NIV 1984 Edition

45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control [means to restrain, hold back, or contain one’s emotions] himself before all his attendants [Joseph was surrounded by Egyptian officials and servants], and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence! [Joseph understood that some moments are too sacred for public observation; he likely did not want to embarrass his brothers]” So there was no one [he created a safe place for reconciliation] with Joseph when he made himself known [literally “he revealed himself”] to his brothers.

45:2 And he wept so loudly [his weeping was intense; literally, “he gave forth his voice in weeping”] that the Egyptians heard him [his loud weeping emphasizes that forgiveness is deeply costly; Joseph chose to be gracious despite the wounds he had suffered], and Pharaoh’s household heard about it [his emotional outburst became palace news].



Note: This is the fourth recorded time Joseph weeps:
Genesis 42:24 – after hearing his brothers express guilt.

Genesis 43:30 – after seeing Benjamin.

Genesis 45:2 – upon revealing himself.

Genesis 46:29 – upon reuniting with Jacob.

45:3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph [imagine the shock his brothers must have felt at hearing these words]! Is my father [Jacob] still living [an indication that Joseph’s affection for his father was still strong: after over twenty years, the deepest longing of his heart was for his father]?” But his brothers were not able to answer him [they were completely speechless], because they [the brothers had successfully hidden their crime from Jacob, but they could not hide it from God] were terrified [means to be dismayed, alarmed, overwhelmed; perhaps because they realized that Joseph had the authority and power to exact revenge] at his presence.

45:4 Then Joseph said [he took the initiative; reconciliation often begins when the offended person chooses to move toward the offender] to his brothers, “Come close to me [means to come near, approach, or draw close].” When they had done so [they obeyed although they were afraid], he said, “I am your brother [key word] Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt [this detail validated Joseph’s claim that he was their brother; he neither minimized nor weaponized their sin]!

45:5 And now [Joseph moved the conversation from fear toward hope and restoration], do not be distressed [means to be grieved, pained, or deeply troubled] and do not be angry with yourselves [phrase literally means “do not let your anger burn within yourselves”] for selling me here [Joseph identified their wrongdoing; Biblical forgiveness is never built on pretending evil never occurred], because [note that Joseph was a bigger picture person] it was to save lives that God sent [his brothers sold him but God sent him] me ahead of you [Joseph understood God’s providence; Joseph could only understand this in hindsight; Steve Jobs said you can only connect the dots by looking back].

45:6 For two years [two of the seven predicted years of famine (Gen. 41:30) have already passed] now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years [as indicated by Pharaoh’s dreams (cf. Gen. 41:1-7); the famine was not ending soon] there will not be plowing and reaping [the drought was so severe that agricultural activity stopped].

45:7 But God [used the evil intentions of Joseph’s brothers to accomplish His purposes] sent me [he saw God’s hand (sent) behind human hands (sold)] ahead of you to preserve [means to keep alive or sustain] for you a remnant on earth [God preserved this small family because His promises depended upon their survival] and to save your [they deserved judgment but received life instead] lives [literally “to keep you alive”] by a great deliverance [phrase can also be translated “through a great escape” or “by a remarkable rescue”].

Note: If Jacob’s family perished:
Abraham’s promises would appear to fail.
Israel would never become a nation.
David’s royal line would never emerge.
The Messiah would never be born.

45:8 “So then [Joseph is no longer asking, “Why did this happen to me?” because he knows why], it was not you who sent me here, but God [these words must have alleviated much anxiety; Joseph looked beyond their actions to God’s sovereign purpose in allowing what happened; God is so sovereign that even sinful human actions cannot prevent Him from accomplishing His will]. He made me father [this title often referred to a trusted counselor, advisor, mentor, or chief administrator] to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all [indicates the scope of Joseph’s authority] Egypt.

45:9 Now hurry back [his urgency is driven by the fact that he has not seen his father in twenty years] to my [his father was still at the center of his affections] father and say to him [the brothers who had lied to their father twenty tears earlier now commissioned to deliver the truth], ‘This is what your son Joseph [he did not want them to identify him by his political title but by his relationship to his father] says: God has made me [he attributed all to God] lord of all Egypt [refers to Joseph’s authority under Pharaoh]. Come down to me [coming to Egypt meant preservation; this was an invitation to life]; don’t delay [delay could prove deadly; Joseph was also ready to be reunited with his farther].


45:10 You shall live in the region of Goshen [located in the fertile northeastern region of Egypt, near the eastern Nile Delta] and be near me [these words reveal Joseph’s heart; he wanted nearness and not distance]—you, your children and grandchildren [a multi-generational blessing], your flocks and herds [their means of survival], and all you have [nothing was excluded].



45:11 I will provide [a promise of ongoing care] for you there [in Goshen; a place where his family can flourish], because five years of famine are still to come [the crisis is far from over]. Otherwise [this was a matter of life and death] you and your household [family] and all who belong to you [servants] will become destitute [means to become poor, ruined, brought to nothing, or impoverished].’

45:12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin [Joseph and Benjamin were the only sons of Rachel, Jacob’s beloved wife], that it is really I [the brother they had not seen in so many years] who am speaking to you [no interpreter; Joseph spoke to them in the Hebrew language].

45:13 Tell my father [he longs to see his father] about all the honor [literally means “glory,” “weight,” “importance,” or “splendor”] accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen [Joseph wanted Jacob (who believed he was dead) to understand what God had done]. And bring my father down here quickly [Joseph desperately wanted to see his father]. ”

45:14 Then he threw his arms around [an emotional embrace] his brother Benjamin [Benjamin had not participated in Joseph’s betrayal; not an indication of favoritism but of the restoration of a relationship interrupted by circumstances beyond their control] and wept [he is no longer grieving what he lost but rejoicing in what God has restored], and Benjamin embraced him [he returned Joseph’s embrace], weeping [tears of overwhelming joy and deep gratitude].

45:15 And he kissed [a customary expression of affection, acceptance, reconciliation, and peace] all [he embraced every single one of them; no one was left outside the circle of grace] his brothers and wept over them [suggests that Joseph wept while embracing his brothers; tears communicate what words alone cannot]. Afterward his brothers talked with him [the silence has been broken; the fear has disappeared; communication has been restored; conversation is evidence of reconciliation].

45:16 When the news reached Pharaoh’s palace that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and all his officials were pleased.

45:17 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do this: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan,

45:18 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.’

45:19 “You are also directed to tell them, ‘Do this: Take some carts from Egypt for your children and your wives, and get your father and come.

45:20 Never mind about your belongings, because the best of all Egypt will be yours.’”


45:21 So the sons of Israel did this. Joseph gave them carts, as Pharaoh had commanded, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.

45:22 To each of them he gave new clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.


45:23 And this is what he sent to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the best things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and other provisions for his journey.

45:24 Then he sent his brothers away, and as they were leaving he said to them, “Don’t quarrel on the way!”

45:25 So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.

45:26 They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is [at the present time] ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned [he probably went limp; or to use an old Texas expression, “he was slack-jawed”]; he did not believe them.

45:27 But when they told him everything [cf. Gen. 45:9-13] Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts [tangible evidence of Joseph’s concern for his family] Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob revived [he felt better or came to life].

45:28 And Israel [Jacob] said, “I’m convinced! My son Joseph is still alive [the fact that Joseph was “alive” was more important to him than Joseph’s wealth or status in Egypt]. I will go and see him before I die.”