20 Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt. They were born to him by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, a priest at On.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 46:20 Or Heliopolis

20 In Egypt, Manasseh(A) and Ephraim(B) were born to Joseph(C) by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.[a](D)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 46:20 That is, Heliopolis

Ephraim’s Greater Blessing

13 Then Joseph took them both—with his right hand Ephraim toward Israel’s left, and with his left hand Manasseh toward Israel’s right—and brought them to Israel. 14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger, and crossing his hands, put his left on Manasseh’s head, although Manasseh was the firstborn.(A) 15 Then he blessed Joseph and said:

The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,(B)
the God who has been my shepherd(C) all my life to this day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me from all harm(D)
may he bless these boys.
And may they be called by my name
and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,(E)
and may they grow to be numerous within the land.

17 When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he thought it was a mistake[a] and took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s. 18 Joseph said to his father, “Not that way, my father! This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know! He too will become a tribe,[b] and he too will be great; nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he, and his offspring will become a populous nation.”[c] 20 So he blessed them that day, putting Ephraim before Manasseh when he said, “The nation Israel will invoke blessings by you, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’”

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Footnotes

  1. 48:17 Or he was displeased; lit head, it was bad in his eyes
  2. 48:19 Lit people
  3. 48:19 Or a multitude of nations; lit a fullness of nations

13 And Joseph took both of them, Ephraim on his right toward Israel’s left hand and Manasseh on his left toward Israel’s right hand,(A) and brought them close to him. 14 But Israel(B) reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head,(C) though he was the younger,(D) and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.(E)

15 Then he blessed(F) Joseph and said,

“May the God before whom my fathers
    Abraham and Isaac walked faithfully,(G)
the God who has been my shepherd(H)
    all my life to this day,
16 the Angel(I) who has delivered me from all harm(J)
    —may he bless(K) these boys.(L)
May they be called by my name
    and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,(M)
and may they increase greatly
    on the earth.”(N)

17 When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand(O) on Ephraim’s head(P) he was displeased; so he took hold of his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to him, “No, my father, this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”(Q)

19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will become great.(R) Nevertheless, his younger brother will be greater than he,(S) and his descendants will become a group of nations.(T) 20 He blessed(U) them that day(V) and said,

“In your[a] name will Israel(W) pronounce this blessing:(X)
    ‘May God make you like Ephraim(Y) and Manasseh.(Z)’”

So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 48:20 The Hebrew is singular.