The Meaning of Genesis 48:18 Explained

Genesis 48:18

KJV: And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.

YLT: and Joseph saith unto his father, 'Not so, my father, for this is the first-born; set thy right hand on 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.

ASV: And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father; for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Joseph  said  unto his father,  Not so, my father:  for this [is] the firstborn;  put  thy right hand  upon his head. 

What does Genesis 48:18 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 48:18 mean?

And said Joseph to his father Not so my father for this [one is] the firstborn put your right hand on his head
וַיֹּ֧אמֶר יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶל־ אָבִ֖יו לֹא־ כֵ֣ן אָבִ֑י כִּי־ זֶ֣ה הַבְּכֹ֔ר שִׂ֥ים יְמִינְךָ֖ עַל־ רֹאשֽׁוֹ

וַיֹּ֧אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יוֹסֵ֛ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
אָבִ֖יו  his  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
כֵ֣ן  so 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
אָבִ֑י  my  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
זֶ֣ה  this  [one  is] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
הַבְּכֹ֔ר  the  firstborn 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: בְּכֹר  
Sense: firstborn, firstling.
שִׂ֥ים  put 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
יְמִינְךָ֖  your  right  hand 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: יָמִין  
Sense: right, right hand, right side.
רֹאשֽׁוֹ  his  head 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רֹאשׁ 
Sense: head, top, summit, upper part, chief, total, sum, height, front, beginning.