Joseph Reveals His Identity

45 Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants,[a] so he called out, “Send everyone away from me!” No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers.(A) But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh’s household heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But they could not answer him because they were terrified in his presence.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please, come near me,” and they came near. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt.(B) And now don’t be grieved or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.(C) For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.[b] Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household, and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

“Return quickly 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 without delay. 10 You can settle in the land of Goshen(D) and be near me—you, your children, and your grandchildren, your flocks, your herds, and all you have. 11 There I will sustain you, for there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you, your household, and everything you have will become destitute.”’(E) 12 Look! Your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin can see that I’m[c] the one speaking to you. 13 Tell my father about all my glory in Egypt and about all you have seen. And bring my father here quickly.”(F)

14 Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept on his shoulder. 15 Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept,[d] and afterward his brothers talked with him.

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Footnotes

  1. 45:1 Lit all those standing about him
  2. 45:7 Or keep alive for you many survivors
  3. 45:12 Lit that my mouth is
  4. 45:15 Lit brothers, and he wept over them

Joseph Reveals His Identity

45 Then Joseph was not able to control himself before all who were standing by him. And he cried out, “Make every man go out from me!” So no one stood with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept loudly,[a] so that the Egyptians heard it and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” And his brothers were unable to answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they drew near. And he said, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. So now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves[b] that you sold me here, for God sent me as deliverance before you. For these two years the famine has been in the midst of the land, but there will be five more years where there is no plowing or harvest. And God sent me before you all to preserve for you a remnant in the land and to keep alive among you many survivors. So now, you yourselves did not send me here, but God put me here as father to Pharaoh and as master of all his household, and a ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry, and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me and do not delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen so that you will be near me, you and your children and your grandchildren, and your flocks and your herds and all that you have. 11 And I will provide for you there, because there are still five years of famine—lest you and your household and all that you have become destitute.’ 12 Now behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is I[c] who am speaking to you. 13 And you must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt and all that you have seen. Now hurry and bring my father here.” 14 Then he fell upon the neck of his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. And afterward his brothers spoke with him.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 45:2 Literally “he gave his voice with weeping”
  2. Genesis 45:5 Literally “in your eyes”
  3. Genesis 45:12 Literally “it is my mouth”