Genesis 48:10

KJV

Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, [so that] he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now the eyes {H5869} of Israel {H3478} were dim {H3513} for age {H2207}, so that he could {H3201} not see {H7200}. And he brought them near {H5066} unto him; and he kissed {H5401} them, and embraced {H2263} them.

Complete Jewish Bible

Now Isra'el's eyes were dim with age, so that he could not see. Yosef brought his sons near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.

Berean Standard Bible

Now Israel’s eyesight was poor because of old age; he could hardly see. Joseph brought his sons to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

American Standard Version

Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 48:10 captures a poignant moment in the life of the aged patriarch Israel, as he prepares to bless Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Despite his advanced years having severely diminished his eyesight, rendering him unable to see clearly, Israel demonstrates profound love and acceptance by drawing his grandsons close to him, kissing them, and embracing them. This tender physical interaction sets the stage for a blessing rooted in spiritual discernment rather than physical perception, highlighting God's ability to work through human frailty.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is situated within the closing chapters of Genesis, specifically during Jacob's final days in Egypt, where he is preparing to bestow patriarchal blessings upon his sons and grandsons. Immediately preceding this, Joseph brings his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to Jacob for a blessing, a crucial act that will formally incorporate them into the covenant family of Israel and determine their tribal inheritance. The emphasis on Jacob's failing eyesight in [Genesis 48:10](/genesis/48-10 "Jacob blesses Joseph's sons") serves as a narrative bridge to the subsequent verses, where Jacob, guided by divine insight rather than physical vision, will intentionally cross his hands to bless the younger Ephraim over the elder Manasseh, subverting traditional birthright expectations. This physical limitation underscores the spiritual nature of the blessing to follow.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In the ancient Near East, patriarchal blessings were highly significant, carrying legal, social, and spiritual weight. They were not mere well-wishes but pronouncements that often determined a person's future, inheritance, and standing within the family and community. The act of drawing near, kissing, and embracing was a common and powerful expression of deep affection, acceptance, and the transfer of authority or intimacy within a familial context. Jacob's advanced age, explicitly mentioned as the cause of his dim vision, was revered, and elders were seen as repositories of wisdom and spiritual authority, making his blessing particularly potent. The setting in Egypt, where the Israelite family had flourished under Joseph's care, also highlights the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham, even as the patriarchs neared the end of their lives.
* **Key Themes:** [Genesis 48](/genesis/48 "Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh") contributes to several overarching themes within Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. The theme of **Divine Sovereignty** is prominent, as God's plan unfolds despite human limitations, such as Jacob's dim eyesight, and even through the reversal of traditional birth order. **Covenant Continuity** is central, as the blessings passed down from Abraham to Isaac, then to Jacob, are now extended to the next generation through Joseph's sons, ensuring the perpetuation of God's promises. The narrative also explores the theme of **Spiritual Discernment versus Physical Perception**, echoing earlier instances like [Isaac's blindness when blessing his sons](/genesis/27-1 "Isaac's failing eyesight and blessing"). Jacob's actions in [Genesis 48:10](/genesis/48-10 "Jacob's embrace of Joseph's sons") emphasize the importance of **Familial Love and Affirmation** as foundational elements in the transfer of spiritual heritage.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **dim (Hebrew, _kâbad'_):** From H3513, meaning "to be heavy, i.e. in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull)." In this context, it is used idiomatically to describe severe impairment or dullness of sight. This word emphasizes the physical burden and limitation of Jacob's advanced age, indicating that his vision was significantly compromised, making it difficult for him to clearly distinguish objects or individuals.
* **age (Hebrew, _zôqen'_):** From H2207, meaning "old age." This term directly attributes Jacob's diminished eyesight to his advanced years. It highlights the natural progression of life and the physical decline that accompanies it, setting the stage for Jacob's reliance on senses other than sight, and ultimately, on spiritual discernment.
* **embraced (Hebrew, _châbaq'_):** From H2263, a primitive root meaning "to clasp (the hands or in embrace); embrace, fold." This word describes a warm, intimate physical act, signifying deep affection, acceptance, and a close personal bond. Despite his inability to see them clearly, Jacob actively pulls his grandsons into a loving embrace, conveying his profound love and affirmation for them.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see."** This opening clause establishes Jacob's physical condition, emphasizing his severe visual impairment due as a result of his advanced years. The use of "Israel" rather than "Jacob" underscores his divinely given identity and his role as the patriarch through whom God's covenant promises are passed down. The phrase "so that he could not see" clarifies the extent of his "dimness," indicating a functional blindness that necessitated reliance on other senses or spiritual insight.
* **"And he brought them near unto him;"** Despite his visual limitation, Jacob initiates the interaction, actively drawing Joseph's sons close to himself. This action signifies his desire for personal connection and his intention to engage with them intimately before bestowing the blessing. It highlights the importance of physical proximity in conveying affection and authority in ancient cultures.
* **"and he kissed them, and embraced them."** These are powerful expressions of deep love, acceptance, and familial intimacy. In the context of patriarchal blessing, these physical acts are not merely sentimental but serve as a profound affirmation of their identity and their place within the family. They signify a warm, genuine bond and confirm his full acceptance of Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons, thereby formally incorporating them into the covenant lineage of Israel.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. **Foreshadowing** is evident in the description of Jacob's dim eyesight, which subtly prepares the reader for the subsequent scene where Jacob, despite his physical limitation, will cross his hands to bless Ephraim over Manasseh, a decision guided by divine insight rather than conventional order or visual recognition. This creates a powerful **Contrast** between physical blindness and spiritual sight, a recurring motif in biblical narratives where God often works through human weakness to demonstrate His strength and wisdom. The acts of kissing and embracing serve as **Symbolism**, representing not only profound affection but also acceptance, affirmation, and the formal incorporation of Joseph's sons into the family and covenant lineage. The repetition of physical actions (bringing near, kissing, embracing) emphasizes the tactile and relational nature of the patriarchal blessing, highlighting the importance of personal connection in the transfer of spiritual heritage.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 48:10 profoundly illustrates how God's divine purposes are often fulfilled not through human strength or perfect perception, but through reliance on His guidance, even in moments of vulnerability and physical limitation. Jacob's dim eyesight, mirroring that of his father Isaac, underscores a consistent biblical theme: God chooses to work through imperfect human instruments, demonstrating His sovereignty and the power of faith over physical sight. The physical acts of drawing near, kissing, and embracing emphasize the biblical value of familial love, affirmation, and the importance of intentionally passing on spiritual heritage across generations. This scene highlights the enduring nature of God's covenant promises, showing how they are maintained and extended through intimate, personal acts of blessing, ensuring the continuity of His plan for His people.

* [Hebrews 11:21](/hebrews/11-21 "Jacob's faith in Hebrews")
* [2 Corinthians 12:9](/2_corinthians/12-9 "God's power in weakness")
* [Proverbs 22:6](/proverbs/22-6 "Train up a child")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 48:10 offers timeless lessons for believers today, encouraging us to value and express love through physical connection and affirmation, especially towards elders or those with sensory limitations. Jacob's tender actions remind us of the profound impact a loving touch or embrace can have in conveying acceptance and belonging. Like Jacob, we are called to actively participate in the spiritual formation of younger generations, intentionally passing on our faith, values, and blessings, thereby contributing to the continuity of God's work across the ages. Furthermore, Jacob's reliance on spiritual insight despite physical impairment challenges us to cultivate a deeper trust in God's guidance and divine plan, even when our own understanding or circumstances appear unclear. It prompts us to seek God's vision, which transcends our limited physical perception, and to act in faith, knowing that His purposes will prevail.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jacob's physical limitation in this verse encourage us to rely more on spiritual discernment than on what we can physically perceive?**
* **In what ways can we, like Jacob, intentionally and affectionately pass on our faith and values to the next generation?**
* **How might we better express love and affirmation through physical presence and touch to those in our lives, particularly the elderly or vulnerable?**
* **When faced with our own limitations or weaknesses, how can we trust God to work powerfully through them, just as He did with Jacob?**

### FAQ

**Why is Jacob referred to as "Israel" in this verse?**

Answer: Jacob was renamed "Israel" by God after wrestling with an angel in [Genesis 32:28](/genesis/32-28 "Jacob's renaming to Israel"). This name, meaning "he strives with God" or "God strives," signifies his new identity as a prince with God and the progenitor of the twelve tribes. Its use here emphasizes his role as the covenant head and the bearer of God's promises, highlighting the spiritual significance of his actions in blessing Joseph's sons and incorporating them into the lineage of the chosen people.

**What does "dim for age" imply about Jacob's condition?**

Answer: The phrase "dim for age" (Hebrew *kâbad*) indicates a severe weakening or dullness of sight, rather than complete blindness. It suggests that Jacob's vision was significantly impaired due to his advanced years, making it difficult for him to see clearly. This detail sets the stage for his reliance on touch, hearing, and spiritual discernment when bestowing the blessing, underscoring that his actions were not based on physical recognition but on divine leading.

**Why is the physical act of kissing and embracing important in this context?**

Answer: The acts of kissing and embracing demonstrate profound affection, acceptance, and intimacy. In ancient Near Eastern culture, such physical expressions were crucial for conveying love, affirmation, and the transfer of blessing. For Jacob, whose eyesight was dim, these physical actions were essential for connecting with his grandsons and confirming their place within the family before the formal patriarchal blessing. They signify a personal, loving bond that precedes and undergirds the spiritual inheritance being conveyed.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The poignant scene in [Genesis 48:10](/genesis/48-10 "Jacob blesses Joseph's sons"), where Jacob, despite his physical weakness, tenderly embraces and prepares to bless his grandsons, points forward to Christ in several profound ways. Jacob's spiritual discernment, which transcends his failing physical sight, foreshadows Christ's perfect spiritual vision and divine knowledge, through whom all true blessing flows. Just as Jacob, the patriarch of Israel, extends the covenant promises to the next generation, Jesus Christ is the ultimate Patriarch, the true "Israel" ([Isaiah 49:3](/isaiah/49-3 "Israel as a servant")), through whom God's covenant is fulfilled and extended to all who believe. His embrace and blessing bring not just temporal inheritance but eternal life and adoption into God's family ([Ephesians 1:5](/ephesians/1-5 "Adoption as sons")), establishing a new covenant that transcends physical lineage and sensory limitations. Christ's ministry often involved physical touch and tender compassion for the blind and infirm ([Mark 8:22-25](/mark/8-22-25 "Jesus heals a blind man")), demonstrating His power to restore sight, both physical and spiritual. Ultimately, the generational transfer of the covenant through Jacob's lineage finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the promised Seed of Abraham and Jacob, through whom all nations of the earth are blessed ([Galatians 3:16](/galatians/3-16 "Seed of Abraham is Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Genesis 27:27

And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son [is] as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:

Genesis 27:1

¶ And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, [here am] I.

1 Kings 19:20

And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and [then] I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

Isaiah 6:10

Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Genesis 45:15

Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

Isaiah 59:1

¶ Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

1 Samuel 4:15

Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.