Genesis 45:4

4 En Jozef zeide tot zijn broederen: Nadert toch tot mij! En zij naderden. Toen zeide hij: Ik ben Jozef, uw broeder, dien gij naar Egypte verkocht hebt.

Genesis 45:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 45:4

And Joseph said unto his brethren, come near to me, I pray
you
Very probably Joseph sat in a chair of state while they were under examination, and through reverence of him they kept at a proper distance; or being frightened at what he had said, he might observe them drawing back, as Jarchi remarks, and so encourages them in a kind and tender manner to return and come nearer to him, and the rather, that they might more privately converse together without being overheard; as also that they might, by approaching him discern and call to mind some of his features still remaining, by which they might be assured he was Joseph indeed: and they came near, and he said, I [am] Joseph your brother;
not only his name was Joseph, but he was that Joseph that was their brother; he claims and owns the relation between them, which must be very affecting to them, who had used him so unkindly: whom ye sold into Egypt:
which is added, not so much to put them in mind of and upbraid them with their sin, but to assure them that he was really their brother Joseph; which he could not have related had he not been he, as well as to lead on to what he had further to say to them for their comfort.

Genesis 45:4 In-Context

2 En hij verhief zijn stem met wenen, zodat het de Egyptenaren hoorden, en dat het Farao's huis hoorde.

3 En Jozef zeide tot zijn broederen: Ik ben Jozef! leeft mijn vader nog? En zijn broeders konden hem niet antwoorden; want zij waren verschrikt voor zijn aangezicht.

4 En Jozef zeide tot zijn broederen: Nadert toch tot mij! En zij naderden. Toen zeide hij: Ik ben Jozef, uw broeder, dien gij naar Egypte verkocht hebt.

5 Maar nu, weest niet bekommerd, en de toorn ontsteke niet in uw ogen, omdat gij mij hierheen verkocht hebt; want God heeft mij voor uw aangezicht gezonden, tot behoudenis des levens.

6 Want het zijn nu twee jaren des hongers in het midden des lands; en er zijn nog vijf jaren, in welke geen ploeging noch oogst zijn zal.