Genesis 45: Joseph tells his brothers who he is
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What happens?
Joseph sends everyone else out of the room and tells his brothers who he is. He tells them not to be upset, because God sent him ahead of them to save lives, and asks them to bring their father down to Egypt. Pharaoh sends wagons, and when Jacob hears that Joseph is alive, he decides to go and see him.
Who is speaking?
Joseph speaks most of the chapter, to his brothers. Pharaoh speaks to Joseph, the brothers bring the news to Jacob, and Jacob (Israel) speaks at the end. God does not speak in this chapter, but Joseph says three times that God sent him. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Then Joseph couldn’t control himself before all those who stood before him, and he called out, “Cause everyone to go out from me!” No one else stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
In plain English: Joseph could no longer hold back his feelings in front of all the people standing around him. He called out, "Send everyone away from me!" So no one else was with him when Joseph told his brothers who he was.
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2He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
In plain English: He wept out loud. The Egyptians heard it, and Pharaoh's household heard it too.
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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.
In plain English: Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" His brothers could not answer him, because they were terrified to be in front of him.
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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.
In plain English: Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come close to me." They came close. He said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt.
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5Now don’t be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.
In plain English: Now do not be upset, and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to save lives.
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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.
In plain English: The famine has been in the land for two years now, and there are five more years to come with no plowing and no harvest.
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7God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
In plain English: God sent me ahead of you to keep a remnant (those who are left) for you on the earth, and to keep you alive by a great rescue (or: as a large group of survivors).
The Hebrew word: "Deliverance" is peletah: an escape, or the people who escape.
How it is translated: In the 28 verses that use it, this Bible says "escape" or a longer form of it in 23, and "deliverance" in only 2.
What changes: Read as "escaped people", Joseph says God sent him to keep alive a large group of survivors, not only to bring about a great rescue.
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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.
In plain English: So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his whole household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Good to know: Three times Joseph says that God sent him: in , and here. He returns to the idea in . Many readers take "a father to Pharaoh" as a title of honor, such as a trusted adviser, and not a family tie. The text does not explain it.
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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.
In plain English: Hurry, go up to my father and tell him, 'Your son Joseph says this: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me, and do not wait.
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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.
In plain English: You will live in the land of Goshen and be near me: you, your children, your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and everything you have.
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11There I will provide for you; for there are yet five years of famine; lest you come to poverty, you, and your household, and all that you have.”’
In plain English: I will provide for you there, because there are still five years of famine to come. Otherwise you, your household, and everything you have would end up in poverty.'
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12Behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.
In plain English: You can see with your own eyes, and so can my brother Benjamin, that it is really me speaking to you.
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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.”
In plain English: Tell my father about all the honor I have in Egypt, and about everything you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here."
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14He fell on his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
In plain English: He threw his arms around his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck.
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15He kissed all his brothers, and wept on them. After that his brothers talked with him.
In plain English: He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After that his brothers talked with him.
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16The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
In plain English: The news reached Pharaoh's household: "Joseph's brothers have come." Pharaoh and his officials were pleased.
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17Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals, and go, travel to the land of Canaan.
In plain English: Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Tell your brothers, 'Do this: load your animals and go to the land of Canaan.
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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.’
In plain English: Bring your father and your households and come to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the richest food of the land.'
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19Now you are commanded to do this: Take wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
In plain English: Now you are commanded to do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and your wives, bring your father, and come.
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20Also, don’t concern yourselves about your belongings, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.”
In plain English: Do not worry about your belongings, because the best of all the land of Egypt is yours."
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21The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
In plain English: The sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them wagons, as Pharaoh had commanded, and food for the journey.
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22He gave each one of them changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing.
In plain English: He gave each of them a set of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of clothes.
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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.
In plain English: To his father he sent ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and food for his father's journey.
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24So he sent his brothers away, and they departed. He said to them, “See that you don’t quarrel on the way.”
In plain English: So he sent his brothers off, and they left. He told them, "Do not quarrel (or: do not be afraid) on the way."
The Hebrew word: "Quarrel" is ragaz: to shake with a strong feeling, such as anger or fear.
How it is translated: In its 40 verses this Bible says "tremble" or a longer form of it in half. This is the only one of them where it says "quarrel".
What changes: Read as "do not be afraid", Joseph is calming his brothers for the journey, not warning them against arguing.
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25They went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father.
In plain English: They went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.
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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.
In plain English: They told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." Jacob's heart went numb, because he did not believe them.
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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.
In plain English: They told him everything Joseph had said to them. When he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob came back to life.
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28Israel said, “It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die.”
In plain English: Israel said, "That is enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
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