Genesis 48:14
And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn).
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jacob, despite his failing eyesight, deliberately crossed his hands, placing his right hand (traditionally the hand of greater blessing) on the younger Ephraim and his left on the elder Manasseh. This seemingly simple act wasn't an error but a profound, divinely-guided choice, signifying that the younger son would indeed be greater.
As Jacob's life nears its end, he calls for Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to bless them. Joseph presents his sons, intending for his father to bless the elder, Manasseh, first. However, Jacob, though his eyesight is failing, intentionally crosses his hands to place his right hand of blessing on the younger Ephraim and his left on Manasseh, signaling a divine intent for Ephraim's greater future.
Why would Jacob, a patriarch known for his own cunning, deliberately cross his hands to bless the younger grandson over the elder?
Jacob's action here is not a mistake due to his dimming eyesight, nor is it mere human preference. The text explicitly states he was 'guiding his hands wittingly.' This suggests a deliberate act, guided by a deeper wisdom. Joseph, the father, arranged his sons according to the customary order of primogeniture, placing Manasseh, the firstborn, in the position to naturally receive the right hand of blessing. However, Jacob, under divine inspiration, reversed this. He intentionally crossed his hands to place his right hand, the hand of greater honor and blessing, on Ephraim, the younger. This act signifies that God's purposes and blessings are not bound by human traditions or birth order. God often chooses the younger, the seemingly less likely, to fulfill His plans, demonstrating that His favor is a matter of His sovereign will, not human entitlement.
Jacob's hands on his grandsons weren't just a gesture; they were a powerful, prophetic declaration. What does this ritual reveal about the nature of blessing?
The act of laying hands on someone's head was a significant ritual in the ancient Near East, often associated with conveying blessings, authority, or even spiritual power. In this instance, Jacob is not merely offering a personal wish for his grandsons. He is functioning as a patriarch and prophet, speaking God's intended future over them. His blessing goes beyond temporal prosperity; it's about securing their place within the covenant lineage and ordaining them as foundational figures for future tribes of Israel. The crossing of his hands, as described by commentators, was a conscious act to ensure the greater blessing fell upon Ephraim. This illustrates that a true blessing, especially one from God's appointed representatives, carries prophetic weight, declaring and setting in motion God's will for the future, shaping destinies and establishing legacies.
Understand the original words
bekor · Hebrew Noun
The son born first in a family, holding specific legal and spiritual rights, including a double portion of the inheritance and the leadership of the family.
This intimate family moment is deeply rooted in the covenant God made with Abraham and Isaac generations earlier. Jacob's intentional blessing of the younger son Ephraim over the elder Manasseh echoes a divine pattern of choosing the seemingly less likely, setting the stage for the future prominence of Ephraim among the tribes of Israel.
~1800 BC
Abraham receives God's promise
God promises Abraham numerous descendants who will be given the land of Canaan as an everlasting possession.
~1700 BC
Jacob's family settles in Egypt
Jacob and his entire family move to Egypt, settling in the land of Goshen. They prosper for a time, but eventually face enslavement.
~1650 BC
Joseph's death
Joseph dies in Egypt after a long and influential life. His tribe, along with his brother Ephraim's tribe, have grown significantly.
~1560 BC— this verse
Jacob is near death
Jacob, now old and blind, is living in Egypt. Joseph brings his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, to Jacob to receive his blessing.
This passage directly addresses the theme of God's sovereign choice, referencing the story of Jacob and Esau, where the younger was chosen over the elder, mirroring Jacob's blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh.
1 Samuel 16:10-13Similar to Jacob's surprising choice, this passage shows God passing over several older brothers to select David, the youngest, as king, highlighting a pattern of divine preference for the seemingly less obvious choice.
Matthew 20:16Jesus echoes this principle, stating, 'the last shall be first, and the first last,' reinforcing the idea that God's ways of choosing and blessing often defy human expectations and birth order.
Luke 1:36The story of Elizabeth's pregnancy at an older age and her cousin Mary, a younger woman, being chosen to bear Jesus, demonstrates God's prerogative to work through those who might not be the first or most obvious candidates.
gillGenesis 48:14: "And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn."
And Israel stretched out his right hand,.... Not directly forward, but across, or otherwise it would have been laid on Manasseh, as Joseph designed it should by the position he placed him in: and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, the right hand being the strongest and m…
calvinGenesis 48:1-22: "And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim."
- Et nuntiavit ipsi Jahacob, et dixit, Ecce, filius tuus Joseph venit ad to. Et roboravit se Israel, et sedit super lectum.
3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,
- Et dixit Jahacob ipsi Joseph, Deus omnipotens apparuit mihi in Luz in terra Chenaan, et benedixit…
Jacob, despite his failing eyesight, deliberately crossed his hands, placing his right hand (traditionally the hand of greater blessing) on the younger Ephraim and his left on the elder Manasseh. This seemingly simple act wasn't an error but a profound, divinely-guided choice, signifying that the younger son would indeed be greater.
As Jacob's life nears its end, he calls for Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to bless them. Joseph presents his sons, intending for his father to bless the elder, Manasseh, first. However, Jacob, though his eyesight is failing, intentionally crosses his hands to place his right hand of blessing on the younger Ephraim and his left on Manasseh, signaling a divine intent for Ephraim's greater future.
As Jacob's life nears its end, he calls for Joseph and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, to bless them. Joseph presents his sons, intending for his father to bless the elder, Manasseh, first. However, Jacob, though his eyesight is failing, intentionally crosses his hands to place his right hand of blessing on the younger Ephraim and his left on Manasseh, signaling a divine intent for Ephraim's greater future.
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~1560 BC
Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
Jacob intentionally crosses his hands to place his right hand, the hand of greater blessing, on the younger son Ephraim and his left hand on the elder son Manasseh, signifying God's preference for the younger.
"And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn)." — Jacob, despite his failing eyesight, deliberately crossed his hands, placing his right hand (traditionally the hand of greater blessing) on the younger Ephraim and his left on the elder Manasseh. Thi…
