Definition: And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, [are] mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Genesis 48:5. It’s a really important passage about God's plan for Joseph! Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, God is giving Joseph a responsibility and a special position. Let's look at the parts: “And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh…” : This tells us that Joseph had two sons – Ephraim and Manasseh. These were his children. “…which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt.” : This is a bit tricky! It means Joseph was born in Egypt, before he was sent to Egypt by God. He’s saying he was raised there and understood things that were important. “[are] mine” : This is the key part! God is giving Joseph ownership of these two sons. What does it mean for them to be “mine”? This is a very significant statement. It means: He’s designating them as his possessions. God is choosing Joseph to be responsible for these two boys, and he's making them his . It establishes a lineage. The phrase "as Reuben and Simeon" refers to two specific brothers who were important figures in the story of Jacob (Israel’s father). These two sons are being given a special, powerful position within Joseph’s family line. So, it’s essentially God saying, “I’m going to use these two boys as an extension of my power and influence.” In short, the verse describes a divine arrangement where Joseph is entrusted with significant responsibility and becomes part of his family through his sons. --- Do you want me to: Explain the context of this verse in more detail? Give you some historical background about Joseph’s life before he was sent to Egypt?