Verses 17-20 appear to be a continuation of verses 13-14. If this is so, it makes verses 15-16 appear to be a later insertion. Although the blessing has been spoken, the text as we now have it shows Joseph attempting to correct the blessing by putting Jacob’s right hand on Manasseh, the firstborn son. Translators may find it necessary to make an adjustment in the first clause of verse 17 by saying, for example, “Before Jacob began the blessing, Joseph had noticed that his father had laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim.”

When Joseph saw … it displeased him: the first part of this verse is made up of a reason followed by a result. The right hand side is the position of importance and is associated here with the greater blessing. It displeased him is literally “it was evil in his eyes.” This idiomatic expression was first used in 21.11, where Abraham reacted with displeasure at Sarah’s demand that Abraham get rid of Hagar and Ishmael.

Translators may find it best to switch the order of reason followed by result in the first part of this verse, so that Joseph’s action which follows links up directly with the reason clause. See Good News Translation for a model.

He took his father’s hand, to remove it: the picture here is of Joseph taking hold of Jacob’s hand, or as Anchor Bible says, “grasped his father’s hand.” Joseph attempts to remove Jacob’s right hand, which is resting on the head of Ephraim, and place it upon the head of Manasseh. However, he does not remove Jacob’s hand because Jacob resists. Translations express this situation in a number of ways; for example, “he grabbed his father’s hand to put his right hand on Manasseh’s head,” “he lifted his father’s hand to move it across from … to…,” “… so he took hold of his father’s right hand, and he wanted to put it on….”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .