Book of Genesis - Chapter 48 - Verse 20

The verse "And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh." is found in the book of Genesis. This verse is from the account of Jacob blessing his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh. In this blessing, Jacob declares that in the future, when the people of Israel bless their children, they will use the names of Ephraim and Manasseh as a way of invoking God's favor upon them. Jacob's decision to bless Ephraim before Manasseh is significant because it goes against the traditional order of blessing the firstborn son first. This act symbolizes the importance of faith and obedience over birth order. It also reflects Jacob's acknowledgment of God's divine plan and his desire for both Ephraim and Manasseh to receive abundant blessings. This verse serves as a reminder to trust in God's wisdom and sovereignty in all aspects of life.

Here, Jacob is bestowing his blessing upon his grandsons Ephraim and Manasseh. This act marks the adoption of the two boys by Jacob, giving them equal status and inheritance rights with his own sons. In his blessing, Jacob prophetically declares that future generations of Israelites will bless their own children by invoking the names of Ephraim and Manasseh. This blessing is significant as it places Ephraim before Manasseh, despite Manasseh being the firstborn. This reversal of tradition signifies the special favor Jacob has towards Ephraim and foreshadows the future prominence of the tribe of Ephraim within the nation of Israel. The theological interpretation of this verse highlights themes of divine favor, reversal of expectations, and the shaping of destiny through prophetic utterances. The word studies on this verse could delve into the meanings of the names Ephraim and Manasseh, as well as the significance of blessing and inheritance in the context of biblical narratives.