And Jacob was told, “Look, your son Joseph is coming to you”; and Israel strengthened himself and sat up on the bed.
Parallel translations
- WEB Someone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed.
- KJV And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
- BSB When Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed.
- NASB When it was told to Jacob, “Behold, your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel collected his strength and sat up in the bed.
- NLT When Joseph arrived, Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to see you.” So Jacob gathered his strength and sat up in his bed.
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
Told that Joseph has come, Jacob gathers his strength and sits up on the bed. The dying patriarch rallies for the solemn occasion.
Overview
Though weak, Israel summons his remaining strength to sit up and receive his son with dignity. His determination signals the importance of the blessing he is about to give. The moment underscores that the transmission of covenant promise is a sacred, deliberate act, not left to chance even in feebleness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Eph 6:10Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
- 1 Sam 23:16Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose, and went to David into the woods, and strengthened his hand in God.
- Ps 41:3Yahweh will sustain him on his sickbed, and restore him from his bed of illness.
- Deut 3:28But commission Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you shall see.”
- Prov 23:15My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine:
- Neh 2:18I told them of the hand of my God which was good on me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me. They said, “Let’s rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.
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Christ at the center
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 48:2 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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