The Meaning of Genesis 48:22 Explained

Genesis 48:22

KJV: Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

YLT: and I -- I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I have taken out of the hand of the Amorite by my sword and by my bow.'

Darby: And I have given to thee one tract of land above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

ASV: Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Moreover I have given  to thee one  portion  above thy brethren,  which I took  out of the hand  of the Amorite  with my sword  and with my bow. 

What does Genesis 48:22 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 48:22 mean?

Moreover I have given to you portion one above your brothers which I took from the hand of the Amorite with my sword and my bow -
וַאֲנִ֞י נָתַ֧תִּֽי לְךָ֛ שְׁכֶ֥ם אַחַ֖ד עַל־ אַחֶ֑יךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר לָקַ֙חְתִּי֙ מִיַּ֣ד הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י בְּחַרְבִּ֖י וּבְקַשְׁתִּֽי פ

וַאֲנִ֞י  Moreover  I 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אֲנִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
נָתַ֧תִּֽי  have  given 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לְךָ֛  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
שְׁכֶ֥ם  portion 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁכֶם  
Sense: shoulder, back.
אַחַ֖ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
עַל־  above 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
אַחֶ֑יךָ  your  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
לָקַ֙חְתִּי֙  I  took 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
מִיַּ֣ד  from  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י  of  the  Amorite 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֱמֹרִי  
Sense: one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt.
בְּחַרְבִּ֖י  with  my  sword 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
וּבְקַשְׁתִּֽי  and  my  bow 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: קֶשֶׁת  
Sense: bow.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation