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. But Israel stretched out his right hand and put it on the head of Ephraim, the younger;In biblical tradition, the right hand symbolizes power, authority, and blessing. Israel, also known as Jacob, intentionally places his right hand on Ephraim, the younger son of Joseph, signifying a deliberate choice to bestow a greater blessing upon him. This act defies the cultural norm of primogeniture, where the firstborn typically receives the primary blessing. This mirrors Jacob's own experience, where he, the younger, received the blessing over Esau. It highlights God's sovereignty in choosing whom He wills, regardless of human customs. and crossing his hands, he put his left on Manasseh’s head,
The crossing of hands is a symbolic gesture that indicates a reversal of expectations. Manasseh, as the firstborn, would traditionally receive the greater blessing, but Jacob's action signifies a divinely inspired decision. This act of crossing hands can be seen as a type of Christ, who often subverted societal norms and expectations, choosing the humble and lowly to fulfill God's purposes. It also foreshadows the New Testament theme where the last shall be first, and the first shall be last. although Manasseh was the firstborn.
The mention of Manasseh being the firstborn emphasizes the significance of Jacob's choice. It underscores the biblical theme that God's plans and purposes often transcend human traditions and expectations. This choice reflects the recurring biblical motif of God elevating the younger or less likely candidate, as seen with Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, and David over his older brothers. It serves as a reminder of God's sovereign will and His ability to work through unexpected means to accomplish His divine purposes. Persons / Places / Events 1. Israel (Jacob)The patriarch of the Israelites, Jacob, who was renamed Israel by God. In this passage, he is blessing his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh. 2. EphraimThe younger son of Joseph, who receives the primary blessing from Jacob despite being the younger brother. 3. ManassehThe elder son of Joseph, who traditionally would receive the primary blessing as the firstborn but receives the secondary blessing instead. 4. JosephThe son of Jacob and father of Ephraim and Manasseh, who brings his sons to Jacob for a blessing. 5. EgyptThe place where this event occurs, as Jacob and his family are residing there during the famine. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in ChoiceGod's plans often defy human expectations and traditions. The blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh illustrates that God's purposes are not bound by human customs. Faith in God's PromisesJacob's act of blessing his grandsons demonstrates his faith in God's promises to his family. Believers are encouraged to trust in God's promises, even when circumstances seem contrary. The Importance of Spiritual LegacyJacob's blessing signifies the importance of passing on a spiritual heritage. Parents and grandparents should be intentional about imparting faith to the next generation. God's Grace and FavorThe blessing of the younger over the elder highlights God's grace, which is not based on human merit or birth order but on His divine will. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh reflect God's sovereignty, and what does this teach us about His plans for our lives? 2. In what ways can we, like Jacob, demonstrate faith in God's promises, especially when they seem delayed or unlikely? 3. How can we ensure that we are passing on a spiritual legacy to the next generation, as Jacob did with his grandsons? 4. What are some examples in your life where God's grace has defied human expectations or traditions? 5. How does understanding God's sovereign choice in the Bible help us trust Him more fully in our daily decisions and challenges? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 25:23The prophecy regarding Jacob and Esau, where the older will serve the younger, parallels the blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh. Hebrews 11:21This verse highlights Jacob's faith as he blesses the sons of Joseph, emphasizing the importance of faith in God's promises. Romans 9:12-13Paul references the theme of God's sovereign choice, as seen in the blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh, similar to Jacob over Esau. People Amorites, Ephrath, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Manasseh, Rachel, Reuben, SimeonPlaces Bethlehem, Canaan, Ephrath, Luz, Paddan, RamesesTopics Although, Arms, Crossing, Design, Ephraim, E'phraim, Ephraim's, Firstborn, First-born, Guided, Guiding, Hands, Intelligently, Knowingly, Laid, Manasseh, Manas'seh, Manasseh's, Older, Placeth, Purpose, Putteth, Stretched, Stretching, Though, Wisely, Wittingly, YoungerDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 48:14 5157 head
5688 firstborn Genesis 48:1-20 1651 numbers, 1-2
7266 tribes of Israel Genesis 48:8-20 5661 brothers Genesis 48:9-22 8638 benedictions Genesis 48:13-14 5156 hand Genesis 48:14-20 7372 hands, laying on Library Two Retrospects of one Life
'And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.'--GENESIS xlvii. 9. 'The God which fed me all my life long unto this day; the Angel which redeemed me from all evil.' --GENESIS xlviii. 15,16. These are two strangely different estimates of the same life to be taken by the same man. In the latter Jacob categorically contradicts everything that he had said in the former. 'Few and evil,' he said before Pharaoh. 'All my life long,' 'the Angel which redeemed me from …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureA Calm Evening, Promising a Bright Morning
'And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture The Wonderful.
Isaiah ix:6. HIS name shall be called "Wonderful" (Isaiah ix:6). And long before Isaiah had uttered this divine prediction the angel of the Lord had announced his name to be Wonderful. As such He appeared to Manoah. And Manoah said unto the angel of Jehovah, What is thy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor. And the angel of Jehovah said unto Him "why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is Wonderful" (margin, Judges xiii:17-18). This angel of Jehovah, the Person who …
Arno Gaebelein—The Lord of Glory Blessing Children. Concerning Childlikeness.
(in Peræa.) ^A Matt. XIX. 13-15; ^B Mark X. 13-16; ^C Luke XVIII. 15-17. ^a 13 Then were there brought ^b 13 And they were bringing ^a unto him little children, { ^c also their babes,} that he should touch them: ^a that he should lay his hands on them, and pray [According to Buxtorf, children were often brought to the presidents of the synagogue in order that they might pray over them. The prayers of a good man in our behalf have always been regarded as a blessing; no wonder, then, that the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Gen. xxxi. 11
Of no less importance and significance is the passage Gen. xxxi. 11 seq. According to ver. 11, the Angel of God, [Hebrew: mlaK halhiM] appears toJacob in a dream. In ver. 13, the same person calls himself the God of Bethel, with reference to the event recorded in chap. xxviii. 11-22. It cannot be supposed that in chap xxviii. the mediation of a common angel took place, who, however, had not been expressly mentioned; for Jehovah is there contrasted with the angels. In ver. 12, we read: "And behold …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee.
Subdivision B. At Jacob's Well, and at Sychar. ^D John IV. 5-42. ^d 5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 and Jacob's well was there. [Commentators long made the mistake of supposing that Shechem, now called Nablous, was the town here called Sychar. Sheckem lies a mile and a half west of Jacob's well, while the real Sychar, now called 'Askar, lies scarcely half a mile north of the well. It was a small town, loosely called …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 48:14 NIVGenesis 48:14 NLTGenesis 48:14 ESVGenesis 48:14 NASBGenesis 48:14 KJV
Genesis 48:14 Commentaries
Bible Hub |
