Genesis — Chapter 48
King James Version (KJV)
Reading Mode: 📖 Read the complete KJV chapter below. After verse 22, continue to 📚 Study This Chapter for explanations and memory checks.
Genesis 48:1 And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, Rthy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
Genesis 48:2 And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel Rstrengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
Genesis 48:3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, RGod Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,
Genesis 48:4 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and Rwill give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
Genesis 48:5 And now thy Rtwo sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
Genesis 48:6 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, Rand shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
Genesis 48:7 And as for me, when I came from RPadan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.
Genesis 48:8 And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?
Genesis 48:9 And Joseph said unto his father, They are Rmy sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.
Genesis 48:10 Now Rthe eyes of Israel were Tdim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
Genesis 48:11 And Israel said unto Joseph, RI had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.
Genesis 48:12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and Rhe bowed himself with his face to the earth.
Genesis 48:13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.
Genesis 48:14 And Israel stretched out Rhis 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.
Genesis 48:15 And he Rblessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
Genesis 48:16 The RAngel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them Tgrow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
Genesis 48:17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it RTdispleased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.
Genesis 48:18 And Joseph said unto his father, RNot so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
Genesis 48:19 And his father refused, and Rsaid, 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 Tmultitude of nations.
Genesis 48:20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall RIsrael bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
Genesis 48:21 And Israel said unto Joseph, RBehold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
Genesis 48:22 Moreover I have Rgiven to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Genesis 48:1–7 — Jacob Receives Joseph’s Sons
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Joseph brings Manasseh and Ephraim to his sick father. Jacob recalls God’s promise at Luz and receives Joseph’s two sons as his own, alongside Reuben and Simeon.
Key Truth: Jacob includes Ephraim and Manasseh in the inheritance of his family.
Check What You Remember
1. Which two sons did Joseph bring to his sick father? (Genesis 48:1)
Find it in Genesis 48:1 (KJV).
2. Where had God Almighty appeared to Jacob? (Genesis 48:3)
Find it in Genesis 48:3 (KJV).
3. Which two of Joseph’s sons did Jacob claim as his own? (Genesis 48:5)
Find it in Genesis 48:5 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Genesis 48:8–16 — The Blessing with Crossed Hands
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Israel embraces the boys and blesses them. He deliberately places his right hand on the younger Ephraim and his left on the firstborn Manasseh, recalling God’s lifelong care.
Key Truth: Jacob’s blessing acknowledges God’s care and intentionally places the younger son under his right hand.
Check What You Remember
1. Whom did Joseph credit with giving him his sons? (Genesis 48:9)
Find it in Genesis 48:9 (KJV).
2. Whose head received Israel’s right hand? (Genesis 48:14)
Find it in Genesis 48:14 (KJV).
3. Who was Joseph’s firstborn? (Genesis 48:14)
Find it in Genesis 48:14 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Genesis 48:17–22 — Ephraim Before Manasseh
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Joseph tries to correct the position of his father’s hands, but Jacob refuses and explains that the younger will be greater. He also tells Joseph that God will be with the family and bring them back to their fathers’ land.
Key Truth: Jacob maintains his blessing and points the family toward God’s promised return.
Check What You Remember
1. Which younger brother did Jacob say would be greater? (Genesis 48:19)
Find it in Genesis 48:19 (KJV).
2. Who would be with Joseph’s family and bring them back? (Genesis 48:21)
Find it in Genesis 48:21 (KJV).
3. To which land would God bring them again? (Genesis 48:21)
Find it in Genesis 48:21 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does Jacob change the family standing of Joseph’s two sons?
2. How does Joseph’s placement of his sons differ from Jacob’s hands?
3. Why does Jacob refuse Joseph’s attempted correction?
4. What history does Jacob invoke when blessing the lads?
5. How does Jacob connect his approaching death with hope for the family?
Notes
Write what you want to remember, questions to explore, or Scriptures to look up later. Your saved notes are private to your account.
Loading your notes…
Chapter Navigation