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Genesis 50:23
ESV And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation. The children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were counted as Joseph’s own.
NIV and saw the third generation of Ephraim's children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph's knees.
NASB Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees.
CSB He saw Ephraim's sons to the third generation; the sons of Manasseh's son Machir were recognized by Joseph.
NLT He lived to see three generations of descendants of his son Ephraim, and he lived to see the birth of the children of Manasseh’s son Makir, whom he claimed as his own.
KJV And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.

What does Genesis 50:23 mean?

Joseph's long life is drawing to a close. His early years were difficult. He was sold into slavery at the age of seventeen (Genesis 37:2, 26–28) and spent several years in an Egyptian prison. After thirteen years of imprisonment and mistreatment, he became a great ruler in Egypt (Genesis 41:44–46). That began a stretch of eighty years, up until this moment, where his life was one of influence and power. Along the way, his position saved many people from death, including his entire family (Genesis 47:11–13). Key to that outcome was Joseph's willingness to forgive his brothers instead of seeking revenge (Genesis 50:15–21).

Joseph lived to see his great-great-grandchildren through Ephraim, as well as his great-grandchildren through his son Manasseh and grandson Machir. The statement that Machir's children were counted as Joseph's own—"placed on his knees" in some translations—may mean that Joseph adopted them. This would be much like his own father, Jacob, had claimed ownership of Joseph's own two oldest sons (Genesis 48:5–6).

Living long and seeing his grandchildren thrive was a sign of God's blessing on Joseph's life.
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