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Douay-Rheims Bible

Genesis 48:21

And he said to Joseph, his son: Behold I die, and God will be with you, and will bring you back into the land of your fathers.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Faith;   Inheritance;   Jacob;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Manasseh;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Blessing;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Genesis;   Nuzi;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Ephraim;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Joseph;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Charm;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Family and Family Life;  

Devotionals:

- Faith's Checkbook - Devotion for July 1;  

Parallel Translations

Hebrew Names Version
Yisra'el said to Yosef, "Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.
King James Version
And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
Lexham English Bible
And Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your ancestors.
New Century Version
Then Israel said to Joseph, "Look at me; I am about to die. But God will be with you and will take you back to the land of your fathers.
New English Translation
Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers.
Amplified Bible
Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to [Canaan] the land of your fathers.
New American Standard Bible
Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then Israel said vnto Ioseph, Behold, I die, and God shall be with you, and bring you againe vnto the land of your fathers.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers.
Contemporary English Version
After that, Jacob said, "Joseph, you can see that I won't live much longer. But God will be with you and will lead you back to the land he promised our family long ago.
Complete Jewish Bible
Isra'el then said to Yosef, "You see that I am dying, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your ancestors.
Darby Translation
And Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I die; and God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then Israel said to Joseph, "Look, my time to die is almost here, but God will still be with you. He will lead you back to the land of your ancestors.
English Standard Version
Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers.
George Lamsa Translation
Then Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I am dying, but God shall be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.
Good News Translation
Then Jacob said to Joseph, "As you see, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will take you back to the land of your ancestors.
Christian Standard Bible®
Israel said to Joseph, “Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you back to the land of your fathers.
Literal Translation
And Israel said to Joseph, See, I am dying; and God will be with you, and will return you to the land of your fathers.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Israel saide vnto Ioseph: Beholde, I dye, & God shall be wt you, & brynge you agayne in to ye lande of youre fathers.
American Standard Version
And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God will be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
Bible in Basic English
Then Israel said to Joseph, Now my death is near; but God will be with you, guiding you back to the land of your fathers.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Israel said vnto Ioseph: behold I dye, & God shalbe with you, & bryng you againe vnto ye land of your fathers.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Israel said unto Joseph: 'Behold, I die; but God will be with you, and bring you back unto the land of your fathers.
King James Version (1611)
And Israel saide vnto Ioseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you againe vnto the land of your fathers.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I die; and God shall be with you, and restore you to the land of your fathers.
English Revised Version
And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
Berean Standard Bible
Then Israel said to Joseph, "Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and seide to Joseph, his sone, Lo! Y die, and God schal be with you, and schal lede you ayen to the lond of youre fadris;
Young's Literal Translation
And Israel saith unto Joseph, `Lo, I am dying, and God hath been with you, and hath brought you back unto the land of your fathers;
Update Bible Version
And Israel said to Joseph, Look, I die: but God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Israel said to Joseph, Behold, I die; but God shall be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.
World English Bible
Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you, and bring you again to the land of your fathers.
New King James Version
Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am dying, but God will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
New Living Translation
Then Jacob said to Joseph, "Look, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will take you back to Canaan, the land of your ancestors.
New Life Bible
Then Israel said to Joseph, "See, I am about to die. But God will be with you. He will return you to the land of your fathers.
New Revised Standard
Then Israel said to Joseph, "I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your ancestors.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Israel said unto Joseph: Lo! I, am about to die, - but it shall come to pass that, God will be with you, and will take you back into the land of your fathers.
Revised Standard Version
Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and will bring you again to the land of your fathers.
THE MESSAGE
Israel then said to Joseph, "I'm about to die. God be with you and give you safe passage back to the land of your fathers. As for me, I'm presenting you, as the first among your brothers, the ridge of land I took from Amorites with my sword and bow."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and bring you back to the land of your fathers.

Contextual Overview

8 Then seeing his sons, he said to him: Who are these? 9 He answered: They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said: Bring them to me, that I may bless them. 10 For Israel’s eyes were dim by reason of his great age, and he could not see clearly. And when they were brought to him, he kissed and embraced them, 11 And said to his son: I am not deprived of seeing thee; moreover God hath shewn me thy seed. 12 And when Joseph had taken them from his father’s lap, he bowed down with his face to the ground. 13 And he set Ephraim on his right hand, that is, towards the left hand of Israel; but Manasses on his left hand, to wit, towards his father’s right hand, and brought them near to him. 14 But he, stretching forth his right hand, put it upon the head of Ephraim, the younger brother; and the left upon the head of Manasses, who was the elder, changing his hands. 15 And Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, and said: God, in whose sight my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, God that feedeth me from my youth until this day: 16 The angel that delivereth me from all evils, bless these boys: and let my name be called upon them, and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and may they grow into a multitude upon the earth. 17 And Joseph seeing that his father had put his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, was much displeased: and taking his father’s hand, he tried to lift it from Ephraim’s head, and to remove it to the head of Manasses.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Behold: Genesis 50:24, 1 Kings 2:2-4, Psalms 146:3, Psalms 146:4, Zechariah 1:5, Zechariah 1:6, Luke 2:29, Acts 13:36, 2 Timothy 4:6, Hebrews 7:3, Hebrews 7:8, Hebrews 7:23-25, 2 Peter 1:14

God: Genesis 15:14, Genesis 28:15, Genesis 46:4, Deuteronomy 1:1-46, Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5, Joshua 1:9, Joshua 3:7, Joshua 23:14, Joshua 24:1-33, Psalms 18:46

land: Genesis 12:5, Genesis 26:3, Genesis 37:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:2 - I know not Genesis 50:5 - I die Genesis 50:6 - as he made Exodus 13:19 - God Numbers 14:9 - the Lord Deuteronomy 31:3 - thy God 2 Samuel 19:37 - I may die Hebrews 9:17 - General Hebrews 11:13 - all died

Cross-References

Genesis 12:5
And he took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all the substance which they had gathered, and the souls which they had gotten in Haran: and they went out to go into the land of Chanaan. And when they were come into it,
Genesis 15:14
But I will judge the nation which they shall serve, and after this they shall come out with great substance.
Genesis 26:3
And sojourn in it, and I will be with thee, and will bless thee: for to thee and to thy seed I will give all these countries, to fulfil the oath which I swore to Abraham thy father.
Genesis 28:15
And I will be thy keeper whithersoever thou goest, and will bring thee back into this land: neither will I leave thee, till I shall have accomplished all that I have said.
Genesis 37:1
And Jacob dwelt in the land of Chanaan, wherein his father sojourned.
Genesis 46:4
I will go down with thee thither, and will bring thee back again from thence: Joseph also shall put his hands upon thy eyes.
Genesis 48:1
After these things, it was told Joseph that his father was sick; and he set out to go to him, taking his two sons Manasses and Ephraim.
Genesis 48:2
And it was told the old man: Behold thy son Joseph cometh to thee. And being strengthened, he sat on his bed.
Genesis 48:3
And when Joseph was come in to him, he said: God almighty appeared to me at Luza, which is in the land of Chanaan, and he blessed me,
Genesis 48:4
And said: I will cause thee to increase and multiply, and I will make of thee a multitude of people: and I will give this land to thee, and to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Israel said unto Joseph, behold, I die,.... Expected to die very shortly; and he not only speaks of it as a certain thing, and what would quickly be, but with pleasure and comfort, having no fear and dread of it on him, but as what was agreeable to him, and he had made himself familiar with:

but God shall be with you; with Joseph and his posterity, and with all his brethren, and theirs, to comfort and support them, to guide and counsel them, to protect and defend them, to carry them through all they had to endure in Egypt, and at length bring them out of it; he signifies he was departing from them, but God would not depart from them, whose presence would be infinitely more to them than his; and which, as it made him the more easy to leave them, so it might make them more easy to part with him:

and bring you again unto the land of your fathers; the land of Canaan, where their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had dwelt, and which was given to them and theirs for an inheritance, and where Joseph and his brethren had lived, and would be brought thither again, as the bones of Joseph were, and as all of them in their posterity were in Joshua's time.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

- Joseph Visits His Sick Father

The right of primogeniture has been forfeited by Reuben. The double portion in the inheritance is now transferred to Joseph. He is the first-born of her who was intended by Jacob to be his first and only wife. He has also been the means of saving all his father’s house, even after he had been sold into slavery by his brethren. He has therefore, undeniable claims to this part of the first-born’s rights.

Genesis 48:1-7

After these things. - After the arrangements concerning the funeral, recorded in the chapter. “Menasseh and Ephraim.” They seem to have accompanied their father from respectful affection to their aged relative. “Israel strengthened himself” - summoned his remaining powers for the interview, which was now to him an effort. “God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz.” From the terms of the blessing received it is evident that Jacob here refers to the last appearance of God to him at Bethel Genesis 35:11. “And now thy sons.” After referring to the promise of a numerous offspring, and of a territory which they are to inherit, he assigns to each of the two sons of Joseph, who were born in Egypt, a place among his own sons, and a separate share in the promised land. In this way two shares fall to Joseph. “And thy issue.” We are not informed whether Joseph had any other sons. But all such are to be reckoned in the two tribes of which Ephraim and Menasseh are the heads. These young men are now at least twenty and nineteen years of age, as they were born before the famine commenced. Any subsequent issue that Joseph might have, would be counted among the generations of their children. “Rachel died upon me” - as a heavy affliction falling upon me. The presence of Joseph naturally leads the father’s thoughts to Rachel, the beloved mother of his beloved son, whose memory he honors in giving a double portion to her oldest son.

Genesis 48:8-16

He now observes and proceeds to bless the two sons of Joseph. “Who are these?” The sight and the observant faculties of the patriarch were now failing. “Bring them now unto me, and I will bless them.” Jacob is seated on the couch, and the young men approach him. He kisses and folds his arms around them. The comforts of his old age come up before his mind. He had not expected to see Joseph again in the flesh, and now God had showed him his seed. After these expressions of parental fondness, Joseph drew them back from between his knees, that he might present them in the way that was distinctive of their age. He then bowed with his face to the earth, in reverential acknowledgment of the act of worship about to be performed. Joseph expected the blessing to be regulated by the age of his sons, and is therefore, careful to present them so that the right hand of his dim-sighted parent may, without any effort, rest on the head of his first-born. But the venerable patriarch, guided by the Spirit of him who doth according to his own will, designedly lays his right hand on the head of the younger, and thereby attributes to him the greater blessing.

The imposition of the hand is a primitive custom which here for the first time comes into notice. It is the natural mode of marking out the object of the benediction, signifying its conveyance to the individual, and implying that it is laid upon him as the destiny of his life. It may be done by either hand; but when each is laid on a different object, as in the present case, it may denote that the higher blessing is conveyed by the right hand. The laying on of both hands on one person may express the fulness of the blessing conveyed, or the fullness of the desire with which it is conveyed.

Genesis 48:15-16

And he blessed Joseph. - In blessing his seed he blesses himself. In exalting his two sons into the rank and right of his brothers, he bestows upon them the double portion of the first-born. In the terms of the blessing Jacob first signalizes the threefold function which the Lord discharges in effecting the salvation of a sinner. “The God before whom walked my fathers,” is the Author of salvation, the Judge who dispenses justice and mercy, the Father, before whom the adopted and regenerate child walks. From him salvation comes, to him the saved returns, to walk before him and be perfect. “The God, who fed me from my being unto this day,” is the Creator and Upholder of life, the Quickener and Sanctifier, the potential Agent, who works both to will and to do in the soul. “The Angel that redeemed me from all evil,” is the all-sufficient Friend, who wards off evil by himself satisfying the demands of justice and resisting the devices of malice. There is a beautiful propriety of feeling in Jacob ascribing to his fathers the walking before God, while he thankfully acknowledges the grace of the Quickener and Justifier to himself. The Angel is explicitly applied to the Supreme Being in this ministerial function. The God is the emphatic description of the true, living God, as contradistinguished from all false gods. “Bless the lads.” The word bless is in the singular number. For Jacob’s threefold periphrasis is intended to describe the one God who wills, works, and wards. “And let my name be put upon them.” Let them be counted among my immediate sons, and let them be related to Abraham and Isaac, as my other sons are. This is the only thing that is special in the blessing. “Let them grow into a multitude.” The word grow in the original refers to the spawning or extraordinary increase of the finny tribe. The after history of Ephraim and Menasseh will be found to correspond with this special prediction.

Genesis 48:17-22

Joseph presumes that his father has gone astray through dulness of perception, and endeavors to rectify his mistake. He finds, however, that on the other hand a supernatural vision is now conferred on his parent, who is fully conscious of what he is about, and therefore, abides by his own act. Ephraim is to be greater than Menasseh. Joshua, the successor of Moses, was of the tribe of Ephraim, as Kaleb his companion was of Judah. Ephraim came to designate the northern kingdom of the ten tribes, as Judah denoted the southern kingdom containing the remaining tribes; and each name was occasionally used to denote all Israel, with a special reference to the prominent part. “His seed shall be the fullness of the nations.” This denotes not only the number but the completeness of his race, and accords with the future pre-eminence of his tribe. In thee, in Joseph, who is still identified with his offspring.

At the point of death Jacob expresses his assurance of the return of his posterity to the land of promise, and bestows on Joseph one share or piece of ground above his brethren, which, says he, I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow. This share is, in the original, שׁכם shekem, Shekem, a shoulder or tract of land. This region included “the parcel of the field where he had spread his tent” Genesis 33:19. It refers to the whole territory of Shekem, which was conquered by his sword and his bow, inasmuch as the city itself was sacked, and its inhabitants put to the sword by his sons at the head of his armed retainers, though without his approval Genesis 34:0. Though he withdrew immediately after to Bethel Genesis 35:0, yet he neither fled nor relinquished possession of this conquest, as we find his sons feeding his flocks there when he himself was residing at Hebron Genesis 37:13. The incidental conquest of such a tract was no more at variance with the subsequent acquisition of the whole country than the purchase of a field by Abraham or a parcel of ground by Jacob himself. In accordance with this gift Joseph’s bones were deposited in Shekem, after the conquest of the whole land by returning Israel. The territory of Shekem was probably not equal in extent to that of Ephraim, but was included within its bounds.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Genesis 48:21. Behold, I die — With what composure is this most awful word expressed! Surely of Jacob it might be now said, "He turns his sight undaunted on the tomb;" for though it is not said that he was full of days, as were Abraham and Isaac, yet he is perfectly willing to bid adieu to earthly things, and lay his body in the grave. Could any person act as the patriarchs did in their last moments, who had no hopes of eternal life, no belief in the immortality of the soul? Impossible! With such a conviction of the being of God, with such proofs of his tenderness and regard, with such experience of his providential and miraculous interference in their behalf, could they suppose that they were only creatures of a day, and that God had wasted so much care, attention, providence, grace, and goodness, on creatures who were to be ultimately like the beasts that perish? The supposition that they could have no correct notion of the immortality of the soul is as dishonourable to God as to themselves. But what shall we think of Christians who have formed this hypothesis into a system to prove what? Why, that the patriarchs lived and died in the dark! That either the soul has no immortality, or that God has not thought proper to reveal it. Away with such an opinion! It cannot be said to merit serious refutation.


 
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