the angel who has redeemed me from all harm--may He bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth." the angel who has redeemed me from all harm—In this phrase, "the angel" refers to the divine messenger who has been a protector and guide throughout Jacob's life. This angel is often understood to be a theophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, as seen in other instances such as Genesis 32:24-30, where Jacob wrestles with a man who is later revealed to be God. The term "redeemed" suggests deliverance and salvation, themes central to the biblical narrative. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God as a redeemer, as seen in Exodus 6:6 and Isaiah 63:9, where God delivers His people from bondage and harm. may He bless these boys.
Jacob is invoking a blessing upon Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. The act of blessing is significant in biblical tradition, often involving the transmission of covenantal promises and divine favor. This blessing is reminiscent of the patriarchal blessings given by God to Abraham and Isaac, emphasizing the continuation of God's promises through the generations. The blessing of children is a recurring theme, as seen in Genesis 27:27-29 with Isaac blessing Jacob, and it underscores the importance of familial lineage in God's plan. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac,
Jacob desires that Ephraim and Manasseh be identified with the covenantal promises given to Abraham and Isaac. This reflects the importance of identity and heritage in the biblical narrative. By being called by these names, the boys are being grafted into the lineage of the patriarchs, ensuring their inclusion in the blessings and promises of God. This act also signifies the adoption of Joseph's sons into the Israelite tribes, as seen in Genesis 48:5, where Jacob claims them as his own. and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.”
This phrase echoes the Abrahamic covenant, where God promises to make Abraham's descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5) and the sand on the seashore (Genesis 22:17). The idea of growing into a multitude signifies not only numerical growth but also the expansion of influence and blessing. This promise is fulfilled in the history of Israel, as Ephraim and Manasseh become two of the twelve tribes, playing significant roles in the nation's development. The imagery of a multitude also points forward to the New Testament, where the spiritual descendants of Abraham, through faith in Christ, are described as a great multitude from every nation (Revelation 7:9). Persons / Places / Events 1. Jacob (Israel)The patriarch who is blessing his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, in this passage. He invokes the Angel who has redeemed him, reflecting on his life and God's faithfulness. 2. Ephraim and ManassehThe sons of Joseph, who are being blessed by their grandfather Jacob. This blessing is significant as it places them among the tribes of Israel. 3. The AngelOften understood as a theophany, or a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ, who has been a protector and redeemer for Jacob throughout his life. 4. Abraham and IsaacJacob's father and grandfather, whose names and covenantal blessings are invoked in the blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh. 5. EgyptThe place where this blessing occurs, as Jacob and his family are residing there during the famine. Teaching Points God's Faithfulness and ProtectionJacob's reference to "The Angel who has redeemed me from all harm" underscores God's faithfulness and protection throughout his life. Believers can trust in God's ongoing protection and redemption in their own lives. The Importance of Blessing and LegacyJacob's blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh emphasizes the importance of passing on spiritual blessings and legacy. Christians are encouraged to bless and pray for future generations, ensuring the continuation of faith and values. Identity in God's CovenantBy invoking the names of Abraham and Isaac, Jacob connects his grandsons to the covenant promises. Believers today are reminded of their identity in Christ and the spiritual heritage they inherit through faith. Multiplication and FruitfulnessThe blessing for Ephraim and Manasseh to "multiply greatly upon the earth" reflects God's desire for fruitfulness. Christians are called to be fruitful in their spiritual lives, bearing the fruit of the Spirit and multiplying disciples. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Jacob's reference to "The Angel who has redeemed me from all harm" reflect his understanding of God's presence in his life? How can we recognize God's protection in our own lives? 2. In what ways can we pass on a spiritual legacy to the next generation, similar to Jacob's blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh? 3. How does the invocation of Abraham and Isaac's names in the blessing connect to the broader account of God's covenant with His people? 4. What does it mean to be fruitful and multiply in a spiritual sense, and how can we apply this principle in our daily lives? 5. How does the concept of blessing in Genesis 48:16 relate to the New Testament teachings on blessing and inheritance in Christ? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 32:24-30Jacob wrestles with a man, often interpreted as an angel or God Himself, which is a pivotal moment in his life, leading to his name change to Israel. Exodus 23:20-23God promises to send an angel before the Israelites to guard them, showing the continued presence and protection of God through His angel. Hebrews 11:21This verse references Jacob's faith as he blesses the sons of Joseph, highlighting the importance of faith in God's promises. People Amorites, Ephrath, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Manasseh, Rachel, Reuben, SimeonPlaces Bethlehem, Canaan, Ephrath, Luz, Paddan, RamesesTopics Angel, Bless, Blessing, Boys, Delivered, Evil, Fathers, Greatly, Grow, Harm, Increase, Isaac, Lads, Messenger, Midst, Multitude, Named, Names, Nation, Perpetuated, Redeemed, Redeeming, Saviour, YouthsDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 48:16 4111 angels, servants 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 48:14-20 7372 hands, laying on Genesis 48:15-16 5043 names, significance
5511 safety Genesis 48:15-20 5095 Jacob, life 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 48:16 NIVGenesis 48:16 NLTGenesis 48:16 ESVGenesis 48:16 NASBGenesis 48:16 KJV
Genesis 48:16 Commentaries
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