Genesis 45:1-18

Joseph Makes Himself Known

1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!” So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.
2 And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence.
4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!
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.
9 Now hurry back to my father and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; don’t delay.
10 You shall live in the region of Goshen and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.
11 I will provide for you there, because five years of famine are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’
12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really I who am speaking to you.
13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.”
14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin embraced him, weeping.
15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept over them. Afterward his brothers talked with him.
16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased.
17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan,
18 and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.’

Genesis 45:1-18 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 41

  • 1. S Genesis 43:31
  • 2. 2 Samuel 13:9
  • 3. S Genesis 29:11
  • 4. ver 16; Acts 7:13; Genesis 46:29
  • 5. S Genesis 43:7; Acts 7:13
  • 6. ver 15
  • 7. Genesis 44:20; Job 21:6; Job 23:15; Matthew 17:6; Mark 6:49-50
  • 8. Genesis 27:21-22
  • 9. Genesis 37:28
  • 10. Genesis 42:21
  • 11. Genesis 42:22
  • 12. ver 7-8; Genesis 50:20; Job 10:12; Psalms 105:17
  • 13. S Genesis 41:30
  • 14. 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
  • 15. 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
  • 16. ver 5
  • 17. Judges 17:10; 2 Kings 6:21; 2 Kings 13:14
  • 18. S Genesis 41:41
  • 19. S Genesis 43:15
  • 20. Genesis 43:10; Acts 7:14
  • 21. Genesis 46:28,34">Genesis 46:28,34; Genesis 47:1,11,27">Genesis 47:1,11,27; Genesis 50:8; Exodus 8:22; Exodus 9:26; Exodus 10:24; Genesis 46:28,34">Genesis 46:28,34; Genesis 47:1
  • 22. Genesis 46:6-7
  • 23. Genesis 47:12; Genesis 50:21
  • 24. S Genesis 41:30
  • 25. Psalms 102:17
  • 26. S Genesis 35:18
  • 27. Mark 6:50
  • 28. S Genesis 41:41
  • 29. S Genesis 43:15; Acts 7:14
  • 30. S Genesis 35:18
  • 31. S Genesis 29:13
  • 32. S Genesis 29:11; Luke 15:20
  • 33. S Genesis 29:11,13; S Genesis 46:4
  • 34. ver 3
  • 35. S ver 2; Acts 7:13
  • 36. Genesis 50:7
  • 37. S Genesis 41:37
  • 38. S Genesis 42:26
  • 39. S Genesis 42:5
  • 40. ver 20; Genesis 20:15; Genesis 27:28; Genesis 46:34; Genesis 47:6,11,27; Numbers 18:12,29; Jeremiah 40:4
  • 41. Ezra 9:12; Psalms 37:19; Isaiah 1:19

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Or "save you as a great band of survivors"
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.