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.
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.
- KJV 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.
- NKJV 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.
- NASB 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.
- NLT 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.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel deliberately crosses his hands, placing his right on the younger Ephraim and left on the firstborn Manasseh. He acts knowingly, guided by God.
Overview
Jacob crosses his arms to give the preeminent blessing to Ephraim, the younger, doing so 'knowingly' rather than by mistake. This continues the Bible's pattern of God choosing the younger over the elder, as with Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau. Such reversals display God's sovereign grace, which does not depend on human precedence.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 20
- Gen 41:51Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”
- Num 8:10You are to present the Levites before the LORD and have the Israelites lay their hands upon them.
- Exod 15:6Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.
- Deut 34:9Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites obeyed him and did as the LORD had commanded Moses.
- Luke 4:40At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them.
- Luke 13:13Then He placed His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God.
- Acts 13:3And after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off.
- Acts 6:6They presented these seven to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
- Acts 8:17–19Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
- 1 Tim 4:14Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given you through the prophecy spoken over you at the laying on of the hands of the elders.
- 1 Tim 5:22Do not be too quick in the laying on of hands and thereby share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure.
- Gen 48:18“Not so, my father!” Joseph said. “This one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
- Gen 46:20Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
- Ps 118:16The right hand of the LORD is exalted! The right hand of the LORD performs with valor!”
- Ps 110:1A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
- Matt 6:5And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
- Matt 16:18And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.
- Matt 19:13Then the little children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and pray for them. And the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
- Num 8:18But I have taken the Levites in place of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel.
- Matt 19:15And after He had placed His hands on them, He went on from there.
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From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 48:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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