Genesis 45:2-12

2 And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.
3 And Joseph said to his brothers, 1"I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.
4 So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, 2whom you sold into Egypt.
5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, 3for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are 4yet five years in which there will be neither 5plowing nor harvest.
7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.
8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and 6ruler over all the land of Egypt.
9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry.
10 7You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.
11 8There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.'
12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is 9my mouth that speaks to you.

Genesis 45:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 45

This chapter contains an account of Joseph's making himself known to his brethren, which was done when they were alone, Ge 45:1-4; when he encouraged them not to distress themselves on account of their selling him into Egypt, for God in his providence had sent him there for their good, Ge 45:5-8; and he ordered them to go forthwith to Canaan, and acquaint his father with all the honour and glory they saw him in, and to desire him to come thither to him, where he should be provided for during the five years of famine yet to come, in the best part of the land of Egypt, Ge 45:9-13; upon which he expressed the strongest affection to Benjamin, and to all his brethren, Ge 45:14,15; the fame of this was soon spread in the house of Pharaoh, which gave the king great pleasure, who immediately expressed his earnest desire that his father might come and settle in Egypt, and ordered provisions to be sent him, and carriages to bring him down, and all that belonged to him, Ge 45:16-20; and Joseph accordingly delivered to his brethren wagons and provisions for the way, and gave gifts to them, and sent a present to his father, and dismissed his brethren with an exhortation not to fall out by the way, Ge 45:21-24; and when they came to Canaan, they acquainted their father with all these things, who at first could not believe them; but when he saw the wagons, his spirit revived, and determined to go and see his son, Ge 45:25-28.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Acts 7:13
  • 2. Genesis 37:28
  • 3. Genesis 50:20; Psalms 105:16, 17
  • 4. Genesis 41:30
  • 5. Exodus 34:21; Deuteronomy 21:4; 1 Samuel 8:12; [Isaiah 30:24]
  • 6. ver. 26; Genesis 41:43
  • 7. Genesis 46:34; Genesis 47:1, 4, 6, 27; Genesis 50:8; Exodus 8:22; [Genesis 47:11; Joshua 10:41]
  • 8. Genesis 47:12; Genesis 50:21
  • 9. [Genesis 42:23]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.