Genesis 45

Genesis 45:1

could not control himself

"was about to start crying"

by him

"near him"

Genesis 45:2

house of Pharaoh

"everyone in Pharaoh's palace"

Genesis 45:3

shocked in his presence

"terrified of him"

Genesis 45:4

whom you sold into Egypt

"whom you sold as a slave to the trader who brought me to Egypt"

Genesis 45:5

Do not be grieved

"do not be upset" or "do not be distressed"

that you sold me here

"that you sold me as a slave and sent me here to Egypt"

to preserve life

"so I could save many lives"

Genesis 45:6

there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest

"and the famine will last five more years"

Genesis 45:7

to preserve you as a remnant in the earth

"so that you and your families would not completely perish from the earth" or "to make sure your descendants would survive"

to keep you alive by a great deliverance

"to keep you alive by rescuing you in a mighty way"

Genesis 45:8

he has made me a father to Pharaoh

"he has made me a guide to Pharaoh" or "he has made me the chief adviser to Pharaoh"

of all his house

"of all his household" or "of all his palace"

ruler of all the land of Egypt

"ruler over all the people of Egypt"

Genesis 45:9

go up to my father

"go back to my father"

Come down to me

"Come here to me"

Genesis 45:11

I will provide ... all that you have

"say to him that his son Joseph says that God has made him master of all Egypt, so he must go down to Joseph and not delay. He will live in the land of Goshen, and he will be near Joseph, he and his children and his children's children, and his flocks and his herds, and all that he has. Joseph will provide for him there, for there are still five years of famine, so that he does not come to poverty, him, his household, and all that he has."

Genesis 45:12

your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin

"All of you and Benjamin can see"

that it is my mouth that speaks to you

"that I, Joseph, am speaking to you"

Genesis 45:13

about all my honor in Egypt

"how the people in Egypt greatly honor me"

Genesis 45:14

He hugged his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck

"Joseph hugged his brother Benjamin, and they both wept"

Genesis 45:15

wept over them

This means Joseph was crying while he kissed them.

After that his brothers talked with him

"After that his brothers talked freely with him"

Genesis 45:16

The news of the matter was told in Pharaoh's house: "Joseph's brothers have come."

"Everyone in Pharaoh's palace heard that Joseph's brothers had come."

Genesis 45:19

you are commanded

"I also command you to tell them" or "also tell them"

take carts out

"Carts" are wagons with two or four wheels. Animals pull the carts.

Genesis 45:20

Do not be concerned about your possessions, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.'

"Now you are commanded to tell them to take carts out of the land of Egypt for their children and for their wives, to get their father, and to come. They are not to be concerned about their possessions, for the good of all the land of Egypt will be theirs."

Genesis 45:21

gave them provisions for the journey

"gave them what they needed for traveling"

Genesis 45:22

he gave each man changes of clothing

Each man received a set of clothes except for Benjamin who received 5 sets of clothes.

Genesis 45:23

ten donkeys ... and ten female donkeys

The donkeys were included as part of the gift.

Genesis 45:24

do not quarrel

Possible meanings include 1) "do not argue" and 2) "do not become afraid"

Genesis 45:26

he is ruler over all the land of Egypt

"he rules all the people of Egypt"

His heart was astonished

"and he was astonished" or "he was very surprised"

he could not believe what they told him

"he did not accept that what they said was true"

Genesis 45:27

They told him

"They told Jacob"

all the words of Joseph that he had said to them

"everything that Joseph had said to them"

the spirit of Jacob their father revived

"Jacob their father recovered" or "Jacob their father became very excited"