
TORAH
NEVI'IM
KETUVIM
Chapter 48
Translation and Transliteration of
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1Some time afterward, Yosef was told, “Your father is ill.” So he took with him his two sons, Menashe and Efraim.
vai-HI a-kha-RAY ha-d'-va-REEM ha-E-leh, va-YO-mer l'-yo-SAYF: hi-NEH a-VE-kha kho-LEH, va-yi-KAKH et sh'-NAY va-NAV i-MO, et me-na-SHEH v'-et e-fra-YIM.
אוַיְהִ֗י אַחֲרֵי֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לְיוֹסֵ֔ף הִנֵּ֥ה אָבִ֖יךָ חֹלֶ֑ה וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־שְׁנֵ֤י בָנָיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ אֶת־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה וְאֶת־אֶפְרָֽיִם׃
2When Yaakov was told, “Your son Yosef has come to see you,” Yisrael summoned his strength and sat up in bed.
vai-YA-ged l'-ya-a-KOV vai-YO-mer hi-NEH b'-NE-kha yo-SEF ba E-le-KHA vai-yi-tha-KHAZAYK yis-ra-AYL vai-YAY-shev al ha-mi-TAH
בוַיַּגֵּ֣ד לְיַעֲקֹ֔ב וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֛ה בִּנְךָ֥ יוֹסֵ֖ף בָּ֣א אֵלֶ֑יךָ וַיִּתְחַזֵּק֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב עַל־הַמִּטָּֽה׃
3And Yaakov said to Yosef, “El Shaddai appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and He blessed me,
vai-YO-mer ya-a-KOV el yo-SEF, el sha-DAI nir-a ELAI b'-LUZ b'-E-rets k'-NA-an, va-ye-VA-rekh o-TI
גוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אֵ֥ל שַׁדַּ֛י נִרְאָֽה־אֵלַ֥י בְּל֖וּז בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיְבָ֖רֶךְ אֹתִֽי׃
4and said to me, ‘I will make you fertile and numerous, making of you a community of peoples; and I will assign this land to your offspring to come for an everlasting possession.'
va-YO-mer ay-LAI hi-n'-NEE maf-r'-KHA v'-hir-bee-TI-kha un-ta-TEE-kha lik-HAL a-MEEM v'-NA-ta-TEE et ha-A-retz ha-ZOT l'-zar-a-KHA a-kha-RE-kha a-khu-ZAT o-LAM
דוַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י הִנְנִ֤י מַפְרְךָ֙ וְהִרְבִּיתִ֔ךָ וּנְתַתִּ֖יךָ לִקְהַ֣ל עַמִּ֑ים וְנָ֨תַתִּ֜י אֶת־הָאָ֧רֶץ הַזֹּ֛את לְזַרְעֲךָ֥ אַחֲרֶ֖יךָ אֲחֻזַּ֥ת עוֹלָֽם׃
5Now, your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, shall be mine; Efraim and Menashe shall be mine no less than Reuven and Shimon.
v'-a-TAH sh'-NAY-va-NE-kha ha-no-la-DEEM le-KHA b'-E-rets mitz-RA-yim ad bo-EE e-LE-kha mitz-RA-y'-MAH lee-HEM ef-RA-yim u-m'-na-SHE k'-ru-VEYN v'-shim-OHN yi-h'-YU-lee
הוְעַתָּ֡ה שְׁנֵֽי־בָנֶ֩יךָ֩ הַנּוֹלָדִ֨ים לְךָ֜ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֗יִם עַד־בֹּאִ֥י אֵלֶ֛יךָ מִצְרַ֖יְמָה לִי־הֵ֑ם אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וּמְנַשֶּׁ֔ה כִּרְאוּבֵ֥ן וְשִׁמְע֖וֹן יִֽהְיוּ־לִֽי׃
6But progeny born to you after them shall be yours; they shall be recorded instead of their brothers in their inheritance.
u-mo-LAD-t'-KHA a-SHER ho-LAD-ta a-kha-RAY-hem l'-KHA yi-h'-YU al shaym a-KHAY-hem yi-ka-RE-u b'-na-cha-LA-tam
ווּמוֹלַדְתְּךָ֛ אֲשֶׁר־הוֹלַ֥דְתָּ אַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם לְךָ֣ יִהְי֑וּ עַ֣ל שֵׁ֧ם אֲחֵיהֶ֛ם יִקָּרְא֖וּ בְּנַחֲלָתָֽם׃
7I [do this because], when I was returning from Paddan, Rachel died, to my sorrow, while I was journeying in the land of Canaan, when still some distance short of Efrat; and I buried her there on the road to Efrat”—now Beit Lechem.
va-a-NEE, b'-bo-EE mi-pa-DAN, may-TAH a-LAI ra-KHAYL, b'-E-rets k'-na-AN, ba-DE-rekh, b'-OD kiv-RAT e-RETs, la-VO ef-RA-ta, va-e-k'-BE-ra-SHAM, b'-DE-rekh ef-RA-ta, hee, b'-EYT la-KHEM.
זוַאֲנִ֣י ׀ בְּבֹאִ֣י מִפַּדָּ֗ן מֵ֩תָה֩ עָלַ֨י רָחֵ֜ל בְּאֶ֤רֶץ כְּנַ֙עַן֙ בַּדֶּ֔רֶךְ בְּע֥וֹד כִּבְרַת־אֶ֖רֶץ לָבֹ֣א אֶפְרָ֑תָה וָאֶקְבְּרֶ֤הָ שָּׁם֙ בְּדֶ֣רֶךְ אֶפְרָ֔ת הִ֖וא בֵּ֥ית לָֽחֶם׃
8Noticing Yosef's sons, Yisrael asked, “Who are these?”
va-YAR yis-ra-AYL et b'-NAY yo-SEF va-YO-mer mee e-LEH
חוַיַּ֥רְא יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיֹּ֖אמֶר מִי־אֵֽלֶּה׃
9And Yosef said to his father, “They are my sons, whom Hashem has given me here.” “Bring them up to me,” he said, “that I may bless them.”
vai-YO-mer yo-SEF el a-VEEV, ba-NAI HEM a-SHER na-TAN-LEE e-lo-HEEM ba-ZEH, vai-YO-mer ka-KHEM-NA e-LAI va-a-va-r'-KHEM
טוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יוֹסֵף֙ אֶל־אָבִ֔יו בָּנַ֣י הֵ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־נָֽתַן־לִ֥י אֱלֹהִ֖ים בָּזֶ֑ה וַיֹּאמַ֕ר קָֽחֶם־נָ֥א אֵלַ֖י וַאֲבָרְכֵֽם׃
10Now Yisrael's eyes were dim with age; he could not see. So [Yosef] brought them close to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.
v'-ay-NAY yis-ra-AYL ka-VEY-du mi-ZO-ken lo yu-KHAL lir-OT va-YA-gesh o-TAM ay-LAV va-YI-shak la-HEM va-y'-kha-BEK la-HEM
יוְעֵינֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כָּבְד֣וּ מִזֹּ֔קֶן לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִרְא֑וֹת וַיַּגֵּ֤שׁ אֹתָם֙ אֵלָ֔יו וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק לָהֶ֖ם וַיְחַבֵּ֥ק לָהֶֽם׃
11And Yisrael said to Yosef, “I never expected to see you again, and here Hashem has let me see your children as well.”
vai-YO-mer yis-ra-AYL el yo-SEF, r'-OH fa-NE-kha lo fi-LAL-tee, v'-hi-NEH her-AH o-TEE e-lo-HEEM gam et-zar-E-kha
יאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף רְאֹ֥ה פָנֶ֖יךָ לֹ֣א פִלָּ֑לְתִּי וְהִנֵּ֨ה הֶרְאָ֥ה אֹתִ֛י אֱלֹהִ֖ים גַּ֥ם אֶת־זַרְעֶֽךָ׃
12Yosef then removed them from his knees, and bowed low with his face to the ground.
vai-YO-tze YO-sef o-TAM me-IM bir-KA-yav va-yish-TA-chu l'-a-PA-yav or-TZA
יבוַיּוֹצֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף אֹתָ֖ם מֵעִ֣ם בִּרְכָּ֑יו וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ לְאַפָּ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃
13Yosef took the two of them, Efraim with his right hand—to Yisrael's left—and Menashe with his left hand—to Yisrael's right—and brought them close to him.
vai-YI-kakh yo-SEF et sh'-nay-HEM, et e-fra-YIM bi-MI-no, mi-S'-mo-EL yis-ra-AYL, v'-et me-na-SHEH bi-S'-mo-LO, mi-MI-n yis-ra-AYL, vai-YA-gesh ay-LA-yo.
יגוַיִּקַּ֣ח יוֹסֵף֮ אֶת־שְׁנֵיהֶם֒ אֶת־אֶפְרַ֤יִם בִּֽימִינוֹ֙ מִשְּׂמֹ֣אל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בִשְׂמֹאל֖וֹ מִימִ֣ין יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּגֵּ֖שׁ אֵלָֽיו׃
14But Yisrael stretched out his right hand and laid it on Efraim's head, though he was the younger, and his left hand on Menashe's head—thus crossing his hands—although Menashe was the first-born.
vai-YISH-lakh yis-ra-AYL et y'-mi-NO va-YA-shet al-ROSH ef-RA-yim v'-HU ha-tza-EER v'-et s'-mo-LO al-ROSH m'-na-SHEH si-KEL et ya-DAV kee m'-na-SHEH ha-b'-KOR
ידוַיִּשְׁלַח֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל אֶת־יְמִינ֜וֹ וַיָּ֨שֶׁת עַל־רֹ֤אשׁ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וְה֣וּא הַצָּעִ֔יר וְאֶת־שְׂמֹאל֖וֹ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה שִׂכֵּל֙ אֶת־יָדָ֔יו כִּ֥י מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה הַבְּכֽוֹר׃
15And he blessed Yosef, saying, “The Hashem in whose ways my fathers Avraham and Yitzchak walked, The Hashem who has been my shepherd from my birth to this day—
va-y'-va-REKH et yo-SEF va-YO-mer ha-E-lo-HEEM a-SHER hit-ha-le-KHU a-vo-TAI l'-fa-NAV av-RA-ham v'-yitz-KHAK ha-E-lo-HEEM ha-RO-e o-TI me-o-DEE ad ha-YOM ha-ZEH
טווַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ הִתְהַלְּכ֨וּ אֲבֹתַ֤י לְפָנָיו֙ אַבְרָהָ֣ם וְיִצְחָ֔ק הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ הָרֹעֶ֣ה אֹתִ֔י מֵעוֹדִ֖י עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃
16The Angel who has redeemed me from all harm—Bless the lads. In them may my name be recalled, And the names of my fathers Avraham and Yitzchak, And may they be teeming multitudes upon the earth.”
ha-mal-AKH ha-go-AYL o-TEE mi-kol RA y'-va-RAYKH et ha-n'-a-REEM v'-yi-ka-RAY va-HEM sh'-MEE v'-SHAYM a-vo-TAI av-ra-HAM v'-yitz-KHAK v'-yid-GU la-ROV b'-KE-rev ha-A-retz
טזהַמַּלְאָךְ֩ הַגֹּאֵ֨ל אֹתִ֜י מִכׇּל־רָ֗ע יְבָרֵךְ֮ אֶת־הַנְּעָרִים֒ וְיִקָּרֵ֤א בָהֶם֙ שְׁמִ֔י וְשֵׁ֥ם אֲבֹתַ֖י אַבְרָהָ֣ם וְיִצְחָ֑ק וְיִדְגּ֥וּ לָרֹ֖ב בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃
48:16 May my name be recalled
The Hebrew word for ‘name’ is shem (שם). The great master of the Hebrew language, Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, explains that the word shem is related to the word sham (שם), meaning ‘there.’ Rabbi Hirsch explains that by naming and defining something, one puts it in its proper ‘place.’ Here, Yaakov blesses his grandsons Efraim and Menashe, by placing their ancestors’ names upon them, thereby establishing their ‘place’ within the spiritual legacy of their forbears.
17When Yosef saw that his father was placing his right hand on Efraim's head, he thought it wrong; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Efraim's head to Menashe's.
vai-YAR yo-SEF kee-ya-SHEET a-VEEV yad-y'-mee-NO al-ROSH ef-RA-yim vai-YE-ra b'-ay-NAV vai-yit-MOKH yad-a-VEEV l'-ha-SEER o-TAH may-AL RO-sh ef-RA-yim al-ROSH m'-na-SHEH
יזוַיַּ֣רְא יוֹסֵ֗ף כִּי־יָשִׁ֨ית אָבִ֧יו יַד־יְמִינ֛וֹ עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ אֶפְרַ֖יִם וַיֵּ֣רַע בְּעֵינָ֑יו וַיִּתְמֹ֣ךְ יַד־אָבִ֗יו לְהָסִ֥יר אֹתָ֛הּ מֵעַ֥ל רֹאשׁ־אֶפְרַ֖יִם עַל־רֹ֥אשׁ מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃
18“Not so, Father,” Yosef said to his father, “for the other is the first-born; place your right hand on his head.”
vai-YO-mer yo-SEF el a-VEEV lo-KHEN a-VEE, KEE-zeh ha-b'-KOR, SIM ye-mee-N'-KHA al ro-SHO
יחוַיֹּ֧אמֶר יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶל־אָבִ֖יו לֹא־כֵ֣ן אָבִ֑י כִּי־זֶ֣ה הַבְּכֹ֔ר שִׂ֥ים יְמִינְךָ֖ עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃
19But his father objected, saying, “I know, my son, I know. He too shall become a people, and he too shall be great. Yet his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall be plentiful enough for nations.”
vai-ma-EN a-VEEV va-YO-mer ya-DA-ti ve-NEE ya-DA-ti gam-HU yi-HEH l'-a-AM ve-gam-HU yi-G'-DAL ve-u-LAM a-KHEEV ha-ka-TON yi-G'-DAL mi-ME-nu ve-za-r'-O yi-HEH m'-LO-ha-go-YIM
יטוַיְמָאֵ֣ן אָבִ֗יו וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ יָדַ֤עְתִּֽי בְנִי֙ יָדַ֔עְתִּי גַּם־ה֥וּא יִֽהְיֶה־לְּעָ֖ם וְגַם־ה֣וּא יִגְדָּ֑ל וְאוּלָ֗ם אָחִ֤יו הַקָּטֹן֙ יִגְדַּ֣ל מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְזַרְע֖וֹ יִהְיֶ֥ה מְלֹֽא־הַגּוֹיִֽם׃
20So he blessed them that day, saying, “By you shall Yisrael invoke blessings, saying: Hashem make you like Efraim and Menashe.” Thus he put Efraim before Menashe.
vai-VA-r'-KHAYM ba-YOM ha-HU lay-MOR b'-KHA y'-va-RAYKH yis-ra-AYL lay-MOR y'-sim-KHA e-lo-HEEM k'-ef-RA-yim v'-khim-na-SHEH va-YA-sem et ef-RA-yim lif-NAY m'-na-SHEH
כוַיְבָ֨רְכֵ֜ם בַּיּ֣וֹם הַהוּא֮ לֵאמוֹר֒ בְּךָ֗ יְבָרֵ֤ךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר יְשִֽׂמְךָ֣ אֱלֹהִ֔ים כְּאֶפְרַ֖יִם וְכִמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־אֶפְרַ֖יִם לִפְנֵ֥י מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃
48:20 By you shall Yisrael invoke blessings

Rabbi Shlomo Riskin (b. 1940)
As dictated by this verse, to this day Jewish parents bless their sons each Shabbat with the words, “May Hashem make you like Efraim and Menashe.” Out of all the biblical heroes possible to emulate, what is special about Efraim and Menashe? Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, Chief Rabbi of Efrat, explains that the two sons of Yosef play a very significant role in the formation of the Jewish people. They are the first of Avraham’s family to be born in Egypt, yet despite their physical disconnection from Eretz Yisrael, they remain loyal to the traditions of their ancestors. Efraim and Menashe, therefore, represent a key to the survival of the Jewish people and their return to Israel in the future. For this reason, they are chosen as special role models for the Children of Israel.
21Then Yisrael said to Yosef, “I am about to die; but Hashem will be with you and bring you back to the land of your fathers.
vai-YO-mer yis-ra-AYL el yo-SEF, hi-NEH a-NO-khi MAYT, v'-ha-YAH e-lo-HEEM i-ma-KHEM, v'-he-SHEEV et-KHEM el e-RETZ a-vo-TAY-khem
כאוַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף הִנֵּ֥ה אָנֹכִ֖י מֵ֑ת וְהָיָ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ עִמָּכֶ֔ם וְהֵשִׁ֣יב אֶתְכֶ֔ם אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ אֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃
22And now, I assign to you one portion more than to your brothers, which I wrested from the Amorites with my sword and bow.”
va-a-NEE na-TA-tee l'-KHA she-KHEM a-KHAD al a-KHE-kha, a-SHER la-KAKH-tee mi-YAD ha-e-mo-REE b'-KHA-ree-VE u-v'-KAH-shee.
כבוַאֲנִ֞י נָתַ֧תִּֽי לְךָ֛ שְׁכֶ֥ם אַחַ֖ד עַל־אַחֶ֑יךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר לָקַ֙חְתִּי֙ מִיַּ֣ד הָֽאֱמֹרִ֔י בְּחַרְבִּ֖י וּבְקַשְׁתִּֽי׃