Genesis 45:4 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.

NIV: 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!

NASB: Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'Please come closer to me.' And they came closer. And he said, 'I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold to Egypt.

CSB: 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.

NLT: Please, come closer,' he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, 'I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt.

KJV: And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

NKJV: And Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near to me.” So they came near. Then he said: “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.

Joseph has finally revealed his identity (Genesis 42:7–8) to his 11 brothers (Genesis 45:1–3). Ten of those brothers were involved in selling Joseph into slavery more than twenty years earlier (Genesis 37:24–28). They did not know that Joseph would rise to become the second most powerful man in Egypt (Genesis 41:40). When he first identifies himself, their initial reaction is shock and fear.

Their shock comes from the unexpected reappearance of their brother. The last time they knowingly spoke to Joseph, he was a seventeen-year-old Hebrew shepherd (Genesis 37:1–2), begging for his life (Genesis 42:21). Now he is nearly 40 years old (Genesis 41:46–48), dressed as an Egyptian noble (Genesis 41:42), speaking the Egyptian language (Genesis 42:23), and wielding immense power (Genesis 41:44). Their fear comes from an expectation of revenge. The ten older brothers know they are guilty of heinous sin in their treatment of Joseph (Genesis 42:21–23; 44:16). The victim of their evil now has unlimited power over them. Combined, it's likely difficult for the men to even believe that this is happening.

Joseph wants to convince them. He asks them to come near and look at him more closely. He clarifies that he is the one they sold into slavery. Growing understanding, in this case, probably led to growing fear. As their reunion continues, Joseph will attempt to put his brothers at ease (Genesis 45:5–8)

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.