Ephraim was the youngest son of Joseph and his Egyptian wife Asenath. Although he was younger than his brother Manasseh, he received the greater blessing from his grandfather Jacob. His descendants became one of the most powerful tribes in Israel and gave their name to the Northern Kingdom.
Ephraim was born in Egypt as Joseph's second son, before the seven years of famine began. Joseph named him Ephraim, which means 'fruitful', because God had made him fruitful in his land of affliction.
When Jacob was old and weak, he blessed Joseph's sons. Jacob deliberately crossed his hands and placed his right hand on the younger Ephraim's head, giving him the greater blessing over Manasseh.
13Joseph took them both, Ephraim on his right toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh on his left toward Israel's right hand, and brought them close to him.
14But Israel reached out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and crossing his hands, he laid his left hand on Manasseh's head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.
17When Joseph saw that his father was placing his right hand on Ephraim's head, he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's.
19But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will be great. Yet his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations."
20So he blessed them that day, saying: "By you Israel will pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" And so he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
Jacob prophesied that Ephraim's descendants would become greater than Manasseh's and grow into a multitude of nations. This prophecy was fulfilled when the tribe of Ephraim became dominant in the Northern Kingdom.
19But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He too will become a people, and he too will be great. Yet his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations."
20So he blessed them that day, saying: "By you Israel will pronounce this blessing: 'May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" And so he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.
Jacob declared that Ephraim and Manasseh should be counted as his own sons, on equal footing with Reuben and Simeon, and thus each receive a tribe in Israel.
5Now then, your two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came to you here—they are mine. Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are.