Genesis 48:8
New International Version
When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?”

New Living Translation
Then Jacob looked over at the two boys. “Are these your sons?” he asked.

English Standard Version
When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”

Berean Standard Bible
When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?”

King James Bible
And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?

New King James Version
Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”

New American Standard Bible
When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”

NASB 1995
When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”

NASB 1977
When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons and said, “Who are these?”

Amplified Bible
When Israel [who was almost blind] saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”

Christian Standard Bible
When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”

American Standard Version
And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?

English Revised Version
And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he asked, "Who are they?"

Good News Translation
When Jacob saw Joseph's sons, he asked, "Who are these boys?"

International Standard Version
Just then, Israel saw Joseph's sons and asked, "Who are these?"

Majority Standard Bible
When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?”

NET Bible
When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he asked, "Who are these?"

New Heart English Bible
Then Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, "Who are these?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?

World English Bible
Israel saw Joseph’s sons, and said, “Who are these?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Israel sees the sons of Joseph and says, “Who [are] these?”

Young's Literal Translation
And Israel seeth the sons of Joseph, and saith, 'Who are these?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Israel will see Joseph's sons, and will say, Who are these?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then seeing his sons, he said to him: Who are these?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, seeing his sons, he said to him: “Who are these?”

New American Bible
When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he asked, “Who are these?”

New Revised Standard Version
When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, “Who are these?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said to him, Who are these?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Israel saw the children of Yoseph, and said to him, “Who are these?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said: 'Who are these?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And when Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he said, Who are these to thee?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Blesses Ephraim and Manasseh
7Now as for me, when I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died along the way in the land of Canaan, some distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath” (that is, Bethlehem). 8When Israel saw the sons of Joseph, he asked, “Who are these?” 9Joseph said to his father, “They are the sons God has given me in this place.” So Jacob said, “Please bring them to me, that I may bless them.”…

Cross References
Genesis 27:1
When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” Esau replied.

Genesis 37:33
His father recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”

Genesis 45:26-28
“Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them. / However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived. / “Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”

Genesis 46:29-30
Joseph prepared his chariot and went there to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, embraced him, and wept profusely. / Then Israel said to Joseph, “Finally I can die, now that I have seen your face and know that you are still alive!”

Genesis 50:23
He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir son of Manasseh were brought up on Joseph’s knees.

Exodus 1:1-5
These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: / Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; / Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; ...

Deuteronomy 34:7
Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not diminished.

1 Samuel 3:2
And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room.

1 Kings 14:4
Jeroboam’s wife did as instructed; she arose and went to Shiloh and arrived at Ahijah’s house. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age.

Psalm 71:18
Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, until I proclaim Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.

Psalm 92:14
In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,

Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age, I will be the same, and I will bear you up when you turn gray. I have made you, and I will carry you; I will sustain you and deliver you.

Matthew 17:3
Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared before them, talking with Jesus.

Matthew 22:32
‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

Luke 2:28-30
Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying: / “Sovereign Lord, as You have promised, You now dismiss Your servant in peace. / For my eyes have seen Your salvation,


Treasury of Scripture

And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these?

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Genesis 48
1. Joseph with his sons visits his sick father.
2. Jacob strengthens himself to bless them.
3. He repeats God's promise.
5. He takes Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons.
7. He tells Joseph of his mother's grave.
8. He blesses Ephraim and Manasseh.
17. He prefers the younger before the elder.
21. He prophesies their return to Canaan.














When Israel saw
The name "Israel" here refers to Jacob, who was renamed Israel after wrestling with God (Genesis 32:28). This name signifies his role as the patriarch of the Israelite nation. The act of seeing is not merely physical but also spiritual and prophetic, as Jacob is about to bestow blessings. In Hebrew, "saw" (רָאָה, ra'ah) often implies perceiving with understanding, suggesting that Jacob is discerning something significant about this moment.

the sons of Joseph
Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, are central to this narrative. They were born in Egypt to Joseph and Asenath, an Egyptian woman, which highlights the theme of God's providence and blessing extending beyond the traditional boundaries of the Israelite family. Their presence here signifies the continuation of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as they are about to be adopted into the Israelite lineage.

he asked, 'Who are these?'
This question may seem surprising, given that Jacob is their grandfather. However, it serves a deeper purpose. In Hebrew culture, questions often precede significant actions or revelations. This inquiry sets the stage for the formal adoption and blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh. It also reflects a moment of recognition and acknowledgment, as Jacob prepares to confer upon them the blessings that will shape their future and the future of Israel.

(8) Who are these?--This question is asked as the solemn turning of the discourse to the young men who were now to be invested with the patriarchal rank. They were at this time about eighteen or twenty years of age.

Verse 8. - And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? The failing sight of the patriarch (ver. 10) probably was the reason why he did not sooner recognize his grandchildren, and the fact that he did not at first discern their presence shows that his adoption of them into the number of the theocratic family was prompted not by the accidental impulse of a natural affection excited through beholding the youths, but by the inward promptings of the Spirit of God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When Israel
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

saw
וַיַּ֥רְא (way·yar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

the sons
בְּנֵ֣י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Joseph,
יוֹסֵ֑ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

he asked,
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Who
מִי־ (mî-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

are these?”
אֵֽלֶּה׃ (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those


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OT Law: Genesis 48:8 Israel saw Joseph's sons and said Who (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 48:7
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