New American Standard Bible 1995

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Genesis

48

:

1

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.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Now it came to fall out, come to pass, become, be Verb H1961 וַיְהִ֗י vay·hi
about after the hind or following part Adverb H310 אַחֲרֵי֙ a·cha·rei
these these Pronoun H428 הָאֵ֔לֶּה ha·'el·leh,
things speech, word Noun H1697 הַדְּבָרִ֣ים had·de·va·rim
that Joseph "he increases," a son of Jacob, also the name of several Isr. Noun H3130 לְיֹוסֵ֔ף le·yo·v·sef,
Analysis:
Read more about: Joseph
was told, to utter, say Verb H559 וַיֹּ֣אמֶר vai·yo·mer
"Behold, lo! behold! Particle H2009 הִנֵּ֥ה hin·neh
your father father Noun H1 אָבִ֖יךָ a·vi·cha
is sick." to be weak or sick Verb H2470 חֹלֶ֑ה cho·leh;
So he took to take Verb H3947 וַיִּקַּ֞ח vai·yik·kach
Analysis:
Read more about: So
his two two (a card. number) Noun H8147 שְׁנֵ֤י she·nei
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

Loveisrael.org - Baruch Korman, Ph.D. - All Rights Reserved - Used with Permission 2016 

sons son Noun H1121 בָנָיו֙ va·nav
Manasseh "causing to forget," a son of Joseph, also a tribe desc. from him, also a king of Judah , also two Isr. Noun H4519 מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה me·na·sheh
Analysis:
Read more about: Manasseh, Manasseh
and Ephraim a son of Joseph, also his desc. and their territory Noun H669 אֶפְרָֽיִם׃ ef·ra·yim.
Analysis:
Read more about: Ephraim
with him.      

Locations

Ephraim

EPHRAIM (2)(1) A position apparently of some importance, since the position of Baal-hazor (probably = Tell `Asur) where Abraham's sheep-farm was located, is determined by relation to it (2 Samuel 13:23). That it lay North of Jerusalem seems to be indicated in 2 Samuel 13:34. It may be identical with the Ephraim of Eusebius, Onomasticon, 20 Roman miles North... View Details

People

Joseph

  Joseph There are three famous people in the Bible named Joseph: All three of their profiles are shown below: Joseph, a son of Jacob/Israel Joseph was one of 12 sons of Jacob. He was the first born son of Rachel (Gen 30:22-24). He received preferential treatment which angered his ten older brothers. His brothers faked his death to their father Jacob, and sold him to a caravan of Ishmaelite traders who were on their way to Egypt. God ga... View Details

Manasseh

Manasseh [N] [H] [S] who makes to forget. "God hath made me forget" (Heb. nashshani),  Genesis 41:51 .  The elder of the two sons of Joseph. He and his brother Ephraim were afterwards adopted by Jacob as his own sons ( 48:1 ). There is an account of his marriage to a Syrian ( 1 Chronicles 7:14 ); and the only thing afterwards recorded of him is, that his grandchildren were "... View Details

Manasseh

Manasseh [N] [H] [S] who makes to forget. "God hath made me forget" (Heb. nashshani),  Genesis 41:51 .  The elder of the two sons of Joseph. He and his brother Ephraim were afterwards adopted by Jacob as his own sons ( 48:1 ). There is an account of his marriage to a Syrian ( 1 Chronicles 7:14 ); and the only thing afterwards recorded of him is, that his grandchildren were "... View Details

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
New American Standard Bible 1995 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.
King James Bible Now And it came about to pass after these things things, that Joseph was told, "Behold, your one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick." So sick: and he took with him his two sons sons, Manasseh and Ephraim with him.Ephraim.
Hebrew Greek English 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.