Bible Strands
Genesis 48:5
And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jacob addresses Joseph in Egypt, formally transferring the birthright status of two of his sons to himself before his own death. This occurs during the patriarchal blessing ceremony recorded in Genesis 48.
The words — The phrase וְ/עַתָּ֡ה (ve./'a.Tah) literally means "and now," marking a decisive shift in covenant administration. The noun שְׁנֵֽי\־ (she.nei-) denotes "the two," specifically identifying Ephraim and Manasseh as the sons born in Egypt.
The thread — The birth of these two sons in Egypt is first recorded in Genesis 41:50 and Genesis 46:20. Their eventual elevation to tribal status is confirmed in Joshua 14:4, where they receive distinct land portions instead of a single Joseph portion.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that tribal inheritance and covenant promises now pass through these two specific sons rather than the firstborn. It establishes a legal precedent where adopted sons receive equal standing with biological sons for land and leadership.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
Cross-references
- Genesis 41:50 Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
- Genesis 46:20 Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph in the land of Egypt by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On.
- Joshua 14:4 The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion of the land was given to the Levites, except for cities in which to live, along with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.
- Joshua 13:7 Now therefore divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
- 1 Chronicles 5:1 These were the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel. Though he was the firstborn, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, because Reuben defiled his father’s bed. So he is not reckoned according to birthright.
- 2 Corinthians 6:18 And: “I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
- Revelation 7:6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
- Leviticus 20:26 You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.
- Numbers 1:10 from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud, and from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;
- Numbers 1:32 From the sons of Joseph: From the sons of Ephraim, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,