Genesis 48 · Verse 2

Genesis 48:2

And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
Genesis 48:2, King James Version

Genesis 48:2 in other translations

BSBWhen Jacob was told, “Your son Joseph has come to you,” Israel rallied his strength and sat up in bed.
WEBSomeone told Jacob, and said, “Behold, your son Joseph comes to you,” and Israel strengthened himself, and sat on the bed.
ASVAnd one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
YLTAnd one declareth to Jacob, and saith, ‘Lo, thy son Joseph is coming unto thee;' and Israel doth strengthen himself, and sit upon the bed.
DARBYAnd one told Jacob and said, Behold, thy son Joseph is coming to thee. And Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
BBEAnd when they said to Jacob, Your son Joseph is coming to see you: then Israel, getting all his strength together, had himself lifted up in his bed.
WebsterAnd one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh to thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

What does Genesis 48:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed--In the chamber where a good man lies, edifying and spiritual discourse may be expected.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed - He had been confined to his bed before, (see Gen 47:31), and now, hearing that Joseph was come to see him, he made what efforts his little remaining strength would admit, to sit up in bed to receive his son. This verse proves that a bed, not a staff, is intended in the preceding chapter, Gen 47:31.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 48:1-7

The death-beds of believers, with the prayers and counsels of dying persons, are suited to make serious impressions upon the young, the gay, and the prosperous: we shall do well to take children on such occasions, when it can be done properly. If the Lord please, it is very desirable to bear our dying testimony to his truth, to his faithfulness, and the pleasantness of his ways. And one would wish so to live, as to…

Read the full comment on Genesis 48:1-7 →

Genesis 48:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּגֵּ֣דvai.ya.Gedand someone toldH5046
לְיַעֲקֹ֔בle.ya.'a.Koto JacobH3290
וַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
הִנֵּ֛הhi.Nehhere!H2009
בִּנְךָ֥bin.Khason yourH1121
יוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefJosephH3130
בָּ֣אba'he has comeH935
אֵלֶ֑יךָ'e.Lei.khato youH413
וַיִּתְחַזֵּק֙vai.yit.cha.Zekand he strengthened himselfH2388
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וַיֵּ֖שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevand he satH3427
עַל\־'al-onH5921
הַמִּטָּֽה\׃ha.mi.Tahthe bedH4296

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 48:2

  • 1 Samuel 23:16

    And Jonathan Saul’s son arose, and went to David into the wood, and strengthened his hand in God.

  • Deuteronomy 3:28

    But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.

  • Ephesians 6:10

    Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

  • Proverbs 23:15

    My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

  • Psalms 41:3

    The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

  • Nehemiah 2:18

    Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
strengthened.
De 3:28; 1Sa 23:16; Ne 2:18; Ps 41:3; Pr 23:15; Eph 6:10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 48:1

    And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

  • Genesis 48:2

    And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.

  • Genesis 48:3

    And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,

Read all of Genesis 48

Genesis 48:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y se hizo saber á Jacob, diciendo: He aquí tu hijo José viene á ti. Entonces se esforzó Israel, y sentóse sobre la cama;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et on avertit Jacob, et on dit: Voici, ton fils Joseph vient vers toi. Et Israël rassembla ses forces, et s’assit sur le lit.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und man berichtete dem Jakob und sprach: Siehe, dein Sohn Joseph kommt zu dir. Und Israel machte sich stark und setzte sich aufs Bett.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dictumque est seni: Ecce filius tuus Joseph venit ad te. Qui confortatus sedit in lectulo.