Genesis 45:1–15

Joseph Makes Himself Known

45 Then Joseph could no longer control himselfi before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Have everyone leave my presence!”j So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. 2 And he weptk so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.l

3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?”m But his brothers were not able to answer him,n because they were terrified at his presence.o

4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.”p When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt!q 5 And now, do not be distressedr and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here,s because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.t 6 For two years now there has been famineu in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7 But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnantv on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.a w

8 “So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.x He made me fathery to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of all Egypt.z 9 Now hurrya back 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; don’t delay.b 10 You shall live in the region of Goshenc and be near me—you, your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and all you have.d 11 I will provide for you there,e because five years of faminef are still to come. Otherwise you and your household and all who belong to you will become destitute.’g

12 “You can see for yourselves, and so can my brother Benjamin,h that it is really I who am speaking to you.i 13 Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egyptj and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly.k”

14 Then he threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjaminl embraced him,m weeping. 15 And he kissedn all his brothers and wept over them.o Afterward his brothers talked with him.p

Sign up for the Verse of the Day

Get beautiful Bible art delivered to your inbox. We’ll send you a new verse every day to download or share.

i	Ge 43:31
j	2 Sa 13:9
k	Ge 29:11
l	Ge 45:16 Ac 7:13
m	Ge 43:7
n	Ge 45:15
o	Ge 44:20 Job 21:6 Job 23:15 Mt 17:6 Mk 6:49–50
p	Ge 27:21–22
q	Ge 37:28
r	Ge 42:21
s	Ge 42:22
t	Ge 45:7–8 Ge 50:20 Job 10:12 Ps 105:17
u	Ge 41:30
v	2 Ki 19:4 2 Ki 19:30 2 Ki 19:31 Ezr 9:8 Ezr 9:13 Is 1:9 Is 10:20 Is 10:21 Is 11:11 Is 11:16 Is 46:3 Je 6:9 Je 42:2 Je 50:20 Mic 4:7 Mic 5:7 Zep 2:7
a	Or save you as a great band of survivors
w	Ge 45:5 Ge 49:18 Ex 15:2 1 Sa 14:45 2 Ki 13:5 Es 4:14 Is 25:9 Mic 7:7
x	Ge 45:5
y	Jdg 17:10 2 Ki 6:21 2 Ki 13:14
z	Ge 41:41
a	Ge 43:15
b	Ge 43:10 Ac 7:14
c	Ge 46:28 Ge 46:34 Ge 47:1 Ge 47:11 Ge 47:27 Ge 50:8 Ex 8:22 Ex 9:26 Ex 10:24
d	Ge 46:6–7
e	Ge 47:12 Ge 50:21
f	Ge 41:30
g	Ps 102:17
h	Ge 35:18
i	Mk 6:50
j	Ge 41:41
k	Ge 43:15 Ac 7:14
l	Ge 35:18
m	Ge 29:13
n	Ge 29:11 Lk 15:20
o	Ge 29:11 Ge 29:13 Ge 46:4
p	Ge 45:3