Genesis 45:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, "Make everyone go out from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

NIV: 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.

NASB: Then Joseph could not control himself in front of everyone standing before him, and he shouted, 'Have everyone leave me!' So there was no one with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

CSB: Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants, so he called out, "Send everyone away from me!" No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers.

NLT: Joseph could stand it no longer. There were many people in the room, and he said to his attendants, 'Out, all of you!' So he was alone with his brothers when he told them who he was.

KJV: Then 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.

NKJV: Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, “Make everyone go out from me!” So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

Joseph fought to control his emotions in response to seeing the brothers who sold him into slavery 22 years ago (Genesis 37:24–28). They have visited Egypt to buy food but did not recognize him (Genesis 42:7–8) in his role as the nation's governor. He wept after finally setting eyes on his younger brother Benjamin (Genesis 43:29–30). He has tested his brothers with a silver cup, to see if they would abandon Benjamin (Genesis 44:1–6).

Judah's sacrificial plea has finally brought Joseph to the end of his resolve (Genesis 44:18–34). After hearing how his father grieved for him and would grieve for Benjamin—and then hearing Judah's noble offer to take Benjamin's place as a slave in Egypt—Joseph can't hold it back any longer.

He begins to cry and orders everyone but his 11 brothers to leave the room. This would have been unusual for everyone present. Joseph is now an influential leader of the nation (Genesis 41:44), with all the trappings of power. Joseph may have been speaking to his brothers through an interpreter this whole time (Genesis 42:23), to further disguise the fact that he was a Hebrew. In addition, Joseph's servants would be hesitant to leave him alone in a room with accused criminals.

Still, when the time had come to reveal his true identity, Joseph did not want to share the moment with anyone but his brothers.

Genesis 45:1–15 records Joseph's emotional revelation of his identity. Still unrecognized by his estranged brothers, Joseph had tested them, leading to Judah's passionate, sacrificial offer (Genesis 44:18–34). Overcome with emotion, Joseph identifies himself to his dumbfounded brothers. He states with confidence that all this has happened as part of God's plan to preserve the people of Israel.

Genesis 45 is a series of revelations. Following an emotional breakdown, Joseph finally reveals his identity to his baffled brothers. After they realize the governor of Egypt is the one they sold into slavery two decades earlier, he rushes to tell them he does not hold them responsible. In His own way, God had arranged for Joseph's enslavement, for the purpose of saving many people from famine. With Pharaoh's enthusiastic support, Joseph arranged for his brothers to return to Canaan, pack up Jacob and all they own, and come back to resettle in Egypt. Jacob, finally convinced all this is true, agrees to the move.

Genesis 44 concluded with an impassioned speech from Judah, offering to sacrifice himself for his younger brother. Overwhelmed with emotion, Joseph breaks down and finally reveals his identity to his brothers. He urges them to move Jacob's entire family to Egypt to survive the famine. Jacob agrees, leading to the migration and resettlement depicted in Genesis 46. The remainder of Genesis describes the happy results of this relocation.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.