Genesis 48:15

Authorized King James Version

And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ
And he blessed
to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as
#2
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#3
יוֹסֵ֖ף
Joseph
joseph, the name of seven israelites
#4
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר
and said
to say (used with great latitude)
#5
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙
God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#6
אֲשֶׁר֩
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#7
הִתְהַלְּכ֨וּ
did walk
to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
#8
אֲבֹתַ֤י
H1
whom my fathers
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#9
לְפָנָיו֙
before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#10
אַבְרָהָ֣ם
H85
Abraham
abraham, the later name of abram
#11
וְיִצְחָ֔ק
and Isaac
jitschak (or isaac), son of abraham
#12
הָֽאֱלֹהִים֙
God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#13
הָֽרֹעֶ֣ה
which fed
to tend a flock; i.e., pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a frie
#14
אֹתִ֔י
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#15
מֵֽעוֹדִ֖י
me all my life long
properly, iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more
#16
עַד
as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)
#17
הַיּ֥וֹם
unto this day
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
#18
הַזֶּֽה׃
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

Analysis

The creation and providence theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing life contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of ancient Near Eastern narrative literature addressing origins and identity shapes this text's meaning. The development from creation to divine election established God's sovereign care over history Understanding a worldview where divine beings actively governed natural and historical processes helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes life in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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