The Meaning of Genesis 48:12 Explained

Genesis 48:12

KJV: And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

YLT: And Joseph bringeth them out from between his knees, and boweth himself on his face to the earth;

Darby: And Joseph brought them out from his knees, and bowed down with his face to the earth.

ASV: And Joseph brought them out from between his knees; and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Joseph  brought them out  from between  his knees,  and he bowed  himself with his face  to the earth. 

What does Genesis 48:12 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 48:8-22 - Jacob Blesses Joseph's Sons
By his act in blessing them, Jacob reversed the verdict of birth, and gave the younger the birthright. Probably there were qualities in Ephraim which naturally put him in the foremost place. The Bible is full of hope for younger sons. He spoke of the Angel, Jehovah, so often referred to in the Old Testament, and who can be no other than the Son of God. He also is our Shepherd, Guardian and Friend. He will feed and tend us all our life long. He will redeem us from all evil and bring us to a blessed end in peace. Be of good cheer! He cared for you in your helpless infancy and will do no less in your helpless old age. If any lads hear this portion read let them notice that old Jacob prayed God to bless the lads. Evidently then, no little lad is too small for God to notice and bless! Though the fathers die, God lives and will bring us again to "the land of the leal." [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 48:12 mean?

So brought Joseph them from beside his knees and he bowed down with his face to the ground
וַיּוֹצֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף אֹתָ֖ם מֵעִ֣ם בִּרְכָּ֑יו וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ לְאַפָּ֖יו אָֽרְצָה

וַיּוֹצֵ֥א  So  brought 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
יוֹסֵ֛ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
מֵעִ֣ם  from  beside 
Parse: Preposition-m
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
בִּרְכָּ֑יו  his  knees 
Parse: Noun, fdc, third person masculine singular
Root: בֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: knee.
וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ  and  he  bowed  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
לְאַפָּ֖יו  with  his  face 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, mdc, third person masculine singular
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
אָֽרְצָה  to  the  ground 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.