Genesis 48:4

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 48:3-4

"And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, and said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a company of peoples, and I will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession."The appearance of God to Jacob which is mentioned here is a reference either to Genesis 28:19 or Genesis 35:9-13, or possibly both. Luz was the original name of the place, but Jacob changed the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 48:4

4. Behold, I will make thee fruitful—This is a repetition of the covenant (Genesis 28:13-15; Genesis 35:12). Whether these words are to be viewed in a limited sense, as pointing to the many centuries during which the Jews were occupiers of the Holy Land, or whether the words bear a wider meaning and intimate that the scattered tribes of Israel are to be reinstated in the land of promise, as their "everlasting possession," are points that have not yet been satisfactorily determined. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 48:1-11

Jacob’s adoption of Joseph’s sons 48:1-11The events recorded in the last three chapters of Genesis deal with the last days of Jacob and Joseph. In these last chapters there are many other references to earlier episodes in the book."This constant harking back to earlier episodes and promises is totally in place in a book whose theme is the fulfillment of promises, a book that regularly uses analogy between episodes as a narrative technique. And at the close of a book it is particuarly [sic]... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 48:1-22

Jacob Blesses Manasseh and Ephraim, the Sons of JosephHe adopts them as his own sons with privileges equal to the others, thus making them heads of distinct tribes. By so doing he gives to Joseph, the eldest son of Rachel, whom he probably regarded as his true wife, the position of firstborn with a double portion of his inheritance. From the time of Moses we find Ephraim and Manasseh giving their names to tribes (Numbers 1), which received territory on the conquest of Canaan.3. Luz] or Bethel:... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 48:4

(4) A multitude of people.—In Genesis 35:11 the words are “a congregation (or church) of nations;” here “a congregation (same word) of peoples.” (See Note there.) read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:1-22

THE BLESSINGS OF THE TRIBESGenesis 48:1-22; Genesis 49:1-33JACOB’S blessing of his sons marks the close of the patriarchal dispensation. Henceforth the channel of God’s blessing to man does not consist of one person only, but of a people or nation. It is still one seed, as Paul reminds us, a unit that God will bless, but this unit is now no longer a single person-as Abraham, Isaac, or Jacob-but one people, composed of several parts, and yet one whole: equally representative of Christ, as the... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 48:1-22

CHAPTER 48 Jacob adopts Ephraim and Manasseh 1. The sons of Joseph brought to Jacob (Gen. 48-12) 2. The words of Jacob (Genesis 48:3-7 ) 3. Ephraim and Manasseh presented (Genesis 48:8-14 ) 4. Jacob’s blessing (Genesis 48:13-16 ) 5. Joseph’s interference (Genesis 48:17-20 ) 6. Jacob’s last words to Joseph (Genesis 48:21-22 ) The adoption of Joseph’s sons is interesting and instructive. As the offspring of the Gentile wife Asenath they were in danger of becoming gentilized and thus... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Genesis 48:4

48:4 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee [for] an {b} everlasting possession.(b) Which is true in the carnal Israel until the coming of Christ, and in the spiritual forever. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 48:1-22

ISRAEL'S BLESSING FOR JOSEPH AND HIS SONS A little later Joseph was told that his father was sick, so he brought his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim to visit him. Jacob strengthened himself to sit on the bed. Then Jacob speaks to Joseph of God's first recorded appearance to him (Genesis 28:11-15) at Luz (or Bethel) in Canaan, giving him His special blessing, promising to multiply him into a multitude of people and to give that land to his descendants for an everlasting possession (vs.3-4).... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 48:1-22

CLOSE OF THE PATRIARCHAL AGE With the history of Joseph, Genesis concludes what is called the patriarchal age. Yet there are two or three facts for consideration before passing to the next book. THE LIFE OF JUDAH For example, Joseph’s history was interrupted almost at the beginning by that of his brother Judah (chap. 38). Judah’s history is shameful, but recorded because it bears upon the genealogy of Jesus, since Tamar, prostitute though she were, became an ancestress of our blessed Lord... read more

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