Genesis 45:5-8

5 And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

6 For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping.

7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.^[a]

8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.

Genesis 45:5-8 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

• 1. Genesis 42:21
• 2. Genesis 42:22
• 3. ver 7-8; Genesis 50:20; Job 10:12; Psalms 105:17
• 4. S Genesis 41:30
• 5. 2Ki 19:4,30,31; Ezra 9:8,13; Isaiah 1:9; Isaiah 10:20,21; Isaiah 11:11,16; Isaiah 46:3; Jeremiah 6:9; Jeremiah 42:2; Jeremiah 50:20; Micah 4:7; Micah 5:7; Zephaniah 2:7
• 6. S ver 5; Genesis 49:18; Exodus 15:2; 1 Samuel 14:45; 2 Kings 13:5; Esther 4:14; Isaiah 25:9; Micah 7:7
• 7. ver 5
• 8. Judges 17:10; 2 Kings 6:21; 2 Kings 13:14
• 9. S Genesis 41:41

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "save you as a great band of survivors"