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Genesis 48 Bible study: Crossed hands
Jacob took Joseph's sons as his own, "even as Reuben and Simeon", and the birthright passed to Joseph's line (1 Chronicles 5:1-2). With his eyes dim, he put his right hand on the younger, Ephraim, on purpose: "I know, my son, I know." He blessed them in the name of "the God who has fed me all my life long" and "the angel who has redeemed me from all evil".
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“He blessed Joseph, and said, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has fed me all my life long to this day, the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads, and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac. Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.””
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“Jacob, his eyes dim like Isaac's, knowingly put the younger grandson first.”
Is that in Genesis 48, or not? Make your call.
What's really going on
"Ephraim and Manasseh... will be mine"
When Jacob is sick, Joseph brings his two sons (48:1). Jacob recalls how "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz" and promised him a people and "this land... for an everlasting possession" (48:3-4). Then he says, "your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh, even as Reuben and Simeon, will be mine" (48:5). Joseph's sons will stand beside Jacob's own sons.
Where it leads to Jesus
Blessing Joseph's sons by faith
Genesis 48:20leads toHebrews 12:2
"He blessed them that day" (48:20). Hebrews names this blessing: "By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph" (Hebrews 11:21). It says all the people in that list "didn’t receive the promise" (Hebrews 11:39), and tells its readers to run "looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
Honest questions
Questions people ask about Genesis 48
That was a taste
The rest of Genesis 48 is waiting in Favor
- The right hand on the younger
- The God who shepherded me
- "Bring you again to the land of your fathers"
- The birthright went to Joseph
- "By faith Jacob... blessed each of the sons of Joseph"
- 12 questions as you read
- 5 more Hebrew words
- A short check at the end
- Your notes, saved as you go
Favor reads the Bible in order, so you'll reach Genesis 48 with everything before it in view. First week free, then $10 a month per person.
The Hebrew word behind it
גָּאַלga'alsay ga-AL
"Redeem, act as kinsman" (Brown-Driver-Briggs). Strong's explains it as redeeming "according to the Oriental law of kinship", that is, "to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow, etc.)". "The angel who has redeemed me from all evil" (48:16) is the verb's first use in the Bible and its only use in Genesis. God uses it of the exodus, "I will redeem you with an outstretched arm" (Exodus 6:6), and Job says, "I know that my Redeemer lives" (Job 19:25).
For your group
Genesis 48 Bible study questions
- 1Jacob called God "the God who has fed me all my life long to this day." Looking back, where can you see God shepherding you?
- 2Again and again God's blessing goes to the younger or the unexpected. What does that say about how God chooses?
- 3Jacob's last strength went into blessing his grandsons. How can older believers pass on blessing to younger ones today?
Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Genesis 48 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.
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Questions
What is Favor?
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.
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Can I read Genesis 48 straight away?
Favor takes the Bible as one story, in order, so you'll reach Genesis 48 with everything that leads up to it in view. Start from Genesis, or meet Jesus first in the Gospels. You can read the text of any chapter in Favor's Look up whenever you like.
Do I need a group?
No. Many people read on their own. If you'd like to read with others, start a Bible study and share one link. Everyone's answers stay private until you meet.
I've never really read the Bible. Is this for me?
Yes. Favor starts where you are and explains as it goes. The questions along the way aren't marked right or wrong: you answer, then see what the text shows.
Which Bible does Favor use?
The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.
Is Favor tied to a church?
No. Favor is non-denominational. Where Christians read a passage differently, it shows the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home