Revision #9429
Manasseh (son of Joseph)
Localized for English-speaking readers
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## Biblical Account
- Manasseh was the firstborn son of Joseph, born after Joseph became governor of Egypt and before the years of famine began. His mother was Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, and his younger brother was Ephraim (Genesis 41:50-52). Joseph explained the name by saying, "God ... hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house" (Genesis 41:51). In Hebrew, the name *Manasseh* sounds like a word meaning "to cause to forget."
+ Manasseh was the firstborn son of Joseph, born after Joseph became governor of Egypt and before the years of famine began. His mother was Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, and his younger brother was Ephraim (Genesis 41:50-52). Joseph gave him this name, saying, "For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house" (Genesis 41:51). In Hebrew, the name *Manasseh* sounds like a word meaning "to cause to forget."
=
= Before his death, Jacob adopted his two grandsons as his own sons, declaring, "as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine" (Genesis 48:5). Joseph placed his firstborn, Manasseh, at Jacob's right hand, but Jacob crossed his arms, laid his right hand on the head of the younger Ephraim, and declared in his blessing that "his younger brother shall be greater than he" (Genesis 48:13-20). Scripture records that Joseph lived to see the children of Machir, the son of Manasseh (Genesis 50:23).
=
= ## Significance in Scripture
- Manasseh became the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Half of the tribe received land east of the Jordan River in Gilead and Bashan, while the other half received land west of the river (Numbers 32:33-42; Joshua 13:29-31; Joshua 17). This is the origin of the expression "the half tribe of Manasseh." The daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27) and the judge Gideon (Judges 6:15) belonged to this tribe. First Chronicles 5:1 records that Reuben's birthright was given to the sons of Joseph.
+ Manasseh became the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Half of the tribe received land east of the Jordan River in Gilead and Bashan, while the other half received land west of the river (Numbers 32:33-42; Joshua 13:29-31; Joshua 17). This division gave rise to the expression "the half tribe of Manasseh." The daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27) and the judge Gideon (Judges 6:15) belonged to this tribe. First Chronicles 5:1 records that Reuben's birthright was given to the sons of Joseph.
=
= In the New Testament, Hebrews 11:21 records that by faith Jacob "blessed both the sons of Joseph." In Revelation 7:6, the tribe of Manasseh is listed among the tribes that were sealed.
=
= ## Interpretations and Debates
- The precedence given to the younger brother over the firstborn is often read, as in the case of Esau and Jacob, as an illustration of God's choice overriding the human order of birth. In the Reformed tradition, which emphasizes predestination, the scene is sometimes cited as an example of God's sovereign election. Other interpreters emphasize reading it as one instance of the recurring theme of the "reversed firstborn" throughout Genesis. An allegorical interpretation that sees Jacob's crossed hands as a foreshadowing of the cross has also been handed down, but the text itself does not say this. The account of the conversion of Manasseh's mother, Asenath, is a tradition found in later Jewish literature and apocryphal writings; it does not appear in the biblical text.
+ The precedence given to the younger brother over the firstborn is often read, as in the case of Esau and Jacob, as an illustration of divine choice that transcends the human order of birth. In the Reformed tradition, which emphasizes predestination, the scene is sometimes cited as an example of God's sovereign election. Other interpreters place greater weight on reading it as one instance of the "reversed firstborn" theme that recurs throughout Genesis. An allegorical interpretation that sees Jacob's crossed hands as a foreshadowing of the cross has also been handed down, though the text itself does not state this. The account of the conversion of Manasseh's mother, Asenath, is a tradition found in later Jewish literature and apocryphal writings; it does not appear in the biblical text.
=
= In Judaism, the words of Genesis 48:20, "God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh," are still used today as a blessing pronounced over sons.
=
- ## In the Korean Church
- In Sunday school, the scene in which Jacob crosses his hands to bless his grandsons is taught as part of the story of Joseph. Sermons frequently draw on the meaning of the name Manasseh to convey the theme that God enables believers to forget past suffering. Such sermons commonly pair it with the meaning of the name Ephraim: "For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction" (Genesis 41:52).
+ ## In Korean Churches
+ In Korean Protestant churches, the scene in which Jacob crosses his hands to bless his grandsons is taught in Sunday school as part of the story of Joseph. Korean sermons frequently draw on the meaning of the name Manasseh to convey the theme that God enables believers to forget past suffering. Such sermons commonly pair it with the meaning of the name Ephraim: "For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction" (Genesis 41:52).
Manasseh was the firstborn son of Joseph, born in Egypt. Adopted by Jacob, he became the ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel. He is not to be confused with [[므낫세|Manasseh]], king of Judah.
Manasseh was the firstborn son of Joseph, born in Egypt. Adopted by Jacob as his own son, he became the ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel. He is distinct from [[므낫세|Manasseh]], king of Judah.
Full revision
Manasseh was the firstborn son of Joseph, born in Egypt. Adopted by Jacob as his own son, he became the ancestor of one of the tribes of Israel. He is distinct from [[므낫세|Manasseh]], king of Judah.
Biblical Account
Manasseh was the firstborn son of Joseph, born after Joseph became governor of Egypt and before the years of famine began. His mother was Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, and his younger brother was Ephraim (Genesis 41:50-52). Joseph gave him this name, saying, "For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house" (Genesis 41:51). In Hebrew, the name Manasseh sounds like a word meaning "to cause to forget."
Before his death, Jacob adopted his two grandsons as his own sons, declaring, "as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine" (Genesis 48:5). Joseph placed his firstborn, Manasseh, at Jacob's right hand, but Jacob crossed his arms, laid his right hand on the head of the younger Ephraim, and declared in his blessing that "his younger brother shall be greater than he" (Genesis 48:13-20). Scripture records that Joseph lived to see the children of Machir, the son of Manasseh (Genesis 50:23).
Significance in Scripture
Manasseh became the ancestor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel. Half of the tribe received land east of the Jordan River in Gilead and Bashan, while the other half received land west of the river (Numbers 32:33-42; Joshua 13:29-31; Joshua 17). This division gave rise to the expression "the half tribe of Manasseh." The daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 27) and the judge Gideon (Judges 6:15) belonged to this tribe. First Chronicles 5:1 records that Reuben's birthright was given to the sons of Joseph.
In the New Testament, Hebrews 11:21 records that by faith Jacob "blessed both the sons of Joseph." In Revelation 7:6, the tribe of Manasseh is listed among the tribes that were sealed.
Interpretations and Debates
The precedence given to the younger brother over the firstborn is often read, as in the case of Esau and Jacob, as an illustration of divine choice that transcends the human order of birth. In the Reformed tradition, which emphasizes predestination, the scene is sometimes cited as an example of God's sovereign election. Other interpreters place greater weight on reading it as one instance of the "reversed firstborn" theme that recurs throughout Genesis. An allegorical interpretation that sees Jacob's crossed hands as a foreshadowing of the cross has also been handed down, though the text itself does not state this. The account of the conversion of Manasseh's mother, Asenath, is a tradition found in later Jewish literature and apocryphal writings; it does not appear in the biblical text.
In Judaism, the words of Genesis 48:20, "God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh," are still used today as a blessing pronounced over sons.
In Korean Churches
In Korean Protestant churches, the scene in which Jacob crosses his hands to bless his grandsons is taught in Sunday school as part of the story of Joseph. Korean sermons frequently draw on the meaning of the name Manasseh to convey the theme that God enables believers to forget past suffering. Such sermons commonly pair it with the meaning of the name Ephraim: "For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction" (Genesis 41:52).