saying, who reared me from youth to the present, who from the beginning snatched me from every trouble, who showed such care for me, he "will bless these children; my name will be invoked in them, as also the name of my forebears Abraham and Isaac, and they will grow into a teeming multitude on the earth." Do you see Jacob's insight and, at the same time, his humility? His insight, on the one hand, in foreseeing with the eyes of faith, and so giving precedence to Ephraim ahead of Manasseh. And on the other his humility, in making no mention at all of his own virtue but instead invoking a blessing on them on the basis of the satisfaction given by his forebears and the kindnesses done to him.
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Note, Those are worthy of double honour who, through God's grace, break through the temptations of worldly wealth and preferment, to embrace religion in disgrace and poverty. Jacob will have Ephraim and Manasseh to believe that it is better to be low and in the church than high and out of it, to be called by the name of poor Jacob than to be called by the name of rich Joseph.
A great deal of hardship he had known in his time, but God had graciously kept him from the evil of his troubles. Now that he was dying he looked upon himself as redeemed from all evil, and bidding an everlasting farewell to sin and sorrow. Christ, the Angel of the covenant, is he that redeems us from all evil, 2 Tim. iv.
The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
JOSEPH was one by himself. In Jacob's family he was like a swan in a duck's nest—he seemed to be of a different race from the rest, even from his childhood. He was the son of old age, the son of the elders, that is, a child who was old when he was young, in thoughtfulness and devotion. He reached an early ripeness which did not end in early decay. In consequence of this, Joseph was one by himself in the peculiarity of his trials.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
JOSEPH was one by himself. In Jacob's family he was like a swan in a duck's nest—he seemed to be of a different race from the rest, even from his childhood. He was the son of old age, the son of the elders, that is, a child who was old when he was young, in thoughtfulness and devotion. He reached an early ripeness which did not end in early decay. In consequence of this, Joseph was one by himself in the peculiarity of his trials. Through his brothers' hatred of him, he was made to suffer greatly and, at last, was sold into slavery and underwent trials in Egypt of the severest kind. "The archers have sorely grieved him and shot at him, and hated him." But, Brothers and Sisters, see the recompense, for he had blessings which were altogether his own. "His bow abode in strength and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob." He was as distinguished by the favor of God as by the disfavor of his brothers. When Jacob is old and about to die, Joseph receives from him a blessing all to himself, in addition to that which he received with his brothers. In the 49th chapter we read, "Gather yourselves together, and hear, you sons of Jacob: and hearken unto Israel, your father." And they did so and received as a family such blessings as their father's prophetic eyes foresaw. But before this, "by faith, Jacob blessed the two sons of Joseph" at a private interview especially granted to them.
The words behind it
19 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הַמַּלְאָךְ֩ | hamalokh | the angel | H4397 → | 213 times |
| הַגֹּאֵ֨ל | hagoel | who has redeemed | H1350 → | |
| אֹתִ֜י | ʾoti | <obj.> me | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מִכָּל־ | mikol | from all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| רָ֗ע | ra' | harm | H7451 → | 662 times |
| יְבָרֵךְ֮ | yevarekh | may he bless | H1288 → | 330 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הַנְּעָרִים֒ | hanearim | the lads | H5288 → | 239 times |
| וְיִקָּרֵ֤א | veyikare' | and may it be called | H7121 → | 733 times |
| בָהֶם֙ | vahem | in them | ||
| שְׁמִ֔י | shemi | name my | H8034 → | 864 times |
| וְשֵׁ֥ם | veshem | and [the] name of | H8034 → | 864 times |
| אֲבֹתַ֖י | ʾavotai | fathers my | H1 → | 1212 times |
| אַבְרָהָ֣ם | ʾavraham | Abraham | H85 → | 175 times |
| וְיִצְחָ֑ק | veyitzchak | and Isaac | H3327 → | 108 times |
| וְיִדְגּ֥וּ | veyidgu | and may they multiply | H1711 → | |
| לָרֹ֖ב | laro | to abundance | H7230 → | 149 times |
| בְּקֶ֥רֶב | bekerev | in [the] midst of | H7130 → | 227 times |
| הָאָֽרֶץ׃ | haaretz | the earth | H776 → | 2504 times |
הַמַּלְאָךְ֩the angel
hamalokhH4397 →213 times
הַגֹּאֵ֨לwho has redeemed
hagoelH1350 →
אֹתִ֜י<obj.> me
ʾotiH853 →10935 times
מִכָּל־from all
mikolH3605 →5413 times
רָ֗עharm
ra'H7451 →662 times
יְבָרֵךְ֮may he bless
yevarekhH1288 →330 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הַנְּעָרִים֒the lads
hanearimH5288 →239 times
וְיִקָּרֵ֤אand may it be called
veyikare'H7121 →733 times
בָהֶם֙in them
vahem
שְׁמִ֔יname my
shemiH8034 →864 times
וְשֵׁ֥םand [the] name of
veshemH8034 →864 times
אֲבֹתַ֖יfathers my
ʾavotaiH1 →1212 times
אַבְרָהָ֣םAbraham
ʾavrahamH85 →175 times
וְיִצְחָ֑קand Isaac
veyitzchakH3327 →108 times
וְיִדְגּ֥וּand may they multiply
veyidguH1711 →
לָרֹ֖בto abundance
laroH7230 →149 times
בְּקֶ֥רֶבin [the] midst of
bekerevH7130 →227 times
הָאָֽרֶץ׃the earth
haaretzH776 →2504 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 121:7The LORD will guard you from all evil; He will preserve your soul.
it leads to
- 2 Timothy 4:18
And the Lord will rescue me from every evil action and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
- Psalms 91:9–12
Because you have made the LORD your dwelling— my refuge, the Most High—
- Psalms 41:2
The LORD will protect and preserve him; He will bless him in the land and refuse to surrender him to the will of his foes.
- Proverbs 12:21
No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
- Psalms 145:20
The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy.
- 2 Timothy 4:18
Through
Psalms 34:22The LORD redeems His servants, and none who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
it leads to
- Psalms 103:4
who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with loving devotion and compassion,
- 1 Peter 1:18–19
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life you inherited from your forefathers,
- Psalms 31:5
Into Your hands I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, God of truth.
- Psalms 103:4
Where this verse is studied
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Charles Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, Sermon No. 1972: “A Bit of History for Old and Young” (lightly modernized text, CCEL edition); John Chrysostom, HOMILIES ON GENESIS 66.1; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.