And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.
Joseph lived to see his great-grandchildren through Ephraim, and he also got to hold and raise the children of Machir, who was Manasseh's son.
This verse shows that Joseph was blessed to live long enough to see multiple generations of his family and to personally care for his great-grandchildren.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Genesis, this verse occurs at the end of Joseph's life in Egypt, where he had become a powerful leader after being sold into slavery by his brothers and later saving his family from famine. It highlights Joseph's blessing of living to see his great-grandchildren, including the third generation of his son Ephraim and the children of Machir from his son Manasseh's line, which underscores God's promise of multiplying Abraham's descendants. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, witnessing multiple generations was seen as a sign of divine favor and the fulfillment of God's covenant.
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