Genesis 45:1–15

Joseph Reveals His Identity

45Joseph could no longer keep his composure in front of all his attendants, ^tso he called out, “Send everyone away from me!” No one was with him when he revealed his identity to his brothers. ^u2But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and also Pharaoh’s household heard it. ³Joseph 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.

⁴Then 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. ^v5And now don’t be worried or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. ^w6For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. ⁷God sent me ahead of you to establish you as a remnant within the land and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. ^x8Therefore 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.

⁹“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. ¹⁰You can settle in the land of Goshen ^yand be near me—you, your children, and grandchildren, your sheep, cattle, and all you have. ¹¹There I will sustain you, for there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you, your household, and everything you have will become destitute.” ’ ^z12Look! Your eyes and my brother Benjamin’s eyes can see that it is I, Joseph, who am ^aspeaking to you. ¹³Tell my father about all my glory in Egypt and about all you have seen. And bring my father here quickly.” ^b

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