Genesis 48:16 - the angel who has 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. Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.”
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What does "Genesis 48:16" mean?
This verse is part of Jacob's blessing upon his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. To understand its meaning, we need to break it down:
"The angel who has redeemed me from all evil...": This refers to a divine figure, likely an angel, who Jacob believes has protected and delivered him from hardships and evil throughout his life. It could also be interpreted more broadly as a divine presence or God himself, acting through an angelic mediator. Jacob sees this figure as his personal protector and savior.
"...bless the lads...": Jacob is asking this divine figure to bestow blessings upon Ephraim and Manasseh, his grandsons. He wants them to prosper, be healthy, and enjoy good fortune.
"...and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac...": This is a crucial part of the blessing. It means that Jacob wants his grandsons to be considered as his descendants and inheritors of his covenant with God, and to also be counted among the lineage of Abraham and Isaac, continuing their legacy. By having their names associated with these patriarchs, Jacob ensures that Ephraim and Manasseh are included in the promise God made to Abraham: a great nation, a land, and a blessing to all nations.
"...Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.”: This expresses Jacob's desire for Ephraim and Manasseh to have many descendants and for their offspring to become a numerous and significant people. It echoes the promise of numerous descendants that God made to Abraham.
In essence, this verse is Jacob's prayer for his grandsons' well-being, prosperity, and inclusion in the covenant lineage of his family. It's a request that they be blessed by the same divine protector who has guided him, and that they become fruitful and multiply, continuing the legacy of faith and promise that began with Abraham. Jacob is ensuring that these grandsons are not just Joseph's sons but also full members of the Israelite family and inheritors of the divine promises. This act is further cemented when Jacob adopts them (Genesis 48:5) as his own sons, meaning they will each receive a portion of the inheritance equal to Jacob's biological sons. This is why the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are counted among the twelve tribes of Israel, despite being grandsons rather than sons.
Genesis 48:16 - the angel who has 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. Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.”
What does "Genesis 48:16" mean?
This verse is part of Jacob's blessing upon his grandsons, Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph. To understand its meaning, we need to break it down:
"The angel who has redeemed me from all evil...": This refers to a divine figure, likely an angel, who Jacob believes has protected and delivered him from hardships and evil throughout his life. It could also be interpreted more broadly as a divine presence or God himself, acting through an angelic mediator. Jacob sees this figure as his personal protector and savior.
"...bless the lads...": Jacob is asking this divine figure to bestow blessings upon Ephraim and Manasseh, his grandsons. He wants them to prosper, be healthy, and enjoy good fortune.
"...and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac...": This is a crucial part of the blessing. It means that Jacob wants his grandsons to be considered as his descendants and inheritors of his covenant with God, and to also be counted among the lineage of Abraham and Isaac, continuing their legacy. By having their names associated with these patriarchs, Jacob ensures that Ephraim and Manasseh are included in the promise God made to Abraham: a great nation, a land, and a blessing to all nations.
"...Let them grow into a multitude upon the earth.”: This expresses Jacob's desire for Ephraim and Manasseh to have many descendants and for their offspring to become a numerous and significant people. It echoes the promise of numerous descendants that God made to Abraham.
In essence, this verse is Jacob's prayer for his grandsons' well-being, prosperity, and inclusion in the covenant lineage of his family. It's a request that they be blessed by the same divine protector who has guided him, and that they become fruitful and multiply, continuing the legacy of faith and promise that began with Abraham. Jacob is ensuring that these grandsons are not just Joseph's sons but also full members of the Israelite family and inheritors of the divine promises. This act is further cemented when Jacob adopts them (Genesis 48:5) as his own sons, meaning they will each receive a portion of the inheritance equal to Jacob's biological sons. This is why the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh are counted among the twelve tribes of Israel, despite being grandsons rather than sons.