The Meaning of Genesis 48:14 Explained

Genesis 48:14

KJV: 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.

YLT: And Israel putteth out his right hand, and placeth it upon the head of Ephraim, who is the younger, and his left hand upon the head of Manasseh; he hath guided his hands wisely, for Manasseh is the first-born.

Darby: But Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it on Ephraim's head now he was the younger and his left hand on Manasseh's head; guiding his hands intelligently, for Manasseh was the firstborn.

ASV: 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 first-born.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 48:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 48:8-22 - Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons
By his act in blessing them, Jacob reversed the verdict of birth, and gave the younger the birthright. Probably there were qualities in Ephraim which naturally put him in the foremost place. The Bible is full of hope for younger sons. He spoke of the Angel, Jehovah, so often referred to in the Old Testament, and who can be no other than the Son of God. He also is our Shepherd, Guardian and Friend. He will feed and tend us all our life long. He will redeem us from all evil and bring us to a blessed end in peace. Be of good cheer! He cared for you in your helpless infancy and will do no less in your helpless old age. If any lads hear this portion read let them notice that old Jacob prayed God to bless the lads. Evidently then, no little lad is too small for God to notice and bless! Though the fathers die, God lives and will bring us again to "the land of the leal." [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 48

1  Joseph with his sons visits his sick father
2  Jacob strengthens himself to bless them
3  He repeats God's promise
5  He takes Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons
7  He tells Joseph of his mother's grave
8  He blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
17  He prefers the younger before the elder
21  He prophesies their return to Canaan

What do the individual words in Genesis 48:14 mean?

And stretched out Israel - his right hand and laid [it] on the head of Ephraim and he [was] the younger and his left hand head of Manasseh and crossing his hands for Manasseh [was] the firstborn
וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל אֶת־ יְמִינ֜וֹ וַיָּ֨שֶׁת עַל־ רֹ֤אשׁ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וְה֣וּא הַצָּעִ֔יר וְאֶת־ שְׂמֹאל֖וֹ רֹ֣אשׁ מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה שִׂכֵּל֙ יָדָ֔יו כִּ֥י מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה הַבְּכֽוֹר

וַיִּשְׁלַח֩  And  stretched  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְמִינ֜וֹ  his  right  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: יָמִין  
Sense: right, right hand, right side.
וַיָּ֨שֶׁת  and  laid  [it] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שִׁית  
Sense: to put, set.
רֹ֤אשׁ  the  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙  of  Ephraim 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֶפְרַיִם  
Sense: second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over first son, Manasseh.
וְה֣וּא  and  he  [was] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
הַצָּעִ֔יר  the  younger 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: צָעִיר  
Sense: little, insignificant, young.
שְׂמֹאל֖וֹ  his  left  hand 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שְׂמֹאל  
Sense: the left, the left hand, the left side.
רֹ֣אשׁ  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.
מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה  of  Manasseh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְנַשֶּׁה  
Sense: the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh.
שִׂכֵּל֙  and  crossing 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׂכַל 
Sense: to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper.
יָדָ֔יו  his  hands 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה  Manasseh  [was] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְנַשֶּׁה  
Sense: the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh.
הַבְּכֽוֹר  the  firstborn 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.