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Genesis 48:19

in Genesis 48

But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it; he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: howbeit his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

KJV

And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

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This verse in Genesis 48

Commentary

3 notes on this verse

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament (1765)

Joshua was of that tribe. The tribe of Manasseh was divided, one half on one side Jordan, the other half on the other side, which made it the less powerful and considerable. God, in bestowing his blessings upon his people, gives more to some than to others, more gifts, graces and comforts, and more of the good things of this life.

This site's exposition

But his father refused

The refusal is flat, and the knowing is said twice. Manasseh will become a people and will be great, and the younger brother will be greater still. The crossed hands were a decision, and the words now state it. Genesis has set a younger son ahead before, and here the father says so out loud.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

And his father refused,.... To have any alteration made, and therefore, though Joseph lifted it up from.

The words behind it

22 Hebrew words

Every 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.

  • וַיְמָאֵ֣ןand he refused

    vaymaenH3985 →41 times

  • אָבִ֗יוfather his

    ʾavivH1 →1212 times

  • וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • יָדַ֤עְתִּֽיI know

    yada'tiH3045 →945 times

  • בְנִי֙O son my

    veniH1121 →4930 times

  • יָדַ֔עְתִּיI know

    yada'tiH3045 →945 times

  • גַּם־also

    gam-H1571 →769 times

  • ה֥וּאhe

    hu'H1931 →1879 times

  • יִֽהְיֶה־he will become

    yihyeh-H1961 →3559 times

  • לְּעָ֖ם<into> a people

    leamH5971 →1873 times

  • וְגַם־and also

    vegam-H1571 →769 times

  • ה֣וּאhe

    hu'H1931 →1879 times

  • יִגְדָּ֑לhe will become great

    yigdalH1431 →117 times

  • וְאוּלָ֗םand but

    veulamH199 →

  • אָחִ֤יוbrother his

    ʾachivH251 →630 times

  • הַקָּטֹן֙<the> young

    hakatonH6996 →101 times

  • יִגְדַּ֣לhe will become great

    yigdalH1431 →117 times

  • מִמֶּ֔נּוּmore than him

    mimenuH4480 →1188 times

  • וְזַרְע֖וֹand offspring his

    vezaroH2233 →229 times

  • יִהְיֶ֥הit will be

    yihyehH1961 →3559 times

  • מְלֹֽא־[the] fullness of

    melo'-H4393 →

  • הַגּוֹיִֽם׃the nations

    hagoyimH1471 →561 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Deuteronomy 33:17His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the myriads of Ephraim, and such are the thousands of Manasseh.”5 worksNumbers 1:33–35From the sons of Ephraim, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army, those registered to the tribe of Ephraim numbered 40,500.5 worksIsaiah 44:8Do not tremble or fear. Have I not told you and declared it long ago? You are My witnesses! Is there any God but Me? There is no other Rock; I know not one.”5 worksLuke 1:15for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.4 worksGenesis 48:14But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger; and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn.3 worksGenesis 25:28Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob.3 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Genesis 17:20–21As for Ishmael, I have heard you, and I will surely bless him; I will make him fruitful and multiply him greatly. He will become the father of twelve rulers, and I will make him into a great nation.3 worksJoshua 17:14Then the sons of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one portion as an inheritance? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us abundantly.”3 worksGenesis 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.3 worksHosea 13:15Although he flourishes among his brothers, an east wind will come—a wind from the LORD rising up from the desert. His fountain will fail, and his spring will run dry. The wind will plunder his treasury of every precious article.3 worksRevelation 7:8from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, and from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.2 worksRuth 4:11–12“We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem.2 worksIsaiah 7:17The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since the day Ephraim separated from Judah—He will bring the king of Assyria.”2 worksDeuteronomy 1:10The LORD your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars in the sky.2 worksRevelation 7:6from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,2 worksNumbers 2:19–21The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud, and his division numbers 40,500.2 worksEzekiel 27:10Men of Persia, Lydia, and Put served as warriors in your army. They hung their shields and helmets on your walls; they gave you splendor.2 worksNumbers 10:22Next, the divisions of the camp of Ephraim set out under their standard, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each 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

    Deuteronomy 33:17

    His majesty is like a firstborn bull, and his horns are like those of a wild ox. With them he will gore the nations, even to the ends of the earth. Such are the…

    it leads to

    • 1 Kings 22:11

      Now Zedekiah son of Chenaanah had made for himself iron horns and declared, “This is what the LORD says: ‘With these you shall gore the Arameans until they are finished off.’”

    • Numbers 23:22

      God brought them out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox.

    • Psalms 44:5

      Through You we repel our foes; through Your name we trample our enemies.

    • Numbers 24:8

      God brought him out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox, to devour hostile nations and crush their bones, to pierce them with arrows.

    • Psalms 92:10

      But You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; with fine oil I have been anointed.

  • Through

    Genesis 25:28

    Because Isaac had a taste for wild game, he loved Esau; but Rebekah loved Jacob.

    it leads to

    • Genesis 27:19

      Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau, your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game, so that you may bless me.”

    • Genesis 27:31

      He too made some tasty food, brought it to his father, and said to him, “My father, sit up and eat of your son’s game, so that you may bless me.”

  • Through

    Genesis 48:14

    But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger; and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn.

    it leads to

    • Genesis 41:51

      Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”

Where this verse is studied

About Genesis

The Garden of Eden, Thomas Cole, 1828, Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Public domain.
The Garden of Eden, Thomas Cole, 1828, Amon Carter Museum of American Art. Public domain.
Genesis: the study guide →Read Genesis 48 →

This page draws on John Calvin, Commentary on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.

Read on in Genesis 48 →