Genesis 41:51
New International Version
Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”

New Living Translation
Joseph named his older son Manasseh, for he said, “God has made me forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.”

English Standard Version
Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh. “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”

Berean Standard Bible
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”

King James Bible
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.

New King James Version
Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house.”

New American Standard Bible
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh; “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all of my father’s household.”

NASB 1995
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”

NASB 1977
And Joseph named the first-born Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.”

Amplified Bible
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh (causing to forget), for he said, “God has made me forget all my trouble and hardship and all [the sorrow of the loss of] my father’s household.”

Christian Standard Bible
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh and said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and my whole family.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, meaning, “God has made me forget all my hardship in my father’s house.”

American Standard Version
And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh: For, said he, God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.

Contemporary English Version
Their first son was named Manasseh, which means, "God has let me forget all my troubles and my family back home."

English Revised Version
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For, said he, God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Joseph named his firstborn son Manasseh [He Helps Me Forget], because God helped him forget all his troubles and all about his father's family.

Good News Translation
He said, "God has made me forget all my sufferings and all my father's family"; so he named his first son Manasseh.

International Standard Version
Joseph named his firstborn son Manasseh because, he said, "God has made me forget all of my hard life and my father's house."

Majority Standard Bible
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.”

NET Bible
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, "Certainly God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's house."

New Heart English Bible
Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.

World English Bible
Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, “For”, he said, “God has made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Joseph calls the name of the firstborn Manasseh: “For God has made me to forget all my labor, and all the house of my father”;

Young's Literal Translation
and Joseph calleth the name of the first-born Manasseh: 'for, God hath made me to forget all my labour, and all the house of my father;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joseph will call the name of the first-born, Manasseh; for God made me forget all my toils and all my father's house.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he called the name of the first born Manasses, saying: God hath made me to forget all my labours, and my father's house.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he called the name of the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has caused me to forget all my labors and the house of my father.”

New American Bible
Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh, meaning, “God has made me forget entirely my troubles and my father’s house”;

New Revised Standard Version
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, “For,” he said, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joseph called the name of his first-born Manasseh; For God, said he, has made me forget all my troubles, and all my father's house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yoseph called the name of his firstborn son Manasheh, because, “God made me forget all my labor and all the house of my father.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh: 'for God hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joseph called the name of the first-born, Manasse; for God, said he, has made me forget all my toils, and all my father's house.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Seven Years of Plenty
50Before the years of famine arrived, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. 51Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s household.” 52And the second son he named Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.”…

Cross References
Genesis 37:5-11
Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. / He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: / We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to mine.” ...

Genesis 45:5-8
And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. / For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. / God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ...

Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.

Exodus 1:8-11
Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. / “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” ...

Psalm 105:16-22
He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food. / He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. / They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons, ...

Acts 7:9-10
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him / and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, / I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 43:18-19
“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old. / Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert.

2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!

Deuteronomy 26:5-10
and you are to declare before the LORD your God, “My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down to Egypt few in number and lived there and became a great nation, mighty and numerous. / But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor. / So we called out to the LORD, the God of our fathers; and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, toil, and oppression. ...

1 Samuel 1:20
So in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked for him from the LORD.”

1 Chronicles 4:9-10
Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” / And Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory! May Your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted the request of Jabez.

Job 42:10-12
After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his prosperity and doubled his former possessions. / All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. / So the LORD blessed Job’s latter days more than his first. He owned 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.

Psalm 30:11
You turned my mourning into dancing; You peeled off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,


Treasury of Scripture

And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, has made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.

called.

Genesis 48:5,13,14,18-20
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine…

Deuteronomy 33:17
His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

Manasseh.

Genesis 41:30
And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;

Psalm 45:10
Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;

Isaiah 57:16
For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

forget.

Psalm 30:5,11
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning…

Proverbs 31:7
Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

Isaiah 65:16
That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes.

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Father's First Firstborn First-Born Forget Hard Hardship House Household Joseph Labour Manasseh Manas'seh Memory Toil Trouble
Genesis 41
1. Pharaoh has two dreams.
9. Joseph interprets them.
33. He gives Pharaoh counsel, and is highly advanced, and married.
46. The seven years of plenty.
50. He begets children.
53. The famine begins.














Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh
The act of naming in the ancient Near Eastern context was deeply significant, often reflecting circumstances of birth or prophetic insights into the child's future. The name "Manasseh" comes from the Hebrew root "נשׁה" (nashah), meaning "to forget." Joseph's choice of this name is a profound declaration of his personal journey from suffering to redemption. It signifies a turning point, where the past pains are overshadowed by present blessings. In a broader theological sense, it reflects the biblical theme of God’s ability to transform suffering into joy, a theme that resonates throughout Scripture.

saying, 'God has made me forget
The phrase underscores the divine agency in Joseph's healing process. The Hebrew word for "God" here is "אֱלֹהִים" (Elohim), emphasizing God's power and sovereignty. Joseph acknowledges that it is not by his own strength but by God's intervention that he is able to move beyond his past. This reflects a deep trust in God's providence and a recognition of His hand in the orchestration of life events. It serves as an inspirational reminder that God is actively involved in the lives of His people, working behind the scenes to bring about His purposes.

all my hardship
The term "hardship" in Hebrew is "עָמָל" (amal), which conveys toil, labor, and suffering. Joseph's life was marked by significant trials, including betrayal by his brothers, slavery, and imprisonment. Yet, through these adversities, God was preparing him for a greater purpose. This phrase highlights the biblical principle that God can use even the most difficult circumstances for His glory and our good. It encourages believers to trust in God's plan, even when it is not immediately apparent.

and all my father’s household
This phrase refers to the emotional and relational pain Joseph experienced due to his separation from his family. The Hebrew word for "household" is "בֵּית" (beit), which can also mean "house" or "family." Joseph's estrangement from his family was a source of deep sorrow, yet God brought healing and reconciliation in His perfect timing. This part of the verse speaks to the power of forgiveness and restoration, themes central to the Christian faith. It reminds us that God is able to mend broken relationships and bring about reconciliation, just as He did in Joseph's life.

(51) Manasseh.--That is, causing to forget. Joseph has been blamed for forgetting "his father's house," but the phrase means that now that he was married and had a child, he ceased to suffer from home sickness, and became contented with his lot. He pined no longer for the open downs of Canaan as he had done in the prison; but his love for his father was as warm as ever.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Joseph
יוֹסֵ֛ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

named
וַיִּקְרָ֥א (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

the firstborn
הַבְּכ֖וֹר (hab·bə·ḵō·wr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1060: Firstborn, chief

Manasseh,
מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה (mə·naš·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4519: Manasseh -- 'causing to forget', a son of Joseph, also a king of Judah, also two Israelites

saying,
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

“God
אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

has made me forget
נַשַּׁ֤נִי (naš·ša·nî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 5382: To forget, to neglect, to remit, remove

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

my hardship
עֲמָלִ֔י (‘ă·mā·lî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5999: Toil, wearing effort, worry, wheth, of body, mind

and all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

my father’s
אָבִֽי׃ (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

household.”
בֵּ֥ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT Law: Genesis 41:51 Joseph called the name of the firstborn (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 41:50
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