Who was Manasseh in the Bible?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

There are two men in the Bible named Manasseh. One was a son of Joseph and a head of one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the other was King Manasseh of Judah, the son of King Hezekiah. There is another article on King Manasseh, so this one is about the son of Joseph. Joseph's son Manasseh, named "cause to forget," was born during a time of abundance in Egypt. His birth brought immense joy to Joseph, overshadowing the difficulties he had faced. Despite being born in a foreign land, Manasseh and his brother Ephraim were fully embraced as part of the family of Israel and counted among the tribes of Israel. Manasseh's story expresses the ability to find happiness despite past hardships. His life emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and moving forward.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Jacob, also called Israel, had twelve sons, of whom the most beloved was Joseph. Out of spite, Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery, whereby he ended up in Egypt (Genesis 37). By God's providence, Joseph rose from slavery to second in command (Genesis 39–41). Upon reaching this position of power and prestige, Joseph married the daughter of an Egyptian priest (Genesis 41:45). During a time of abundance over the next seven years, she bore Joseph two sons (Genesis 41:50).
• Joseph named the first son Manasseh, which means "cause to forget" because, he explained, "God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's house" (Genesis 41:51). The birth of Manasseh was a joyful event that made the difficulties Joseph had faced pale in comparison to the happiness of welcoming his firstborn son.
• Joseph saw the birth of his sons as a blessing from God. Years later, when he presented those sons to his father, Jacob, Joseph said, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here" (Genesis 48:9). Thus, Manasseh was Joseph's oldest son who brought him joy and was a sign of God's goodness and blessing in Joseph's life.
• When Jacob's life neared its end and it was time to pronounce a final blessing over his twelve sons, Jacob chose to count his grandsons, Manasseh and Ephraim, as his own, thereby giving their father Joseph a double inheritance. Jacob said, "And now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you in Egypt, are mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, as Reuben and Simeon are" (Genesis 48:5). In this way, Manasseh and Ephraim each became the head of a tribe of Israel.
• Technically, both tribes (Manasseh and Ephraim) are considered half-tribes because together, they replace their father's position (there is no tribe of Joseph).
• The Bible also talks about the half-tribe of Manasseh since half of the tribe settled east of the Jordan, and the other half settled across the Jordan (Joshua 13:7–8).
• During Jacob's final blessing, he gave the blessing of the firstborn to Ephraim even though Manasseh was the oldest. When Joseph protested, Jacob assured him, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations" (Genesis 48:19). Jacob pronounced that those two sons would be so blessed that others would think of them as an ideal and use the saying, "God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh" (Genesis 48:20). So, despite these boys being born in a foreign land to an Egyptian mother, they were counted as fully part of the family of Israel and were expected to become the two most blessed tribes of the nation.
• No other information about Manasseh, the individual, is given in the Bible, but his descendants did become a tribe who came out of Egypt and into the Promised Land with the rest of the people of Israel about four hundred years later.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Manasseh is mentioned in Jesus's genealogy in Matthew 1:10.
• The tribe of Manasseh is also counted in the tribes that make up the 144,000 in Revelation 7:6.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Manasseh's story shows us the power of forgiveness and letting go of past hurts. Despite Joseph's traumatic experiences, he chose to name his firstborn son Manasseh, meaning "cause to forget," signifying his willingness to move beyond the pain and embrace the blessings and joy that God had for his present and future. Similarly, in our own lives, we can choose to forgive those who have wronged us and focus on the blessings and opportunities that lie ahead, trusting in God's providence and goodness. This mindset of forgiveness and letting go can bring healing and open the door to greater blessings in our lives.

UNDERSTAND

• Manasseh's birth symbolized the end of Joseph's hardships and the beginning of joy.
• Despite Manasseh being the eldest, his younger brother Ephraim received the primary blessing, indicating a reversal of traditional inheritance.
• Manasseh received a blessing from Jacob, making him the head of a tribe of Israel even though he was a grandson and not a son.

REFLECT

• How does Manasseh's story resonate with your own experiences of overcoming hardship and finding joy?
• Manasseh's name means "cause to forget." What does “causing to forget” and moving forward look like in light of other biblical principles?
• What aspects of forgiveness and letting go do you find challenging in your own life?

ENGAGE

• What does Joseph's decision to name his firstborn son "Manasseh" signify about his emotional and spiritual journey?
• How did Manasseh's experience of being born in a foreign land and yet fully embraced as part of the family of Israel reflect the theme of belonging?
• How can we apply the lessons from Manasseh's story to our own lives, particularly in terms of forgiveness and moving forward from past hurts?