Genesis 50:23
And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights Joseph's incredible faith and God's faithfulness to His promises. Even though Joseph is in Egypt and his family has been there for generations, seeing Ephraim's great-grandchildren and Machir's grandchildren born and raised upon his knees shows that the covenant blessings and the vision for the future were still very much alive and unfolding.
This verse comes right after Joseph has comforted his brothers, assuring them of God's faithfulness to bring them back to Canaan, and just before his own death. It highlights the fulfillment of God's promises of fruitfulness to Joseph's lineage, showing Joseph living to see several generations of his descendants flourish in Egypt. This perspective emphasizes continuity and blessing within the family, even as Joseph himself faces his mortality.
Why does the Bible take the time to mention Joseph seeing his great-grandchildren? It's more than just a census count.
Genesis 50:23 highlights the fulfillment of God's promises through the generations.
The Seed of Ephraim
Joseph seeing Ephraim's children of the third generation points directly back to Jacob's prophetic blessing in Genesis 48. Jacob intentionally placed his right hand on Ephraim's head, the younger son, saying, 'his offspring shall become a fullness of nations.' This verse shows that blessing wasn't just words; it was a tangible reality unfolding before Joseph's eyes. Ephraim's lineage was multiplying, a testament to God's faithfulness to his word.
Manasseh's Heritage
Similarly, the children of Machir, son of Manasseh, being 'brought up upon Joseph's knees,' signifies adoption and the continuation of Manasseh's line. Even though Manasseh was the elder, Jacob had blessed him too, saying he would become a great people. The fact that these children were seen as Joseph's own, and were nurtured by him, shows that both sons were honored and their families were blessed and growing.
This emphasis on multiple generations thriving underscores a core biblical theme: God's covenant faithfulness extends far beyond a single lifetime. He blesses the descendants of those who trust Him.
What does it mean for children to be 'brought up upon Joseph's knees'? It's a powerful image of belonging and legacy.
The phrase 'brought up upon Joseph's knees' is rich with meaning, going beyond simple physical care.
A Sign of Love and Belonging
Literally, it depicts a grandfather holding and delighting in his grandchildren. It's a tender image of affection and familial connection. As commentaries suggest, it signifies that Joseph embraced these children, showing his love and acknowledging them as part of his household.
Formal Adoption and Inheritance
This verse marks the end of the patriarchal era, with Joseph witnessing the flourishing of his descendants and the fulfillment of Jacob's blessings even as the family remains in Egypt, poised for their future deliverance.
c. 1700s BC
Joseph sold into slavery
Joseph, son of Jacob, is sold into slavery by his brothers and taken to Egypt.
c. 1700s-1600s BC
Joseph's rise in Egypt
Through divine interpretation of dreams, Joseph rises to a position of great power in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh.
c. 1600s BC
Jacob and his family move to Egypt
A severe famine prompts Jacob and his entire family to relocate to Egypt, settling in the land of Goshen under Joseph's protection.
c. 1600s BC
Death of Jacob
Jacob dies in Egypt after blessing his sons and grandsons, including Ephraim and Manasseh, and Joseph oversees his burial in Canaan.
c. 1600s BC— this verse
This passage directly parallels Joseph's experience of seeing Ephraim's children, as Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh and adopts their children as his own, highlighting the theme of generational blessing and inclusion within the family lineage.
Psalm 128:1-6This Psalm speaks of the blessings of a family that fears the Lord, including seeing children and grandchildren, which beautifully echoes the fulfillment Joseph experienced in seeing multiple generations thrive.
Proverbs 17:6This proverb states that 'Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and parents are the pride of their children,' directly reflecting the joy and fulfillment Joseph experienced in seeing his descendants flourish.
Ruth 4:13-17The story of Ruth and Boaz culminates in the birth of Obed, who becomes the ancestor of David, illustrating God's faithfulness in extending a family line and providing descendants, much like Joseph saw his own family grow.
calvinGenesis 50:1-26: "And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him."
- Et viderunt habitatores terrae Chenaaneaei luctum in area Atad, et dixerunt, Luctus gravis est iste Aegyptiis: idcirco vocatum fuit nomen ejus Abel -- Misraim, (id est luctus Aegyptorum,) qui est trand Jordanem.
12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
- Fecerunt ergo filii ejus ei sic, quemadmodum praeceperat eis.
13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and bu…
clarkeGenesis 50:23: "And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees."
Were brought up upon Joseph's knees - They were educated by him, or under his direction; his sons and their children continuing to acknowledge him as patriarch, or head of the family, as long as he lived.
This verse highlights Joseph's incredible faith and God's faithfulness to His promises. Even though Joseph is in Egypt and his family has been there for generations, seeing Ephraim's great-grandchildren and Machir's grandchildren born and raised upon his knees shows that the covenant blessings and the vision for the future were still very much alive and unfolding.
This verse comes right after Joseph has comforted his brothers, assuring them of God's faithfulness to bring them back to Canaan, and just before his own death. It highlights the fulfillment of God's promises of fruitfulness to Joseph's lineage, showing Joseph living to see several generations of his descendants flourish in Egypt. This perspective emphasizes continuity and blessing within the family, even as Joseph himself faces his mortality.
This verse comes right after Joseph has comforted his brothers, assuring them of God's faithfulness to bring them back to Canaan, and just before his own death. It highlights the fulfillment of God's promises of fruitfulness to Joseph's lineage, showing Joseph living to see several generations of his descendants flourish in Egypt. This perspective emphasizes continuity and blessing within the family, even as Joseph himself faces his mortality.
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More significantly, this act represented a formal recognition and adoption. In ancient Near Eastern custom, placing a child on one's knees was a symbolic act of claiming paternity or legal adoption. These children, descendants of Manasseh through his son Machir, were being counted as Joseph’s own. This mirrors the earlier action where Jacob adopted Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons, ensuring their inheritance within the twelve tribes.
This practice highlights how God builds His family not just through biological ties, but through acts of inclusion, love, and the formal recognition of belonging, ensuring the continuation of His covenant promises.
Joseph's death and prophecy
Joseph lives to see his great-grandchildren and, knowing the family's future enslavement and eventual exodus, makes his brothers swear to carry his bones out of Egypt.
"And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own." — This verse highlights Joseph's incredible faith and God's faithfulness to His promises. Even though Joseph is in Egypt and his family has been there for generations, seeing Ephraim's great-grandchild…
