What is the meaning of Genesis 48?

Introduction to Genesis 48

Genesis 48 marks a pivotal moment in the patriarchal narrative as Jacob, now known as Israel, nears the end of his life in Egypt. This chapter captures the profound scene of Jacob blessing Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, in an unexpected way that would have far-reaching implications for the future tribes of Israel. The elderly patriarch’s actions demonstrate the supernatural leading of God as he deliberately crosses his hands to give the greater blessing to the younger son, Ephraim, continuing the divine pattern seen throughout Genesis of God choosing the younger over the elder.

Context of Genesis 48

This chapter sits within the final section of Genesis (chapters 37-50) which focuses on Joseph’s narrative and the preservation of Jacob’s family in Egypt. It follows Jacob’s migration to Egypt in chapter 46 and his settlement in Goshen in chapter 47, where he lived for seventeen years under Joseph’s protection. The chapter serves as part of Jacob’s deathbed proceedings, which continue into chapters 49-50 with his prophetic blessings over his other sons and his death.

Within the broader biblical narrative, Genesis 48 is significant as it establishes Ephraim and Manasseh as tribal heads in Israel, effectively giving Joseph a double portion of the inheritance – the right typically reserved for the firstborn. This arrangement would later be reflected in the tribal allotments in the Promised Land, where Joseph’s descendants received two territorial portions through his sons. The chapter also continues the theme of divine sovereignty in choosing leaders, a pattern that runs throughout Scripture and finds its ultimate fulfillment in the Messiah Yeshua.

Ancient Key Word Study

• “Blessed” (וַיְבָרֶךְ, vayevarech): The Hebrew root ברך (barach) appears multiple times in this chapter, carrying the weighty concept of conveying divine favor and empowerment. This wasn’t merely a good wish but a prophetic declaration of God’s purposes, similar to the blessings Abraham and Isaac had previously given.
• “Crossed his hands” (שִׂכֵּל אֶת-יָדָיו, sikel et-yadav): The verb שִׂכֵּל (sikel) literally means “to make wise” or “to act prudently.” Its usage here suggests Jacob’s crossing of hands was a deliberate, divinely guided action rather than a mistake due to poor eyesight.
• “The God who has been my shepherd” (הָאֱלֹהִים הָרֹעֶה אֹתִי, ha’Elohim haroeh oti): This phrase uses the metaphor of shepherding (רעה, ra’ah) to describe God’s guidance and provision, a theme that would later become central in Davidic poetry and Messianic prophecy.
• “Angel who has redeemed me” (הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגֹּאֵל, hamalach hago’el): The term גֹּאֵל (go’el) introduces the concept of redemption, referring to one who acts as a kinsman-redeemer, a role that would find its ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua.
• “Let my name be named upon them” (וְיִקָּרֵא בָהֶם שְׁמִי, v’yikare vahem sh’mi): This Hebrew idiom signifies adoption and inheritance rights, effectively making Ephraim and Manasseh equal to Jacob’s other sons in terms of tribal status.
• “Made me fruitful” (הִפְרַנִי, hifrani): This word shares the same root as Ephraim’s name (אֶפְרַיִם) and carries the idea of supernatural multiplication, connecting to God’s covenant promises of multiplication to Abraham.
• “Younger brother” (אָחִיו הַקָּטֹן, achiv hakaton): The term קָטֹן (katon) emphasizes not just age but status, making the elevation of Ephraim over Manasseh more significant in terms of divine election.
• “Before them” (לִפְנֵיהֶם, lifneihem): This spatial term carries ceremonial significance, indicating formal recognition and blessing in the presence of witnesses.

Compare & Contrast

• Genesis 48:5: “And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are.” The choice of words here deliberately echoes adoption language found in legal texts from ancient Near Eastern cultures, particularly emphasizing the words “are mine” (לִי-הֵם, li-hem) to establish full legal standing.
• Genesis 48:7: The mention of Rachel’s death serves as a bridge between generations, using the rare word אֶפְרָת (Ephrat) which connects prophetically to Ephraim’s name and future territory. This wasn’t merely historical information but a carefully crafted link between past and future.
• Genesis 48:14: The description of Jacob crossing his hands uses the term שִׂכֵּל (sikel) rather than the more common עבר (avar, “to cross over”), emphasizing the wisdom and intentionality of the action rather than just the physical movement.
• Genesis 48:15-16: The tripartite blessing formula uses three distinct divine titles: “The God before whom my fathers walked,” “The God who has been my shepherd,” and “The Angel who has redeemed me.” This intentional progression reveals increasingly intimate relationship levels with the Divine.
• Genesis 48:19: The phrase “truly his younger brother shall be greater” employs the emphatic particle אוּלָם (ulam), stressing divine certainty over human expectation. The text could have used the simpler גָּדַל (gadal, “become great”) but chose יִגְדַּל (yigdal) in the imperfect tense to emphasize ongoing future greatness.
• Genesis 48:20: The blessing formula “By you Israel will pronounce blessings” uses the reflexive form יְבָרֵךְ (yevarech), indicating that these names would become proverbial for blessing, rather than merely receiving blessing.

Genesis 48 Unique Insights

The chapter contains several layers of meaning that would have resonated deeply with its original audience. The act of Jacob crossing his hands would have been immediately recognized as a powerful symbol of divine election overriding natural order, a theme that appears repeatedly in Genesis but is particularly emphasized here through careful choreography and word choice.

Rabbinical literature, particularly in Midrash Rabbah, notes that Jacob’s blessing of Joseph’s sons represents the first recorded instance of a grandfather blessing his grandchildren, establishing a precious tradition that continues in Jewish families to this day. The Zohar elaborates on the spiritual significance of Jacob’s crossed hands, seeing in them a representation of how divine blessing often flows through unexpected channels.

The early church fathers, including Augustine and Chrysostom, saw in Jacob’s crossed hands a prefigurement of the cross of Messiah, through which blessing would flow to all nations. This interpretation gains weight when considering that the Hebrew word שִׂכֵּל (sikel) used for crossing the hands implies divine wisdom rather than mere physical arrangement.

The chapter also contains subtle allusions to the exodus that would later occur. Joseph’s sons, born in Egypt but claimed by Israel, prefigure how God would later claim the entire nation as His firstborn (Exodus 4:22). The adoption language used here establishes a pattern that would later find expression in Israel’s national identity and ultimately in believers’ adoption into God’s family through Messiah.

Genesis 48 Connections to Yeshua

The themes of adoption and inheritance in this chapter powerfully foreshadow the spiritual adoption available through Yeshua. Just as Ephraim and Manasseh were granted full rights as sons of Israel despite being born in Egypt, believers from all nations are granted full rights as children of God through faith in Messiah (Galatians 4:4-7).

Jacob’s blessing of his grandsons through crossed hands, emphasizing divine wisdom over natural order, points to how salvation would come through the cross of Messiah, confounding human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). The deliberate elevation of the younger over the elder continues the biblical pattern that finds its ultimate expression in Yeshua, who though being God’s Firstborn, made Himself last that we might become first in God’s kingdom (Philippians 2:5-11).

Genesis 48 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous biblical passages and themes:

• Jacob’s adoption of Joseph’s sons prefigures God’s adoption of the Gentiles into His family (Romans 8:15-17).
• The shepherd metaphor Jacob uses for God anticipates Yeshua’s declaration as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11).
• The blessing of the younger over the elder echoes similar reversals throughout Scripture, from Jacob and Esau to David’s selection as king.
• The theme of spiritual sight transcending physical blindness reappears when Isaac blesses Jacob and in Simeon’s recognition of the infant Messiah (Luke 2:25-32).

Genesis 48 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to recognize God’s sovereignty in choosing and blessing according to His wisdom rather than human expectations. Just as Jacob crossed his hands to bless the younger son, God often works in ways that confound our natural understanding, requiring us to trust His higher purposes.

The adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh reminds us that God’s family extends beyond natural bloodlines. This should encourage us to embrace our identity as adopted children of God and to extend that same welcoming spirit to others, recognizing that God’s family is built on grace rather than natural descent.

Jacob’s testimony of God as his shepherd throughout life encourages us to reflect on God’s faithful guidance in our own journeys. Even in our moments of physical or spiritual blindness, like Jacob, we can trust in God’s leading and declare His faithfulness to the next generation.

Did You Know

• The blessing given to Ephraim would prove prophetic – his tribe became the largest and most influential of the northern kingdom of Israel, often used as a synonym for the entire northern kingdom.
• The phrase “crossed his hands” (שִׂכֵּל אֶת-יָדָיו) appears only once in the entire Hebrew Bible, marking this as a unique and significant moment.
• Joseph’s reaction to Jacob’s crossing of hands uses the same root word (רעע, “displeasing”) that appears in Jonah’s reaction to God’s mercy on Nineveh, suggesting a similar tension between human and divine perspectives.
• The adoption formula used by Jacob has parallels in ancient Near Eastern legal documents, particularly in Nuzi tablets, showing this was a recognized legal procedure.
• This chapter contains the first biblical mention of the redemptive angel (הַמַּלְאָךְ הַגֹּאֵל), a concept that would develop throughout Scripture into the understanding of the Divine Messiah.
• The blessing given here effectively granted Joseph a double portion of inheritance through his sons, the right typically reserved for the firstborn (1 Chronicles 5:1-2).
• Jacob’s blessing of his grandsons established a tradition of grandparental blessing that continues in Jewish families to this day, often performed on Shabbat evenings.
• The phrase “let my name be named upon them” uses legal adoption language that would later be echoed in descriptions of believers taking on Christ’s name.