וְעֵינֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ כָּבְד֣וּ מִזֹּ֔קֶן לֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִרְא֑וֹת וַיַּגֵּ֤שׁ אֹתָם֙ אֵלָ֔יו וַיִּשַּׁ֥ק לָהֶ֖ם וַיְחַבֵּ֥ק לָהֶֽם׃

And the eyes of Israel were heavy with age. At that time there was no way to cure the degeneration of vision in old age. Once one’s vision became cloudy, one could distinguish only between light and darkness. Therefore, he was unable to see anything other than shadows. He, Joseph, had them approach him and he, Jacob, kissed them, and he embraced them.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף רְאֹ֥ה פָנֶ֖יךָ לֹ֣א פִלָּ֑לְתִּי וְהִנֵּ֨ה הֶרְאָ֥ה אֹתִ֛י אֱלֹהִ֖ים גַּ֥ם אֶת־זַרְעֶֽךָ׃

Israel said to Joseph: I did not expect to see your face after so many years, as I did not believe it was possible, and behold, not only has this occurred, but God has shown me your offspring as well. Before bestowing his blessing, Jacob strengthens himself through this expression of amazement and praise.

וַיּוֹצֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף אֹתָ֖ם מֵעִ֣ם בִּרְכָּ֑יו וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ לְאַפָּ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃

Manasseh and Ephraim, who were still young at the time, had been standing between Joseph’s knees. Joseph took them out from between his knees, and he prostrated himself on his face to the earth. Joseph bowed not to Jacob, but to God, in preparation for the upcoming revelation.

וַיִּקַּ֣ח יוֹסֵף֮ אֶת־שְׁנֵיהֶם֒ אֶת־אֶפְרַ֤יִם בִּֽימִינוֹ֙ מִשְּׂמֹ֣אל יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְאֶת־מְנַשֶּׁ֥ה בִשְׂמֹאל֖וֹ מִימִ֣ין יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיַּגֵּ֖שׁ אֵלָֽיו׃

Joseph took the two of them: He brought Ephraim, his younger son, in his right hand, so that he would be to the left of Israel, who was opposite him, with the younger son on his father’s left side, in the customary manner. And he took Manasseh, his older son, in his left hand, to the right of Israel, and he had them approach him.

וַיִּשְׁלַח֩ יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל אֶת־יְמִינ֜וֹ וַיָּ֨שֶׁת עַל־רֹ֤אשׁ אֶפְרַ֙יִם֙ וְה֣וּא הַצָּעִ֔יר וְאֶת־שְׂמֹאל֖וֹ עַל־רֹ֣אשׁ מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה שִׂכֵּל֙ אֶת־יָדָ֔יו כִּ֥י מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה הַבְּכֽוֹר׃

Contrary to Joseph’s expectation that Jacob would extend his hands directly across onto his sons’ heads, Israel extended his right hand, which was opposite Manasseh, and laid it upon the head of Ephraim, who was the younger brother, and his left hand he extended upon the head of Manasseh, deliberately placing his hands , as he was aware that Manasseh was the firstborn . Alternatively, the verse means: Although Manasseh was the firstborn.

וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הָֽאֱלֹהִ֡ים אֲשֶׁר֩ הִתְהַלְּכ֨וּ אֲבֹתַ֤י לְפָנָיו֙ אַבְרָהָ֣ם וְיִצְחָ֔ק הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙ הָרֹעֶ֣ה אֹתִ֔י מֵעוֹדִ֖י עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

He, Jacob, blessed Joseph and said: The God before whom my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, walked, the God who shepherds, directs, me from my beginnings until this day. Although the blessing was bestowed upon Joseph’s children, a blessing given to children is also automatically a blessing for their father as well.

הַמַּלְאָךְ֩ הַגֹּאֵ֨ל אֹתִ֜י מִכָּל־רָ֗ע יְבָרֵךְ֮ אֶת־הַנְּעָרִים֒ וְיִקָּרֵ֤א בָהֶם֙ שְׁמִ֔י וְשֵׁ֥ם אֲבֹתַ֖י אַבְרָהָ֣ם וְיִצְחָ֑ק וְיִדְגּ֥וּ לָרֹ֖ב בְּקֶ֥רֶב הָאָֽרֶץ׃

May the angel, a messenger of God, who delivers me from all evil and who has protected me until now, bless the lads, as the representative of God, its sender. And the first blessing is: Let my name and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, be called upon them, these two children, as well. Having previously adopted them as his own sons, Jacob adds that they shall continue his and his forebears’ legacy. Just as God guided Jacob and his fathers throughout their lives, so too He will lead his grandchildren. The second blessing is: May they proliferate like fish in the midst of the earth .