6254. 'And I will bless them' means a foretelling regarding goodness and truth. This is clear from the meaning of 'blessing' as foretelling, as above in 6230, here a foretelling regarding goodness and truth, which are represented by 'Manasseh and Ephraim'. Being a very common word 'blessing' has various meanings. Included among them is the foretelling both of good things that are going to happen and also of bad ones, as is evident in the next chapter in which Israel foretold to his sons what was going to happen to them - bad things to some, such as Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, good ones to others, such as Judah and Joseph. That foretelling is called a blessing in verse 28 of that chapter,
This is what their father spoke to them; and he blessed them, each according to his blessing he blessed them.
It is also clear from the words contained in the first verse of the chapter that 'blessing' means a foretelling,
Jacob called his sons, and said, Gather together, and I will tell you what will happen to you at the end of days.
This page is part of 
© 2000-2001 The Academy of the New Church