And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 48:5? 2. How does Genesis 48:5 illustrate the importance of family blessings in Scripture? 3. Why does Jacob adopt Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons here? 4. How can we apply Jacob's act of blessing to our family traditions today? 5. What does Jacob's blessing reveal about God's promises to Abraham's descendants? 6. How does Genesis 48:5 connect to God's covenantal faithfulness throughout the Bible? 7. Why does Jacob adopt Ephraim and Manasseh as his own in Genesis 48:5? 8. How does Genesis 48:5 affect the inheritance rights of Ephraim and Manasseh? 9. What is the significance of Jacob's adoption of Joseph's sons in Genesis 48:5? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 48? 11. Genesis 48:5 – Why does Jacob adopt Joseph’s sons as his own, and does this practice have any verifiable historical precedent? 12. Genesis 48 - How does the inclusion of Ephraim and Manasseh as tribes align with the tribal lists elsewhere in the Bible, and does it create any contradictions? 13. Ecclesiastes 4:7–8 emphasizes the vanity in labor for one without an heir—does this conflict with the Bible’s call to stewardship and fruitful living? 14. In Genesis 49:22–26, Joseph receives extraordinary blessings, yet historical records of his descendants (Ephraim and Manasseh) show decline—can this be viewed as a failed prophecy? Discussion Questions 1. How does Jacob's adoption of Ephraim and Manasseh reflect God's adoption of believers into His family? Consider Romans 8:15-17 in your response.2. In what ways can we, like Jacob, speak blessings over our families today? Reflect on the power of words in Proverbs 18:21. 3. How does the account of Ephraim and Manasseh challenge traditional views of inheritance and blessing? Consider how God often works outside human expectations. 4. What can we learn from Jacob's faith in God's promises, even as he neared the end of his life? Reflect on Hebrews 11:21. 5. How does the inclusion of Ephraim and Manasseh in the tribes of Israel demonstrate God's faithfulness to His promises? Consider the broader account of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.1. What significance does Jacob's blessing hold for Ephraim and Manasseh? How would you interpret this in today's context? 2. How does Jacob's reminiscing about Rachel affect the understanding of his family ties? 3. How do you understand the symbolism of Jacob crossing his hands while blessing Ephraim and Manasseh? 4. What does Jacob's prophecy about Ephraim and Manasseh suggest about divine plans and human expectations? 5. How does Jacob's assurance of God's guidance comfort Joseph? How can this be applied in today's life during times of loss? 6. What does Jacob's passing teach about legacies and death? 7. How does the narrative portray the dynamics between Joseph and his father, Jacob? 8. How does the patriarchal blessing relate to the modern practice of writing a will? 9. Why does Jacob emphasize Ephraim's greatness over Manasseh's, despite Manasseh being the firstborn? 10. What is the importance of inheritance in this context, and how does it reflect in contemporary society? 11. How does the divine promise influence Jacob's decisions and actions throughout his life? 12. How would you react if you were in Joseph's place, seeing your father bless the younger son more? 13. How does Jacob's faith in God's promise shape his actions towards his grandsons? 14. How do you think Joseph felt when Jacob claimed his sons as his own? 15. How does the narrative portray the values of faith, family, and legacy? 16. How can the narrative's themes of divine guidance and faith be applied to personal decision-making today? 17. How does this story redefine the norms of blessing and inheritance? 18. How does the narrative shape our understanding of God's providence? 19. How does Jacob's acceptance of his impending death inspire an understanding of life's impermanence? 20. What lessons on dealing with death and grieving can be learned from this narrative? Links Genesis 48:5 NIVGenesis 48:5 NLT Genesis 48:5 ESV Genesis 48:5 NASB Genesis 48:5 KJV Genesis 48:5 Commentaries Bible Hub |



