the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jacob’s blessing reveals something profound about divine action: he calls God "the Angel who has redeemed me." This isn't just any angel; it's the divine Redeemer Himself, indicating that even ancient believers saw Jesus, the Christ, as their ultimate rescuer from all forms of evil, both temporal and spiritual. This highlights how redemption from sin, not just physical danger, was a core aspect of God's saving work from the very beginning.
the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jacob, now old and blind, calls for his beloved son Joseph and his grandsons. He intends to adopt Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, as his own, effectively making them heirs like his sons Reuben and Simeon. Jacob then blesses them, invoking a divine "Angel" and expressing his confidence in God's protection throughout his life.
Jacob, facing death, invokes a powerful figure to bless his grandsons. Who is this 'Angel' and what does it mean to be redeemed from 'all evil'?
Jacob calls the one who redeemed him "the Angel who has redeemed me from all evil." The commentaries highlight that this is no ordinary angel, but a divine being – none other than Jesus Christ, the Angel of God's presence or the Angel of the Covenant.
Divine Identity: The commentators are clear: only Christ, as God incarnate, can be the Redeemer. He is referred to as the 'Angel' because of His mediatorial role between God and humanity, as seen in Exodus 23:20. He is also called the 'Redeemer' (Hebrew: Goel), a title often reserved for God Himself (Isaiah 43:14).
Redemption from Evil: This redemption isn't just from physical danger, but from the ultimate evil: sin and its consequences. This deliverance provides a secure hope, even in the face of death, securing eternal life.
Jacob desires more than just a blessing for Ephraim and Manasseh. He wants them to carry on a name and grow into a multitude. What is the significance of this spiritual and physical inheritance?
Jacob's prayer extends beyond a simple benediction for his grandsons. He prays that his name, and the names of his fathers Abraham and Isaac, would be placed upon them, and that they would multiply significantly.
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Adoption and Identity: By asking for his name to be named on them, Jacob is symbolically adopting Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons, giving them equal standing with his own children, Reuben and Simeon. This ensures they become integral parts of the covenant family, not just as Joseph's sons, but as true Israelites.
Generational Covenant: The inclusion of Abraham and Isaac signifies that this blessing is tied to the covenant God made with the patriarchs. This is a spiritual lineage, ensuring the continuation of God's promises and the faith of their fathers through these descendants.
Prodigious Growth: The desire for them to "grow into a multitude" is a prophetic blessing. It echoes God's promises to Abraham of numerous descendants and foretells the future growth of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh into significant populations within Israel.
Understand the original words
mal’āk · Hebrew Noun
A heavenly messenger or representative sent by God to act on His behalf. In this context, it is often understood as a manifestation of the pre-incarnate Christ or the Angel of the LORD.
gā’al · Hebrew Verb
To buy back, ransom, or liberate from captivity, bondage, or danger through the payment of a price or by a kinsman's intervention. It implies protection and deliverance from harm.
bārak · Hebrew Verb
To invoke divine favor, protection, and prosperity upon someone. It signifies the bestowal of power for success and the assurance of God’s presence.
rōb lā-rōb · Hebrew Noun/Adjective phrase
Refers to an abundant increase or a teeming mass of people. It signifies the fulfillment of the divine mandate to be fruitful and multiply.
Jacob's blessing of Joseph's sons, especially his intentional crossing of hands to favor the younger Ephraim, highlights God's sovereign choice and how His promises often work in unexpected ways, echoing themes seen throughout Israel's history.
~1800 BC
Abraham Receives God's Promise
God promises Abraham that his descendants will be as numerous as the stars and will inherit the land of Canaan.
~1750 BC
Isaac and Jacob Live in Canaan
Isaac and his son Jacob (Israel) live in Canaan, navigating periods of famine and conflict, always holding onto God's promises.
~1720 BC
Jacob's Family Migrates to Egypt
Jacob and his extended family move to Egypt during a famine, settling in the land of Goshen where they begin to multiply.
~1670 BC
Joseph and His Generation Die
Joseph and his brothers, along with the entire generation that knew the history of their migration, pass away in Egypt.
~1550 BC - ~1450 BC
Israelites Multiply in Egypt
The Israelites experience immense growth in population over generations, leading to their enslavement by a new dynasty of Egyptian rulers.
~1440 BC— this verse
Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons
On his deathbed in Egypt, Jacob blesses Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, adopting them as his own and signifying their future importance among his descendants.
~1440 BC
Jacob Blesses All His Sons
Jacob pronounces prophecies and blessings upon each of his twelve sons, outlining the future destinies of the tribes of Israel.
This passage speaks of 'an angel' who will go before Israel, bearing God's name and power, echoing Jacob's reference to 'the angel who has redeemed me' and implying a divine identity.
Isaiah 43:14This verse declares God as the Redeemer and King of Israel, aligning with Jacob's identification of his Redeemer as the one who blesses his grandsons, a title fitting for God alone.
Malachi 3:1This prophecy refers to the 'Messenger of the covenant' coming to His temple, which is often understood as Christ, the 'Angel of the covenant' that Jacob invoked as his Redeemer.
Matthew 1:21This verse explains that Jesus will save His people from their sins, directly connecting to Jacob's prayer for the angel who 'redeemed me from all evil,' highlighting the redemptive power over sin.
1 Corinthians 10:4Paul states that the Israelites drank from 'a spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ,' linking the divine guidance and provision in the wilderness (often associated with an angelic presence) to Christ himself, the divine Redeemer.
bensonGenesis 48:16: "The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."
Genesis 48:16 . The Angel which redeemed me — Not a created angel surely, but Christ, termed an angel, Exodus 23:20 , and the Angel of the covenant, Malachi 3:1 , and who was the conductor of Israel in the wilderness, 1 Corinthians 10:4-9 . Add to this, that this Angel is called J…
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’s blessing reveals something profound about divine action: he calls God "the Angel who has redeemed me." This isn't just any angel; it's the divine Redeemer Himself, indicating that even ancient believers saw Jesus, the Christ, as their ultimate rescuer from all forms of evil, both temporal and spiritual. This highlights how redemption from sin, not just physical danger, was a core aspect of God's saving work from the very beginning.
Jacob, now old and blind, calls for his beloved son Joseph and his grandsons. He intends to adopt Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, as his own, effectively making them heirs like his sons Reuben and Simeon. Jacob then blesses them, invoking a divine "Angel" and expressing his confidence in God's protection throughout his life.
Jacob, now old and blind, calls for his beloved son Joseph and his grandsons. He intends to adopt Joseph's two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, as his own, effectively making them heirs like his sons Reuben and Simeon. Jacob then blesses them, invoking a divine "Angel" and expressing his confidence in God's protection throughout his life.
"the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys; and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”" — Jacob’s blessing reveals something profound about divine action: he calls God "the Angel who has redeemed me." This isn't just any angel; it's the divine Redeemer Himself, indicating that even ancien…
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Last reviewed October 2026