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.
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.
- BSB 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.
- 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 41:51And 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.
- Num 8:10And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:
- Exod 15:6Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
- Deut 34:9And 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.
- Luke 4:40Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
- Luke 13:13And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
- Acts 13:3And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
- Acts 6:6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
- Acts 8:17–19Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
- 1 Tim 4:14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
- 1 Tim 5:22Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.
- Gen 48:18And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
- Gen 46:20And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
- Ps 118:16The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly.
- Ps 110:1The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
- Matt 6:5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
- Matt 16:18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
- Matt 19:13Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
- Num 8:18And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.
- Matt 19:15And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.
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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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