Genesis 50:23

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Genesis 50:23 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Joseph saw Ephraim`s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph`s knees.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Joseph saw Ephraim`s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph`s knees.
Genesis 50:23 — American Standard Version

Context — Genesis 50

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
23And Joseph saw Ephraim`s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph`s knees.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation, etc.] His great grandchildren’s children; and which shows, as most interpreters observe, that Jacob’s prediction, that Ephraim should be the greatest and most numerous, very early began to take place: and the children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were brought up upon Joseph’s knees; Machir had but one son by his first wife, whose name was Gilead; but marrying a second wife, he had two sons, Peresh and Sheresh; (see <130714>1 Chronicles 7:14-16) who might be born before the death of Joseph, and be said to be brought up upon his knees, being educated by him, and often took up in his lap, and dandled on his knees, as…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“- The Burial of Jacob 10. אטד 'āṭâd Atad, “the buck-thorn.” 11. מצרים אבל 'ābêl-mı̂tsrayı̂m, Abel-Mitsraim, “mourning of Mizraim,” or meadow of Mizraim. This chapter records the burial of Jacob and the death of Joseph, and so completes the history of the chosen family, and the third bible for the instruction of man. Genesis 50:1-3 After the natural outburst of sorrow for his deceased parent, Joseph gave orders to embalm the body, according to the custom of Egypt. “His servants, the physicians.” As the grand vizier of Egypt, he has physicians in his retinue. The classes and functions of the physicians in Egypt may be learned from Herodotus (ii. 81-86). There were special physicians for…”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“50:23 whom he claimed as his own (literally who were born on Joseph’s knees): Placing them on his knees at their birth was a symbolic act signifying that they came from him and belonged to him (cp. Job 3:12).”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification