Genesis 48

Genesis 48 read aloud, in a fresh direct translation from the Hebrew — plain modern English, nothing added. Translator's notes: • Genesis 48:3 — אֵל שַׁדַּי (El Shaddai): chose "El Shaddai". Alternatives: traditionally "God Almighty". Why: Shaddai is of uncertain meaning, traditionally rendered "Almighty"; the compound name is kept together and glossed here at its first occurrence in this chapter. • Genesis 48:14 — שִׂכֵּל (sikkel): chose "crossed". Alternatives: "acted prudently with"; "made his hands act wisely". Why: the form is rare; the visible act in the scene is that the hands are deliberately placed crosswise. • Genesis 48:22 — שְׁכֶם אַחַד (shekhem achad): chose "one portion more". Alternatives: "Shechem, one (place)"; "one shoulder/ridge more". Why: the word is also the place name Shechem, and the sentence plays on it; the portion sense is what the comparison with his brothers requires.