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Genesis 48:18

Joseph

16 the angel who has redeemed me from all harm— may He bless these boys. And may they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth.”

17 When Joseph saw that his father had placed his right hand on Ephraim’s head, he was displeased and took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s.

“Not so, my father!” Joseph said. “This one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”

19 But his father refused. “I know, my son, I know!” he said. “He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great; nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations.”

20 So that day Jacob blessed them and said: “By you shall Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.’” So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
“Not so, my father!” Joseph said. “This one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
KJV
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
WEB
Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head.”
ASV
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father; for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.
DARBY
And Joseph said to his father, Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn: put thy right hand on his head.
BLB
And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this [one is] the firstborn; set your right hand on his head.”
ÅB
Og Josef sa til sin far: Ikke så, far! For denne er den førstefødte; legg din høyre hånd på hans hode!
OTB
Josef sa til sin far: "Vær så snill, min far, denne er den førstefødte. Legg din høyre hånd på hans hode."
B1930
Og Josef sa til sin far: Ikke så, far! For denne er den førstefødte; legg din høire hånd på hans hode!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 49:3

    Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, excelling in honor, excelling in power.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 27:15

    And Rebekah took the finest clothes in the house that belonged to her older son Esau, and she put them on her younger son Jacob.

    Read in context

  • Acts 11:8

    ‘No, Lord,’ I said, ‘for nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’

    Read in context

  • Matthew 25:9

    ‘No,’ said the wise ones, ‘or there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

    Read in context

  • Genesis 19:18

    But Lot replied, “No, my lords, please!

    Read in context

  • Genesis 29:26

    Laban replied, “It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 43:33

    They were seated before Joseph in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men looked at one another in astonishment.

    Read in context

  • Exodus 10:11

    No, only the men may go and worship the LORD, since that is what you have been requesting.” And Moses and Aaron were driven from Pharaoh’s presence.

    Read in context