Genesis 45

Commentary

Joseph Reveals his Identity

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.

Joseph Sends for his Father

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.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

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.

The Revival of Jacob

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.

Joseph Reveals His Identity

1 Then 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. 2 He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 Joseph 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.

4 Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” They came near. “He said, I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance. 8 So 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.

Joseph Sends for His Father

9 Hurry, 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. 10 You 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. 11 There 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.”’ 12 Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 You 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.” 14 He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. 15 He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

16 The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. 17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this. Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan. 18 Take 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.’ 19 Now 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. 20 Also, don’t concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all of the land of Egypt is yours.”

21 The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. 22 He gave each one of them changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing. 23 He 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.

24 So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “See that you don’t quarrel on the way.”

The Revival of Jacob

25 They went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father. 26 They 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. 27 They 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. 28 Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”

Joseph Reveals His Identity

1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!”

So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.

3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?”

But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so.

“I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! 5 And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. 6 For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. 7 God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. a 8 Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph Sends for His Father

9 Now return quickly 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 without delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. 11 And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’

12 Behold! You and my brother Benjamin can see that I, Joseph, am the one speaking with you. 13 Tell my father about all my splendor in Egypt and everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”

14 Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced. 15 Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased.

17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan. 18 Then bring your father and your families and return to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat from the fat of the land.’ 19 You are also directed to tell them: ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives, and bring your father and come back. 20 But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’ ”

21 So the sons of Israel did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he also gave them provisions for their journey. 22 He gave new garments to each of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver b and five sets of clothes. 23 And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father’s journey.

24 Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!”

The Revival of Jacob

25 So the brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan. 26 “Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!”

But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them. 27 However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived.

28 “Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”

 

Footnotes:

7 a Or and to keep you alive as a great band of survivors
22 b 300 shekels  is approximately 7.5 pounds or 3.4 kilograms of silver.

Joseph Reveals his Identity

1And Joseph hath not been able to refrain himself before all those standing by him, and he calleth, 'Put out every man from me;' and no man hath stood with him when Joseph maketh himself known unto his brethren, 2and he giveth forth his voice in weeping, and the Egyptians hear, and the house of Pharaoh heareth. 3And Joseph saith unto his brethren, 'I am Joseph, is my father yet alive?' and his brethren have not been able to answer him, for they have been troubled at his presence.

4And Joseph saith unto his brethren, 'Come nigh unto me, I pray you,' and they come nigh; and he saith, 'I am Joseph, your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt; 5and now, be not grieved, nor let it be displeasing in your eyes that ye sold me hither, for to preserve life hath God sent me before you. 6Because these two years the famine is in the heart of the land, and yet are five years, in which there is neither ploughing nor harvest; 7and God sendeth me before you, to place of you a remnant in the land, and to give life to you by a great escape; 8and now, ye -- ye have not sent me hither, but God, and He doth set me for a father to Pharaoh, and for lord to all his house, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph Sends for his Father

9'Haste, and go up unto my father, then ye have said to him, Thus said Joseph thy son, God hath set me for lord to all Egypt; come down unto me, stay not, 10and thou hast dwelt in the land of Goshen, and been near unto me, thou and thy sons, and thy son's sons, and thy flock, and thy herd, and all that thou hast, 11and I have nourished thee there -- for yet are five years of famine -- lest thou become poor, thou and thy household, and all that thou hast. 12And lo, your eyes are seeing, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth which is speaking unto you; 13and ye have declared to my father all my honour in Egypt, and all that ye have seen, and ye have hasted, and have brought down my father hither.' 14And he falleth on the neck of Benjamin his brother, and weepeth, and Benjamin hath wept on his neck; 15and he kisseth all his brethren, and weepeth over them; and afterwards have his brethren spoken with him.

Pharaoh Invites Jacob to Egypt

16And the sound hath been heard in the house of Pharaoh, saying, 'Come have the brethren of Joseph;' and it is good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, 17and Pharaoh saith unto Joseph, 'Say unto thy brethren, This do ye: lade your beasts, and go, enter ye the land of Canaan, 18and take your father, and your households, and come unto me, and I give to you the good of the land of Egypt, and eat ye the fat of the land. 19'Yea, thou -- thou hast been commanded: this do ye, take for yourselves out of the land of Egypt, waggons for your infants, and for your wives, and ye have brought your father, and come; 20and your eye hath no pity on your vessels, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.'

21And the sons of Israel do so, and Joseph giveth waggons to them by the command of Pharaoh, and he giveth to them provision for the way; 22to all of them hath he given -- to each changes of garments, and to Benjamin he hath given three hundred silverlings, and five changes of garments; 23and to his father he hath sent thus: ten asses bearing of the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses bearing corn and bread, even food for his father for the way.

24And he sendeth his brethren away, and they go; and he saith unto them, 'Be not angry in the way.'

The Revival of Jacob

25And they go up out of Egypt, and come in to the land of Canaan, unto Jacob their father, 26and they declare to him, saying, 'Joseph is yet alive,' and that he is ruler over all the land of Egypt; and his heart ceaseth, for he hath not given credence to them. 27And they speak unto him all the words of Joseph, which he hath spoken unto them, and he seeth the waggons which Joseph hath sent to bear him away, and live doth the spirit of Jacob their father; 28and Israel saith, 'Enough! Joseph my son is yet alive; I go and see him before I die.'

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Genesis 45?
2Introduction to Genesis 45
3Context of Genesis 45
4Ancient Key Word Study
5Compare & Contrast
6Genesis 45 Unique Insights
7Genesis 45 Connections to Yeshua
8Genesis 45 Scriptural Echoes
9Genesis 45 Devotional
10Did You Know

What is the meaning of Genesis 45?

Introduction to Genesis 45

Genesis 45 marks one of the most emotionally charged and pivotal moments in Scripture – the dramatic revelation of Joseph to his brothers. This chapter represents the climactic turning point in the Joseph narrative, where years of separation, testing, and divine providence culminate in a powerful scene of reconciliation and redemption. The raw emotion of Joseph weeping so loudly that the Egyptians could hear him, combined with his brothers’ stunned silence, creates an unforgettable tableau that continues to move readers thousands of years later.

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Context of Genesis 45

The immediate context of Genesis 45 follows the intense dramatic tension built up in chapter 44, where Joseph’s silver cup was found in Benjamin’s sack, and Judah offered himself as a substitute slave to save his youngest brother. This sacrificial offer demonstrates the complete transformation of the brothers, particularly Judah, from their earlier betrayal of Joseph.

This chapter sits at the intersection of several major biblical themes: divine providence, forgiveness, reconciliation, and the preservation of God’s chosen people. It serves as the resolution to the Joseph narrative that began in Genesis 37, but more broadly, it advances the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The events here set the stage for Israel’s sojourn in Egypt, which would ultimately lead to the Exodus – a defining moment in Israel’s history that prefigures humanity’s redemption through the Messiah.

Ancient Key Word Study

  • וְלֹא-יָכֹל (v’lo-yakol) “Could not contain himself” – The Hebrew verb implies more than mere emotional difficulty; it suggests a divine compulsion, similar to how the prophet Jeremiah described God’s word as “fire shut up in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:9). This uncontainable emotion reflects both human vulnerability and divine purpose.
  • הִתְוַדַּע (hitvada) “Made himself known” – This reflexive verb form suggests an intentional self-revelation, echoing God’s self-revelation to His people. The same root is used in Exodus when God reveals Himself to Moses.
  • מְחָיָה (michyah) “Preservation of life” – This term carries the dual meaning of both physical sustenance and spiritual preservation. Joseph uses it to demonstrate God’s sovereign purpose in his suffering.
  • נִבְהָלוּ (nivhalu) “Dismayed/terrified” – The brothers’ reaction shows more than surprise; this word often describes the response to a divine theophany, suggesting they recognized God’s hand in the moment.
  • אַל-תֵּעָצְבוּ (al-te’atzvu) “Do not be distressed” – The root עצב (atzav) is the same used to describe the pain and toil resulting from the Fall in Genesis 3. Joseph is essentially saying “don’t carry this burden of guilt anymore.”
  • לִפְלֵיטָה גְדֹלָה (lifleytah gedolah) “Great deliverance” – This phrase anticipates the greater deliverance God would bring through the Exodus and ultimately through the Messiah.
  • לְאָדוֹן (l’adon) “Lord/master” – Joseph’s position as lord over Egypt prefigures the Messiah’s lordship, while maintaining humility under God’s ultimate authority.

Compare & Contrast

  • Verse 1: “Joseph could no longer control himself” contrasts with his previous careful self-control. The Hebrew וַיִּתְאַפַּק (vayitapak) “restrained himself” used earlier is replaced with וְלֹא-יָכֹל (v’lo-yakol), showing how divine timing supersedes human control.
  • Verse 4: “Come closer to me” echoes the invitation of God to His people, using the same Hebrew term קָרַב (qarav) found in temple worship contexts.
  • Verse 5: “God sent me” uses the verb שָׁלַח (shalach), the same term used for prophetic commissioning, emphasizing divine purpose over human agency.
  • Verse 7: “To preserve for you a remnant” employs שְׁאֵרִית (she’erit), a term laden with messianic implications in prophetic literature.
  • Verse 8: The triple repetition of “father” (אָב – av) to Pharaoh establishes Joseph’s authority while maintaining humility under God’s sovereignty.
  • Verse 14: The weeping between Joseph and Benjamin uses בָּכָה (bakah) repeatedly, emphasizing the depth of emotional healing taking place.
  • Verse 18: “The fat of the land” uses חֵלֶב (chelev), the same word used for the best portions reserved for sacrifice to God.

Genesis 45 Unique Insights

The rabbis note that this chapter contains exactly 85 Hebrew words in verses 1-4 before Joseph reveals his identity, corresponding to the 85 Hebrew letters in the priestly blessing of Numbers 6:24-26. This suggests that Joseph’s revelation to his brothers parallels God’s blessing and revelation to His people.

Early church father Ephrem the Syrian saw in Joseph’s invitation to his family to come to Egypt a prefigurement of the Messiah’s invitation to the nations to enter His kingdom. The provision of wagons (עֲגָלוֹת – agalot) is particularly significant, as these same Hebrew letters can spell “round things” or “circles,” suggesting the cyclical nature of God’s redemptive plan.

The Zohar observes that Joseph’s revelation occurs precisely at the midpoint of the lunar month, when the moon is full, symbolizing the fullness of God’s timing in revelation and reconciliation. This timing also foreshadows the future Exodus, which would begin at the full moon of Nissan.

Genesis 45 Connections to Yeshua

Joseph’s revelation to his brothers powerfully prefigures the Messiah’s revelation to Israel. Just as Joseph’s brothers did not recognize him in his exalted position until he chose to reveal himself, so too many of Jesus’ own people did not recognize Him in His first coming (John 1:11).

The pattern of suffering leading to glory seen in Joseph’s life directly parallels the Messiah’s path. Joseph’s statement “God sent me” echoes Jesus’ frequent assertions of His divine mission. Furthermore, Joseph’s role in preserving life (v.5) points to Jesus as the bread of life who preserves His people eternally (John 6:35).

Genesis 45 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous biblical passages:

Genesis 45 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to trust in God’s sovereign plan even when circumstances seem hopeless. Joseph’s perspective on his suffering – seeing God’s purpose rather than his brothers’ evil intentions – provides a powerful model for handling our own trials and relationships.

The reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers reminds us that no relationship is beyond God’s power to heal. Joseph’s words “Come closer to me” echo God’s constant invitation to draw near to Him, despite our past failures. This chapter invites us to examine our own hearts: Are we holding onto bitterness that God is asking us to release? Are we willing to see His hand even in our painful experiences?

Did You Know

  • The phrase “wagons of Egypt” appears exactly seven times in this narrative, corresponding to the seven years of plenty and seven years of famine, highlighting God’s complete provision.
  • Joseph’s age at this reunion was 39 years old, having been sold into slavery at 17 and appointed governor at 30.
  • The distance between Canaan and Egypt that Jacob’s family would travel was approximately 300 kilometers, a journey that would have taken about two weeks with the wagons.
  • The number of Hebrew words in Joseph’s revelation speech matches the numerical value of the word “redemption” (גְּאֻלָּה) in Hebrew.
  • The Midrash notes that the wagons (עגלות) sent by Joseph were a coded message to Jacob, as they shared the same Hebrew letters as the last topic father and son had studied together – the law of the heifer (עגלה).
  • The Egyptian title given to Joseph, Zaphenath-paneah, according to some scholars, means “revealer of hidden things,” making his revelation to his brothers deeply significant.
  • The storehouses of Egypt mentioned in this chapter have been confirmed by archaeological discoveries, including massive grain storage facilities from this period.
  • Benjamin received five times more gifts than his brothers, the number five in Hebrew numerology representing grace, suggesting Joseph’s extension of unmerited favor.
  • The command “do not quarrel on the way” uses a Hebrew word that appears only here in the Torah, suggesting its unique significance in the reconciliation process.

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Jean Paul Joseph
Jean Paul Joseph

After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. Learn more about the F.O.G.

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