Genesis — Chapter 45
Loading ESV text...
1Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
2And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
4And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
6For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
7And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
9Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:
10And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:
11And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.
12And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.
13And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.
14And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
15Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
16And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
17And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
18And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.
19Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
20Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
21And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
22To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
23And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.
24So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
25And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,
26And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.
27And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
28And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
1Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood before him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
2And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
4And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5And now be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
6For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest.
7And God sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
8So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
9Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not;
10and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children`s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:
11and there will I nourish thee; for there are yet five years of famine; lest thou come to poverty, thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast.
12And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.
13And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen: and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.
14And he fell upon his brother Benjamin`s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
15And he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
16And the report thereof was heard in Pharaoh`s house, saying, Joseph`s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
17And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye: lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
18and take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.
19Now thou art commanded, this do ye: take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
20Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
21And the sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
22To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
23And to his father he sent after this manner: ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.
24So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
25And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father.
26And they told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt. And his heart fainted, for he believed them not.
27And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
28and Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
1Joseph was no longer able to control himself before all his attendants, so he cried out, “Make everyone go out from my presence!” No one remained with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.
2He wept loudly; the Egyptians heard it and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” His brothers could not answer him because they were dumbfounded before him.
4Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” so they came near. Then he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
5Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life!
6For these past two years there has been famine in the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.
7God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
8So now, it is not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me an adviser to Pharaoh, lord over all his household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
9Now go up to my father quickly and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not delay!
10You will live in the land of Goshen, and you will be near me—you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everything you have.
11I will provide you with food there because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise you would become poor—you, your household, and everyone who belongs to you.”’
12You and my brother Benjamin can certainly see with your own eyes that I really am the one who speaks to you.
13So tell my father about all my honor in Egypt and about everything you have seen. But bring my father down here quickly!”
14Then he threw himself on the neck of his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
15He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After this his brothers talked with him.
16Now it was reported in the household of Pharaoh, “Joseph’s brothers have arrived.” It pleased Pharaoh and his servants.
17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Say to your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and go to the land of Canaan!
18Get your father and your households and come to me! Then I will give you the best land in Egypt and you will eat the best of the land.’
19You are also commanded to say, ‘Do this: Take for yourselves wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives. Bring your father and come.
20Don’t worry about your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt will be yours.’”
21So the sons of Israel did as he said. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he gave them provisions for the journey.
22He gave sets of clothes to each one of them, but to Benjamin he gave 300 pieces of silver and five sets of clothes.
23To his father he sent the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best products of Egypt and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, food, and provisions for his father’s journey.
24Then he sent his brothers on their way and they left. He said to them, “As you travel don’t be overcome with fear.”
25So they went up from Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.
26They told him, “Joseph is still alive and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them.
27But when they related to him everything Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to transport him, their father Jacob’s spirit revived.
28Then Israel said, “Enough! My son Joseph is still alive! I will go and see him before I die.”
1Then Joseph couldn’t control himself before all those who stood before him, and he cried, “Cause everyone to go out from me!” No one else stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
2He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Does my father still live?” His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.
4Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” They came near. “He said, I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
5Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
6For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be no plowing and no harvest.
7God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
8So now it wasn’t you who sent me here, but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
9Hurry, and go up to my father, and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me. Don’t wait.
10You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.
11There I will nourish you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your household, and all that you have.”’
12Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
13You shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. You shall hurry and bring my father down here.”
14He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
15He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him.
16The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this. Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan.
18Take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’
19Now you are commanded: do this. Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
20Also, don’t concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”
21The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
22He gave each one of them changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing.
23He sent the following to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.
24So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “See that you don’t quarrel on the way.”
25They went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father.
26They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” His heart fainted, for he didn’t believe them.
27They told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them. When he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob, their father, revived.
28Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
Summary
Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, weeping, and declares that God sent him ahead to preserve life; he invites all of Jacob's family to Egypt.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Goshen (v.10) — the eastern Nile Delta region, fertile grazing land ideal for shepherds. Joseph tells his family to settle here — close to him yet separate from mainstream Egyptian culture.
- The journey from Canaan to Egypt — Joseph provides wagons (v.19) for the return trip, emphasizing the distance and difficulty of relocating an entire family with elderly Jacob.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes Joseph's theology of providence (vv.5-8) as a model for how believers should view suffering — God's purpose behind human evil.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "Joseph Made Known to His Brethren" (MTP Vol. 18, No. 1048) "I am Joseph — three words that shook the world of those eleven men. Three words that turned terror into joy, guilt into grace, famine into feast. And one day, the greater Joseph — the Lord Jesus Christ — shall make Himself known to His brethren according to the flesh. Israel shall look upon Him whom they pierced, and they shall mourn (Zechariah 12:10). And He shall say, as Joseph said, 'Be not grieved — for God did send me.' The cross was not man's victory over God but God's victory through man's sin. 'It was not you that sent me hither, but God.'"
Reflection
- 1. "It was not you that sent me hither, but God" (v.8). Joseph sees God's hand in his suffering. Can you look back at painful seasons and see God's purpose? This doesn't minimize the sin done to you — it magnifies God's sovereignty over it.
- 2. "Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves" (v.5). Joseph releases his brothers from guilt. Is there someone you need to release? Forgiveness doesn't deny the wrong — it refuses to hold it against them.
- 3. "See that ye fall not out by the way" (v.24). Forgiven people shouldn't quarrel about who was most guilty. In your family, your church — do you let past guilt fuel present conflict?
- 4. "The spirit of Jacob their father revived" (v.27). Good news brings life. The gospel — "Jesus is alive" — revives dead spirits. Have you experienced this revival? Are you sharing news that brings life to others?
- 5. "It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive" (v.28). After 22 years of grief, Jacob receives his son back. God's timing is not our timing — but His faithfulness endures. What are you still waiting for? Don't give up.