Genesis 48:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

saying to me, 'I will make you fruitful and numerous. I will make of you a group of peoples; and I will give this land to your descendants to possess forever.'

Berean Standard Bible:

and told me, ‘Behold, I will make you fruitful and multiply you; I will make you a multitude of peoples, and will give this land to your descendants after you as an everlasting possession.’

American Standard Version:

and said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a company of peoples, and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And said^{H559} unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful^{H6509}, and multiply^{H7235} thee, and I will make^{H5414} of thee a multitude^{H6951} of people^{H5971}; and will give^{H5414} this land^{H776} to thy seed^{H2233} after thee^{H310} for an everlasting^{H5769} possession^{H272}.

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Commentary for Genesis 48:4

Genesis 48:4 is part of the narrative where Jacob (also known as Israel) is blessing his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. The verse references a promise that God made to Jacob, which echoes the covenant made with his ancestors, Abraham and Isaac.

**Themes:**

1. **Divine Promise:** The verse emphasizes God's promise to Jacob, ensuring his descendants' fruitfulness and numerous progeny.
2. **Covenantal Blessing:** It reflects the continuity of the covenant that God established with the patriarchs, promising them land and numerous descendants.
3. **Legacy and Inheritance:** Jacob is reassured of his legacy, with the promise that his descendants will inherit the land of Canaan in perpetuity.
4. **Fulfillment of Prophecy:** The verse shows the fulfillment of God's word, as Jacob's family, once small, has grown into a large clan poised to inherit the promised land.

**Historical Context:**

The historical context of this verse is set within the larger narrative of the patriarchs in the Book of Genesis. Jacob is nearing the end of his life and is bestowing blessings upon the next generations, ensuring that the promises of God are passed down. This scene takes place in Egypt, where Jacob and his family have settled after Joseph, Jacob's favored son, rose to power in Egypt and saved the region from famine.

The promise of an "everlasting possession" of the land of Canaan to Jacob's descendants is significant, as it sets the stage for the Israelites' future claim to the land and their exodus from Egypt, which will occur in the following book of Exodus. It also lays the foundation for the theme of "promised land" that is central to the identity and history of the Israelite people throughout the Old Testament.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
2. Strong's Number: H6509
   There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּרָה
   Transliteration: pârâh
   Pronunciation: paw-raw'
   Description: a primitive root; to bear fruit (literally or figuratively); bear, bring forth (fruit), (be, cause to be, make) fruitful, grow, increase.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7235
   There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָבָה
   Transliteration: râbâh
   Pronunciation: raw-baw'
   Description: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for רָבַב), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.
   
4. Strong's Number: H5414
   There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָתַן
   Transliteration: nâthan
   Pronunciation: naw-than'
   Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield.
   
5. Strong's Number: H6951
   There are 116 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָהָל
   Transliteration: qâhâl
   Pronunciation: kaw-hawl'
   Description: from קָהַל; assemblage (usually concretely); assembly, company, congregation, multitude.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5971
   There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַם
   Transliteration: ʻam
   Pronunciation: am
   Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
   
7. 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.
   
8. Strong's Number: H2233
   There are 205 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: זֶרַע
   Transliteration: zeraʻ
   Pronunciation: zeh'-rah
   Description: from זָרַע; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity; [idiom] carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-time.
   
9. Strong's Number: H310
   There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַחַר
   Transliteration: ʼachar
   Pronunciation: akh-ar'
   Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.
   
10. Strong's Number: H5769
    There are 414 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עוֹלָם
    Transliteration: ʻôwlâm
    Pronunciation: o-lawm'
    Description: or עֹלָם; from עָלַם; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always; alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-)) ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world ([phrase] without end). Compare נֶצַח, עַד.
    
11. Strong's Number: H272
    There are 190 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֲחֻזָּה
    Transliteration: ʼăchuzzâh
    Pronunciation: akh-ooz-zaw'
    Description: feminine passive participle from אָחַז; something seized, i.e. a possession (especially of land); possession.