Genesis 48:2
in Genesis 48When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
KJV
And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
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This verse in Genesis 48
Commentary
6 notes on this verse(Version 2.) And Israel, strengthened, sat upon the bed. The reason why the Seventy Interpreters have rendered the same word differently, I do not know; but I boldly say this one thing, that the word itself, Meta, which they translated here as bed, in the place where we have said above that Jacob worshipped on it, they have rather called a rod than a bed.
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.
This site's exposition
rallied his strength and sat up in bed
Rallied translates a Hebrew verb meaning to make himself strong. The blessing costs Israel effort, and he spends it sitting up. The bed frames his last days, from his worship at 47:31 to drawing his feet into it at 49:33.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
And one told Jacob,....
He did what he could to rouse his spirits, and to stir up the gift that was in him; what little was left of bodily strength he put forth to the utmost, and sat upon the bed. Note, It is very good for sick and aged people to be as lively and cheerful as they can, that they may not faint in the day of adversity.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed - He had been confined to his bed before, (see Gen 47:31), and now, hearing that Joseph was come to see him, he made what efforts his little remaining strength would admit, to sit up in bed to receive his son. This verse proves that a bed, not a staff, is intended in the preceding chapter, Gen 47:31.
The words behind it
13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּגֵּ֣ד | vaiyaged | and someone told | H5046 → | 370 times |
| לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב | leyaako | to Jacob | H3290 → | 350 times |
| וַיֹּ֕אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| הִנֵּ֛ה | hineh | here! | H2009 → | 843 times |
| בִּנְךָ֥ | binkha | son your | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| יוֹסֵ֖ף | yosef | Joseph | H3130 → | 213 times |
| בָּ֣א | ba' | he has come | H935 → | 2568 times |
| אֵלֶ֑יךָ | ʾeleikha | to you | H413 → | 5510 times |
| וַיִּתְחַזֵּק֙ | vaiyitchazek | and he strengthened himself | H2388 → | 291 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב | vaiyeshev | and he sat | H3427 → | 1079 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| הַמִּטָּֽה׃ | hamitah | the bed | H4296 → | 29 times |
וַיַּגֵּ֣דand someone told
vaiyagedH5046 →370 times
לְיַעֲקֹ֔בto Jacob
leyaakoH3290 →350 times
וַיֹּ֕אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
הִנֵּ֛הhere!
hinehH2009 →843 times
בִּנְךָ֥son your
binkhaH1121 →4930 times
יוֹסֵ֖ףJoseph
yosefH3130 →213 times
בָּ֣אhe has come
ba'H935 →2568 times
אֵלֶ֑יךָto you
ʾeleikhaH413 →5510 times
וַיִּתְחַזֵּק֙and he strengthened himself
vaiyitchazekH2388 →291 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
וַיֵּ֖שֶׁבand he sat
vaiyeshevH3427 →1079 times
עַל־on
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
הַמִּטָּֽה׃the bed
hamitahH4296 →29 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
1 Samuel 23:16And Saul’s son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and strengthened his hand in God,
it leads to
- Isaiah 35:3–4
Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees!
- Hebrews 12:12–13
Therefore strengthen your limp hands and weak knees.
- Job 4:3–4
Surely you have instructed many, and have strengthened their feeble hands.
- 2 Timothy 2:1
You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
- Isaiah 35:3–4
Through
Ephesians 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
it leads to
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- Philippians 4:13
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; Jerome, Hebrew Questions on Genesis; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.