Genesis 48:19-20

¹⁹But his father would not, saying, I am doing it on purpose, my son; he will certainly become a nation and a great one; but his younger brother will be greater than he, and his seed will become a great family of nations.

²⁰So he gave them his blessing that day, saying, You will be the sign of blessing in Israel, for they will say, May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh; and he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

In **Genesis 48**, Jacob, now old and frail, blesses Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. This chapter is pivotal as Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh as his own, granting them full tribal status in Israel, effectively giving Joseph a double portion of the inheritance. The narrative tension centers on Jacob's deliberate cross-blessing, where he places his right hand on the younger Ephraim and his left on the elder Manasseh, signifying God's sovereign choice and elevating the younger. This act reinforces the theme of divine election, often overturning human expectations, and sets the stage for the future prominence of Ephraim.

Public domain. The Bible in Basic English (dir. S. H. Hooke; NT 1941, complete Bible 1949, revised 1965), published without copyright notice in the United States.

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Genesis 48:19-20

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Genesis 48:19-20

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