Genesis 45:16

16 And it was heard, and published by famous word in the king's hall, (saying,) The brethren of Joseph be come. And Pharaoh joyed, and all his house (And Pharaoh and all of his household were glad);

Genesis 45:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 45:16

And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house
The report was carried to court, and there it was told by some from Joseph's house, who had overheard what had passed, at least somewhat of it:

saying, Joseph's brethren are come;
perhaps they might call him by his Egyptian name, though the historian gives him his Hebrew name, and which was his right name, and by which he was best known to the Hebrews, for whose sake chiefly he wrote:

and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants;
for Joseph being greatly beloved both by the king and his courtiers, who are meant by his servants, they were glad of an opportunity of showing their further regard to him, by their respect and civilities to his relations and friends, who had been the means of providing for the welfare of the whole kingdom, and of saving all their lives; Pharaoh's expressions of pleasure on this occasion were, no doubt sincere, whatever were those of his courtiers; who might not so well affect a stranger, and one that had been in a very low estate of life, to be raised above them, and have so much trust reposed is him, and honour conferred upon him, and might dissemble in their respect to Joseph before their sovereign; though such might be the prudence and affability of Joseph, and such the sense they had of their obligations to him in point of gratitude, that they might be really pleased to hear that his brethren were come; and the rather Pharaoh and his court might be the more delighted, because that it appeared that he came of a good family in Canaan; whereas they knew no more of him than of his having been a slave in Potiphar's house, and then cast into a prison for a crime charged upon him, out of which he was taken, and made the great man he was.

Genesis 45:16 In-Context

14 And when he had embraced, and felled into the neck of Benjamin, his brother, he wept, the while also Benjamin wept in like manner on the neck of Joseph. (And he embraced his brother, and fell on Benjamin's neck, and he wept, and Benjamin also wept in like manner upon Joseph's neck.)
15 And Joseph kissed all his brethren, and wept on them all (and wept over them all); after which things they were hardy to speak to him.
16 And it was heard, and published by famous word in the king's hall, (saying,) The brethren of Joseph be come. And Pharaoh joyed, and all his house (And Pharaoh and all of his household were glad);
17 and Pharaoh said to Joseph, that he should command his brethren, and say to them, Charge ye your beasts, and go ye into the land of Canaan, (and Pharaoh said to Joseph, Say to your brothers, Load ye up your beasts, and go to the land of Canaan,)
18 and take ye from thence your father, and your kindred, and come ye (back) to me; and I shall give you all the goods of Egypt, that ye eat the marrow of the land (and I shall give to you all the good things of Egypt, and ye shall eat the marrow of the land).
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.