What Does Genesis 48:19 Mean?

But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations." Jacob's response to Joseph's correction is the most remarkable verse of the chapter: "I know, my son, I know." He is not confused; he has not placed his hands wrong. He knows Manasseh is the firstborn; he knows his right hand is on Ephraim. The placement is intentional and prophetic: the younger brother shall be greater.

"He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great": Jacob affirms Manasseh's portion without diminishing it. Manasseh will be a people; Manasseh will be great. The right-hand blessing's absence does not mean Manasseh receives nothing; he receives a significant and real blessing. "Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he" maintains the proportionality while establishing the Ephraim superiority. Both sons are blessed; one is blessed with greater magnitude. The graduated blessing rather than total reversal is Jacob's wisdom in the distribution.

"His offspring shall become a multitude of nations": the blessing of maximum magnitude is reserved for Ephraim, whose descendants will be "a multitude of nations" (Hebrew: melo' hagoyim: fullness of the nations). This phrase is one of the most expansive in the patriarchal blessings: the offspring becoming "the fullness of the nations" is a formulation that suggests a scope beyond a single tribal identity. Its eventual reference is the significance of Ephraim as the dominant northern tribe, the tribe whose name becomes synonymous with the Northern Kingdom, the tribe whose population and influence exceeds all others in Israel's early national period.