THEOSISJohn Chrysostom
Observe how he instructed the children, above all, to show due respect to the elders.
Genesis 48:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers
And when Joseph had taken them from his father's lap, he bowed down with his face to the ground.
וַיּוֹצֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף אֹתָ֖ם מֵעִ֣ם בִּרְכָּ֑יו וַיִּשְׁתַּ֥חוּ לְאַפָּ֖יו אָֽרְצָה׃
The Church Fathers on this verse
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Philaret of Moscow (Drosdow)
And his offspring humbled themselves. This interpretation is supported by the Samaritan, Greek, and Syrian manuscripts. The current version of the Hebrew text, which states "and he bowed down," does not align as coherently with the sequence of events described.
Cross references
Passages read together with this verse.
- Gen 42:6And Joseph was governor in the land of Egypt, and corn was sold by his direction to the people. And when his brethren had bowed down to him,
- Eph 6:1Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is just.
- Lev 19:3Let every one fear his father, and his mother. Keep my sabbaths. I am the Lord your God.
- Ex 20:12Honour thy father and thy mother, that thou mayst be longlived upon the land which the Lord thy God will give thee.
- Gen 23:7Abraham rose up, and bowed down to the people of the land, to wit, the children of Heth:
- Gen 18:2And when he had lifted up his eyes, there appeared to him three men standing near to him: and as soon as he saw them, he ran to meet them from the door of his tent, and adored down to the ground.
- Prov 31:28Her children rose up, and called her blessed: her husband, and he praised her.
- Gen 33:3And he went forward and bowed down with his face to the ground seven times, until his brother came near.