Verse

Genesis 48:1

ESV After this, Joseph was told, "Behold, your father is ill." So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
NIV Some time later Joseph was told, "Your father is ill." So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim along with him.
NASB Now it came about after these things that Joseph was told, 'Behold, your father is sick.' So he took his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with him.
CSB Some time after this, Joseph was told, "Your father is weaker." So he set out with his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
NLT One day not long after this, word came to Joseph, 'Your father is failing rapidly.' So Joseph went to visit his father, and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
KJV And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
NKJV Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, “Indeed your father is sick”; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

What does Genesis 48:1 mean?

In prior verses, Jacob, also known by his God-given name Israel, was preparing for his death. His family has settled in Egypt under the protection of his son, Joseph. Anticipating the end of his life, Jacob asked Joseph to swear to bury him with his fathers in Canaan, rather than being interred in Egypt. Joseph agreed (Genesis 47:29–31).

It's unknown how much time has passed since then, but Joseph now gets word that Jacob is ill. He is close to dying. Joseph responds by taking his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim to see Jacob so that his father can bless them. If this is very near the end of Jacob's life, after 17 years in Egypt, Joseph would be in his mid-50s. Jacob would be 147 (Genesis 47:28).
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