Genesis 48:14
New International Version
But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim’s head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh’s head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

New Living Translation
But Jacob crossed his arms as he reached out to lay his hands on the boys’ heads. He put his right hand on the head of Ephraim, though he was the younger boy, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, though he was the firstborn.

English Standard Version
And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

New King James Version
Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

New American Standard Bible
But Israel reached out his right hand and placed it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn.

NASB 1995
But Israel stretched 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, although Manasseh was the firstborn.

NASB 1977
But Israel stretched 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, although Manasseh was the first-born.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Israel stretched 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, although Manasseh was the firstborn.

Amplified Bible
But 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.

Christian Standard Bible
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.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
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.

American Standard Version
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the first-born.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Israel reached his right hand and he placed it on the head of Aphreim, he is the younger, and his left on the head of Menasheh, and he changed his hands because Menasheh was the firstborn.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But Israel having stretched out his right hand, laid it on the head of Ephraim, and he was the younger; and his left hand on the head of Manasse, guiding his hands crosswise.

Contemporary English Version
But before Jacob gave them his blessing, he crossed his arms, putting his right hand on the head of Ephraim and his left hand on the head of Manasseh.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But he stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of Ephraim the younger brother; and the left upon the head of Manasses who was the elder, changing his hands.

English Revised Version
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But Israel crossed his hands and reached out. He put his right hand on Ephraim's head, although Ephraim was the younger son. He put his left hand on Manasseh's head, although Manasseh was older.

Good News Translation
But Jacob crossed his hands, and put his right hand on the head of Ephraim, even though he was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, who was the older.

International Standard Version
But Israel stretched out his right hand, laying it on Ephraim's head (he was the younger son) and laying his left hand on Manasseh's head (even though Manasseh was the firstborn).

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the first-born.

Literal Standard Version
And Israel puts out his right hand and places [it] on the head of Ephraim, who [is] the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh; he has guided his hands wisely, for Manasseh [is] the firstborn.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

New American Bible
But Israel, crossing his hands, put out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, although he was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, although he was the firstborn.

NET Bible
Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim's head, although he was the younger. Crossing his hands, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

New Revised Standard Version
But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

New Heart English Bible
And Israel stretched out his right hand and placed it on Ephraim�s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh�s head, crossing his hands, although Manasseh was the firstborn.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands by design; for Manasseh was the first-born.

World English Bible
Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

Young's Literal Translation
And Israel putteth out his right hand, and placeth it upon the head of Ephraim, who is the younger, and his left hand upon the head of Manasseh; he hath guided his hands wisely, for Manasseh is the first-born.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
13And Joseph took both of them—with Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand—and brought them close to him. 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. 15Then he blessed Joseph and said: “May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,…

Cross References
Genesis 41:51
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's household."

Genesis 41:52
And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

Genesis 48:13
And Joseph took both of them--with Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand--and brought them close to him.

Genesis 48:17
When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim's head, he was displeased and took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's.

Numbers 2:18
On the west side, the divisions of Ephraim are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud,


Treasury of Scripture

And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.

his right hand.

Exodus 15:6
Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

Psalm 110:1
A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Psalm 118:16
The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.

and laid.

Numbers 8:10,18
And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites: …

Deuteronomy 34:9
And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the LORD commanded Moses.

Matthew 19:13,15
Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them…

guiding.

Genesis 48:19
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.

firstborn.

Genesis 48:18
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

Genesis 41:51
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.

Genesis 46:20
And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.

Jump to Previous
Although Arms Crossing Design Ephraim E'phraim Ephraim's Firstborn First-Born Guiding Hand Hands Head Israel Laid Manasseh Manas'seh Manasseh's Placeth Purpose Putteth Reached Right Stretched Stretching Younger
Jump to Next
Although Arms Crossing Design Ephraim E'phraim Ephraim's Firstborn First-Born Guiding Hand Hands Head Israel Laid Manasseh Manas'seh Manasseh's Placeth Purpose Putteth Reached Right Stretched Stretching Younger
Genesis 48
1. Joseph with his sons visits his sick father.
2. Jacob strengthens himself to bless them.
3. He repeats God's promise.
5. He takes Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons.
7. He tells Joseph of his mother's grave.
8. He blesses Ephraim and Manasseh.
17. He prefers the younger before the elder.
21. He prophesies their return to Canaan.














(14) Guiding his hands wittingly.--The LXX., Syriac, and Vulg. translate, "placing his hands crosswise;" but the Targum of Onkelos favours the translation of our version. There is some amount of philological support for the rendering of the three chief versions; but it must mainly rest upon their own authority, which is, however, very great.

Verse 14. - And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, - the first instance of the imposition of hands being used as a symbol of blessing. Though not necessarily connected with the form of benediction, it is not without a natural fitness to suggest the transmission of spiritual benefit. Accordingly it afterwards became the recognized mode of conveying to another some supernatural power or gift, and was employed in the Old Testament Church in the dedication of priests (Numbers 27:18, 23; Deuteronomy 34:9), and in the New in the ordination of Christian office-bearers (Acts 6:6; Acts 8:17; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6), as well as by the Savior and his apostles in the performance of many of their miracles (Matthew 19:13; Mark 8:23, 25; Acts 9:17; Acts 19:6; Acts 28:8) - who was the younger (literally, and he the little one, i.e. the younger), and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; - literally, he placed his hands, prudently, i.e. of set purpose, the piel of שָׂכַל, to look at, conveying the intensive signification of acting with prudence and deliberation (Gesenius, Furst); intelligere fecit manus suas hoc est, docte, scite, et petite imposuit eis manus (Vatablus, vide Glass. 'Phil Tract.,' p. 761); a rendering of the words which has been adopted by the best scholars (Calvin, Dathe, Rosenmüller, Keil, Kalisch, Murphy, Taylor Lewis, and others), though the translation, "he crossed his hands," which regards שִׂכֵּל as the pile of an unused root signifying to intertwine, ἐναλλὰξ τὰς χεῖρας (LXX.), commutans marius (Vulgate), is not entirely destitute of learned supporters (Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem, Pererius, Knobel, Delitzsch, Gerlach, and others) - for Manasseh was the firstborn.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

stretched out
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

his right hand
יְמִינ֜וֹ (yə·mî·nōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3225: The right hand, side, the south

and put
וַיָּ֨שֶׁת (way·yā·šeṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7896: To put, set

it on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

the head
רֹ֤אשׁ (rōš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7218: The head

of Ephraim,
אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ (’ep̄·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 669: Ephraim -- a son of Joseph, also his descendants and their territory

the younger;
הַצָּעִ֔יר (haṣ·ṣā·‘îr)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6810: Little, insignificant, young

and crossing
שִׂכֵּל֙ (śik·kêl)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7919: To be, circumspect, intelligent

his hands,
יָדָ֔יו (yā·ḏāw)
Noun - fdc | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

he put his left
שְׂמֹאל֖וֹ (śə·mō·lōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8040: Dark, the north, the left hand

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

Manasseh’s
מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה (mə·naš·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4519: Manasseh -- 'causing to forget', a son of Joseph, also a king of Judah, also two Israelites

head,
רֹ֣אשׁ (rōš)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7218: The head

although
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Manasseh
מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה (mə·naš·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4519: Manasseh -- 'causing to forget', a son of Joseph, also a king of Judah, also two Israelites

was the firstborn.
הַבְּכֽוֹר׃ (hab·bə·ḵō·wr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief


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OT Law: Genesis 48:14 Israel stretched out his right hand (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 48:13
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