King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who [are] these?
Complete Jewish Bible:
Then Isra'el noticed Yosef's sons and asked, "Whose are these?"
Berean Standard Bible:
When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?”
American Standard Version:
And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Israel{H3478} beheld{H7200} Joseph's{H3130} sons{H1121}, and said{H559}, Who are these?
Cross-References (KJV):
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 48:8
1. Themes:
- Family Blessings: The verse reflects the importance of familial blessings in the ancient Israelite culture, where the patriarch, in this case, Israel (Jacob), passes on blessings and inheritance to the next generation.
- Recognition and Legacy: Jacob's question about the identity of Joseph's sons underscores the theme of recognition and legacy, as he seeks to understand the continuation of his lineage and the roles his grandchildren will play in it.
- Divine Providence: The interaction between Jacob and Joseph's sons is part of a larger narrative that emphasizes God's providence in the unfolding of the patriarchal family's story.
2. Historical Context:
- Time Period: The event takes place in the late 17th or early 18th century BCE, during the patriarchal age, when the Israelites were a nomadic family group before settling in Egypt.
- Family Dynamics: Jacob (Israel) is the grandson of Abraham, the patriarch with whom God made a covenant to make a great nation and through whom all the families of the earth would be blessed (Genesis 12:1-3). Jacob is nearing the end of his life and is preparing to bless his descendants.
- Cultural Context: In the ancient Near Eastern context, the act of seeing and recognizing one's offspring was significant, especially for bestowing blessings. The blessing of the firstborn or chosen son was particularly important for the inheritance of the family's material and spiritual legacy.
- Narrative Context: Jacob is in Egypt, where he has been reunited with his beloved son Joseph, whom he had presumed dead. Joseph has risen to a position of power in Egypt and has two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Jacob's recognition of Joseph's sons sets the stage for the reversal of the usual birthright blessing, where he chooses to bless the younger Ephraim over the older Manasseh, prefiguring the theme of God's unexpected choices seen throughout the Bible.
In summary, Genesis 48:8 is situated within a narrative that highlights the themes of family, legacy, and divine providence, and it reflects the cultural practices of blessing and inheritance in the ancient Near East.
*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: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - 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: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - 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.