Genesis 45:1–15

Joseph Reveals His Identity

45Then 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. ²And he wept loudly,^a so that the Egyptians heard it and the household of Pharaoh heard it. ³Then 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. ⁴So 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. ⁵So 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. ⁶For 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. ⁷And God sent me before you all to preserve for you a remnant in the land and to keep alive among you many survivors. ⁸So 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. ⁹Hurry, 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. ¹⁰You 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. ¹¹And 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.’ ¹²Now behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is I^c who am speaking to you. ¹³And you must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt and all that you have seen. Now hurry and bring my father here.” ¹⁴Then he fell upon the neck of his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. ¹⁵And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. And afterward his brothers spoke with him.