Gen 48:14-20 | NASB1995 | STEP | But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim , who was the younger , and his left hand on Manasseh’s head , crossing his hands , although Manasseh was the firstborn .

Genesis 48:14-20

14 But Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, ^{▼▼ Or consciously directing}crossing his hands, ^{▼▼ Lit when}although ^cManasseh was the firstborn. 15 He blessed Joseph, and said, ^d“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
^eThe God who has been my shepherd ^{▼▼ Lit from the continuance of me}all my life to this day,
16 ^gThe angel who has redeemed me from all evil,
^hBless the lads;
And may my name ^{▼▼ Lit be called}live on in them,
And the ^{▼▼ Lit name}names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac;
And ^kmay they grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.”

17 When Joseph saw that his father ^llaid his right hand on Ephraim’s head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head.” 19 But his father refused and said, “I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and ^mhis ^{▼▼ Lit seed}descendants shall become a ^{▼▼ Lit fullness}multitude of nations.” 20 ^pHe blessed them that day, saying, “By you Israel will pronounce blessing, saying,
‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh!’”
Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh.