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Amplified Bible

Genesis 48:18

Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn; place your right hand on Manasseh's head."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Birthright;   Ephraim;   Firstborn;   Intercession;   Jacob;   Manasseh;   Parents;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - First Born, the;   Parents;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ephraim;   Manasseh;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Blessing;   Ephraim;   Manasseh, tribe of;   Tribes;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Hand, Right Hand;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Bless;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Ephraim (1);   Father;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Genesis;   Head;   Laying on of Hands;   Left Hand;   Manasseh;   Tribes of Israel, the;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Firstborn;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Blessing (2);   First-Born First-Begotten ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ephraim ;   Jacob ;   Manasseh ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ephraim;   Manasseh;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Abram;   Joseph;   On to Canaan;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Birthright;   Charm;   Hand;   Head;   Primogeniture;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Junior Right;   Right and Left;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Yosef said to his father, "Not so, my father; for this is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."
King James Version
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
Lexham English Bible
And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father; because this one is the firstborn. Put your right hand upon his head."
New Century Version
Joseph said to his father, "You are doing it wrong, Father. Manasseh is the firstborn son. Put your right hand on his head."
New English Translation
Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head."
New American Standard Bible
And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Ioseph sayde vnto his father, Not so, my father, for this is the eldest: put thy right hand vpon his head.
Legacy Standard Bible
And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head."
Contemporary English Version
Joseph said, "Father, you have made a mistake. This is the older boy. Put your right hand on him."
Complete Jewish Bible
Yosef said to his father, "Don't do it that way, my father; for this one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head."
Darby Translation
And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn: put thy right hand on his head.
Easy-to-Read Version
Joseph said to his father, "You have your right hand on the wrong boy. Manasseh is the firstborn. Put your right hand on him."
English Standard Version
And Joseph said to his father, "Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head."
George Lamsa Translation
And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father; for this is the first-born; put your right hand upon his head.
Good News Translation
He said to his father, "Not that way, father. This is the older boy; put your right hand on his head."
Christian Standard Bible®
Joseph said to his father, “Not that way, my father! This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”
Literal Translation
And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father! For this one is the first-born; put your right hand on his head.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
& sayde vnto him: Not so my father, this is ye firstborne, laye yi right hade vpo his heade.
American Standard Version
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father; for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.
Bible in Basic English
And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this is the older; put your right hand on his head.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Ioseph sayde vnto his father, Not so my father, for this is the first borne: put thy right hande vpon his head.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Joseph said unto his father: 'Not so, my father, for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.'
King James Version (1611)
And Ioseph saide vnto his father, Not so my father: for this is the first borne; put thy right hand vpon his head.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Joseph said to his father, Not so, father; for this is the first-born; lay thy right-hand upon his head.
English Revised Version
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
Berean Standard Bible
"Not so, my father!" Joseph said. "This one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide to the fadir, Fadir, it acordith not so; for this is the firste gendrid; sette thi riyt hond on the heed `of hym.
Young's Literal Translation
and Joseph saith unto his father, `Not so, my father, for this [is] the first-born; set thy right hand on his head.'
Update Bible Version
And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father; for this is the first-born; put your right hand on his head.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father; for this [is] the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.
World English Bible
Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father; for this is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."
New King James Version
And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head."
New Living Translation
"No, my father," he said. "This one is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head."
New Life Bible
Joseph said to his father, "Not this way, my father, for this one is the first-born. Place your right hand on his head."
New Revised Standard
Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father! Since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Joseph said unto his father - Not so, my father! for, this, is the firstborn, lay thy right hand upon his head.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to his father: It should not be so, my father; for this is the firstborn, put thy right hand upon his head.
Revised Standard Version
And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father; for this one is the first-born; put your right hand upon his head."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head."

Contextual Overview

8When Israel [who was almost blind] saw Joseph's sons, he said, "Who are these?" 9Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here [in Egypt]." So he said, "Please bring them to me, so that I may bless them." 10Now Israel's eyes were so dim from age that he could not see [clearly]. Then Joseph brought them close to him, and he kissed and embraced them. 11Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face, but see, God has shown me your children as well." 12Then Joseph took the boys [from his father's embrace], and he bowed [before him] with his face to the ground. 13Then Joseph took them both, Ephraim with his right hand toward Israel's left, and Manasseh with his left hand toward Israel's right, and brought them close to him. 14But Israel reached out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, crossing his hands [intentionally], even though Manasseh was the firstborn. 15Then Jacob (Israel) blessed Joseph, and said, "The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked [in faithful obedience], The God who has been my Shepherd [leading and caring for me] all my life to this day, 16The Angel [that is, the LORD Himself] who has redeemed me [continually] from all evil, Bless the boys; And may my name live on in them [may they be worthy of having their names linked with mine], And the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And may they grow into a [great] multitude in the midst of the earth." 17When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim's head, it displeased him [because he was not the firstborn]; and he grasped his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Not so: Genesis 19:18, Exodus 10:11, Matthew 25:9, Acts 10:14, Acts 11:8

for this: Genesis 27:15, Genesis 29:26, Genesis 43:33, Genesis 49:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:51 - called Genesis 48:14 - firstborn Joshua 17:1 - the firstborn

Cross-References

Genesis 19:18
But Lot said to them, "Oh no, [not that place] my lords!
Genesis 27:15
Then Rebekah took her elder son Esau's best clothes, which were with her in her house, and put them on Jacob her younger son.
Genesis 29:26
But Laban only said, "It is not the tradition here to give the younger [daughter in marriage] before the older.
Genesis 43:33
Now Joseph's brothers were seated [by the steward] before him [in the order of their birth]—the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked at one another in astonishment [because so much was known about them].
Genesis 49:3
"Reuben, you are my firstborn; My might, the beginning of my strength and vigor, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power [that should have been your birthright].
Exodus 10:11
"No! Go now, you who are men, [without your families] and serve the LORD, if that is what you want." So Moses and Aaron were driven from Pharaoh's presence.
Matthew 25:9
"But the wise replied, 'No, otherwise there will not be enough for us and for you, too; go instead to the dealers and buy oil for yourselves.'
Acts 10:14
But Peter said, "Not at all, Lord, for I have never eaten anything that is common (unholy) and [ceremonially] unclean."
Acts 11:8
"But I said, 'Not at all, Lord; for nothing common (unholy) or [ceremonially] unclean has ever entered my mouth.'

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Joseph said unto his father, not so, my father,.... It is not right, it should not so be, that the right hand should be put on the youngest, and the left hand on the eldest;

for this [is] the firstborn; directing him to Manasseh, and seeking to guide his hand towards him:

put thy right hand upon his head; Joseph was for proceeding according to the order of birthright, but Jacob was directed by a spirit of prophecy, as follows.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

- Joseph Visits His Sick Father

The right of primogeniture has been forfeited by Reuben. The double portion in the inheritance is now transferred to Joseph. He is the first-born of her who was intended by Jacob to be his first and only wife. He has also been the means of saving all his father’s house, even after he had been sold into slavery by his brethren. He has therefore, undeniable claims to this part of the first-born’s rights.

Genesis 48:1-7

After these things. - After the arrangements concerning the funeral, recorded in the chapter. “Menasseh and Ephraim.” They seem to have accompanied their father from respectful affection to their aged relative. “Israel strengthened himself” - summoned his remaining powers for the interview, which was now to him an effort. “God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz.” From the terms of the blessing received it is evident that Jacob here refers to the last appearance of God to him at Bethel Genesis 35:11. “And now thy sons.” After referring to the promise of a numerous offspring, and of a territory which they are to inherit, he assigns to each of the two sons of Joseph, who were born in Egypt, a place among his own sons, and a separate share in the promised land. In this way two shares fall to Joseph. “And thy issue.” We are not informed whether Joseph had any other sons. But all such are to be reckoned in the two tribes of which Ephraim and Menasseh are the heads. These young men are now at least twenty and nineteen years of age, as they were born before the famine commenced. Any subsequent issue that Joseph might have, would be counted among the generations of their children. “Rachel died upon me” - as a heavy affliction falling upon me. The presence of Joseph naturally leads the father’s thoughts to Rachel, the beloved mother of his beloved son, whose memory he honors in giving a double portion to her oldest son.

Genesis 48:8-16

He now observes and proceeds to bless the two sons of Joseph. “Who are these?” The sight and the observant faculties of the patriarch were now failing. “Bring them now unto me, and I will bless them.” Jacob is seated on the couch, and the young men approach him. He kisses and folds his arms around them. The comforts of his old age come up before his mind. He had not expected to see Joseph again in the flesh, and now God had showed him his seed. After these expressions of parental fondness, Joseph drew them back from between his knees, that he might present them in the way that was distinctive of their age. He then bowed with his face to the earth, in reverential acknowledgment of the act of worship about to be performed. Joseph expected the blessing to be regulated by the age of his sons, and is therefore, careful to present them so that the right hand of his dim-sighted parent may, without any effort, rest on the head of his first-born. But the venerable patriarch, guided by the Spirit of him who doth according to his own will, designedly lays his right hand on the head of the younger, and thereby attributes to him the greater blessing.

The imposition of the hand is a primitive custom which here for the first time comes into notice. It is the natural mode of marking out the object of the benediction, signifying its conveyance to the individual, and implying that it is laid upon him as the destiny of his life. It may be done by either hand; but when each is laid on a different object, as in the present case, it may denote that the higher blessing is conveyed by the right hand. The laying on of both hands on one person may express the fulness of the blessing conveyed, or the fullness of the desire with which it is conveyed.

Genesis 48:15-16

And he blessed Joseph. - In blessing his seed he blesses himself. In exalting his two sons into the rank and right of his brothers, he bestows upon them the double portion of the first-born. In the terms of the blessing Jacob first signalizes the threefold function which the Lord discharges in effecting the salvation of a sinner. “The God before whom walked my fathers,” is the Author of salvation, the Judge who dispenses justice and mercy, the Father, before whom the adopted and regenerate child walks. From him salvation comes, to him the saved returns, to walk before him and be perfect. “The God, who fed me from my being unto this day,” is the Creator and Upholder of life, the Quickener and Sanctifier, the potential Agent, who works both to will and to do in the soul. “The Angel that redeemed me from all evil,” is the all-sufficient Friend, who wards off evil by himself satisfying the demands of justice and resisting the devices of malice. There is a beautiful propriety of feeling in Jacob ascribing to his fathers the walking before God, while he thankfully acknowledges the grace of the Quickener and Justifier to himself. The Angel is explicitly applied to the Supreme Being in this ministerial function. The God is the emphatic description of the true, living God, as contradistinguished from all false gods. “Bless the lads.” The word bless is in the singular number. For Jacob’s threefold periphrasis is intended to describe the one God who wills, works, and wards. “And let my name be put upon them.” Let them be counted among my immediate sons, and let them be related to Abraham and Isaac, as my other sons are. This is the only thing that is special in the blessing. “Let them grow into a multitude.” The word grow in the original refers to the spawning or extraordinary increase of the finny tribe. The after history of Ephraim and Menasseh will be found to correspond with this special prediction.

Genesis 48:17-22

Joseph presumes that his father has gone astray through dulness of perception, and endeavors to rectify his mistake. He finds, however, that on the other hand a supernatural vision is now conferred on his parent, who is fully conscious of what he is about, and therefore, abides by his own act. Ephraim is to be greater than Menasseh. Joshua, the successor of Moses, was of the tribe of Ephraim, as Kaleb his companion was of Judah. Ephraim came to designate the northern kingdom of the ten tribes, as Judah denoted the southern kingdom containing the remaining tribes; and each name was occasionally used to denote all Israel, with a special reference to the prominent part. “His seed shall be the fullness of the nations.” This denotes not only the number but the completeness of his race, and accords with the future pre-eminence of his tribe. In thee, in Joseph, who is still identified with his offspring.

At the point of death Jacob expresses his assurance of the return of his posterity to the land of promise, and bestows on Joseph one share or piece of ground above his brethren, which, says he, I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow. This share is, in the original, שׁכם shekem, Shekem, a shoulder or tract of land. This region included “the parcel of the field where he had spread his tent” Genesis 33:19. It refers to the whole territory of Shekem, which was conquered by his sword and his bow, inasmuch as the city itself was sacked, and its inhabitants put to the sword by his sons at the head of his armed retainers, though without his approval Genesis 34:0. Though he withdrew immediately after to Bethel Genesis 35:0, yet he neither fled nor relinquished possession of this conquest, as we find his sons feeding his flocks there when he himself was residing at Hebron Genesis 37:13. The incidental conquest of such a tract was no more at variance with the subsequent acquisition of the whole country than the purchase of a field by Abraham or a parcel of ground by Jacob himself. In accordance with this gift Joseph’s bones were deposited in Shekem, after the conquest of the whole land by returning Israel. The territory of Shekem was probably not equal in extent to that of Ephraim, but was included within its bounds.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Genesis 48:18. Joseph said - Not so, my father — Joseph supposed that his father had made a mistake in laying his right hand on the head of the youngest, because the right hand was considered as the most noble, and the instrument of conveying the highest dignities, and thus it has ever been considered among all nations, though the reason of it is not particularly obvious. Even in the heavens the right hand of God is the place of the most exalted dignity. It has been observed that Joseph spoke here as he was moved by natural affection, and that Jacob acted as he was influenced by the Holy Spirit.


 
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