King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
To Yosef in the land of Egypt were born M'nasheh and Efrayim, whom Osnat the daughter of Poti-Fera priest of On bore to him.
Berean Standard Bible:
Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
American Standard Version:
And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Poti-phera priest of On, bare unto him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And unto Joseph{H3130} in the land{H776} of Egypt{H4714} were born{H3205} Manasseh{H4519} and Ephraim{H669}, which Asenath{H621} the daughter{H1323} of Potipherah{H6319} priest{H3548} of On{H204} bare{H3205} unto him.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 41:50
- And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
Genesis 41:52
- And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
Genesis 41:45
- And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over [all] the land of Egypt.
Numbers 1:32
- Of the children of Joseph, [namely], of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:35
- Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Manasseh, [were] thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
Genesis 48:4
- And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee [for] an everlasting possession.
Genesis 48:5
- And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, [are] mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
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Commentary for Genesis 46:20
Genesis 46:20 is a verse that continues the genealogical record found within the Book of Genesis, specifically detailing the descendants of Jacob (Israel) who came into Egypt. The verse itself is part of the larger narrative where Joseph, one of Jacob's sons, has risen to a position of power in Egypt. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, but through a series of events, including his ability to interpret dreams, he became second in command to Pharaoh.
The verse states, "And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him." This verse introduces Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph's sons, born to him in Egypt. Their mother is Asenath, who is noted to be the daughter of Potipherah, a priest of On, an ancient city in Egypt also known as Heliopolis. This mention is significant as it connects Joseph's lineage with that of an Egyptian priestly class, highlighting the integration of Joseph into Egyptian society.
The birth of Manasseh and Ephraim is not just a personal family event but has broader implications within the biblical narrative. These two sons of Joseph become the progenitors of two of the twelve tribes of Israel, despite their mother being Egyptian. This speaks to the themes of God's providence and the blending of Hebrew and Egyptian lineage, which is a recurring motif in the story of Joseph and his family. It also foreshadows the future nation of Israel, where these tribes will play a crucial role in the history and identity of the Israelite people.
Historically, this verse reflects the period when the Hebrews began to settle in Egypt, initially welcomed and given the best part of the land by Joseph. This settlement would eventually lead to the Israelites' sojourn in Egypt, their enslavement, and ultimately their liberation under Moses, which sets the stage for the Exodus narrative. The inclusion of Asenath, an Egyptian woman, as the mother of two of the tribal patriarchs also underscores the complex dynamics of cultural assimilation and religious identity that are central to the Hebrew experience in Egypt.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3130
There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹסֵף
Transliteration: Yôwçêph
Pronunciation: yo-safe'
Description: future of יָסַף; let him add (or perhaps simply active participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites; Joseph. Compare יְהוֹסֵף. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H4714
There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִצְרַיִם
Transliteration: Mitsrayim
Pronunciation: mits-rah'-yim
Description: dual of מָצוֹר; Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt; Egypt, Egyptians, Mizraim. - Strong's Number: H3205
There are 403 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָלַד
Transliteration: yâlad
Pronunciation: yaw-lad'
Description: a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage; bear, beget, birth(-day), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman). - Strong's Number: H4519
There are 133 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְנַשֶּׁה
Transliteration: Mᵉnashsheh
Pronunciation: men-ash-sheh'
Description: from נָשָׁה; causing to forget; Menashsheh, a grandson of Jacob, also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; Manasseh. - Strong's Number: H669
There are 313 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶפְרַיִם
Transliteration: ʼEphrayim
Pronunciation: ef-rah'-yim
Description: dual of masculine form of אֶפְרָת; double fruit; Ephrajim, a son of Joseph; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; Ephraim, Ephraimites. - Strong's Number: H621
There are 2448 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָסְנַת
Transliteration: ʼÂçᵉnath
Pronunciation: aw-se-nath'
Description: of Egyptian derivation; Asenath, the wife of Joseph; Asenath. - Strong's Number: H1323
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּת
Transliteration: bath
Pronunciation: bath
Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village. - Strong's Number: H6319
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פּוֹטִי פֶרַע
Transliteration: Pôwṭîy Pheraʻ
Pronunciation: po-tee feh'-rah
Description: of Egyptian derivation; Poti-Phera, an Egyptian; Poti-pherah. - Strong's Number: H3548
There are 653 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֹּהֵן
Transliteration: kôhên
Pronunciation: ko-hane'
Description: active participle of כָּהַן; literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman); chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer. - Strong's Number: H204
There are 79 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אוֹן
Transliteration: ʼÔwn
Pronunciation: one
Description: or (shortened); אֹן; of Egyptian derivation; On, a city of Egypt; On.