Genesis 45:13 kjv

And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.

Genesis 45:13 nkjv

So you shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that you have seen; and you shall hurry and bring my father down here."

Genesis 45:13 niv

Tell my father about all the honor accorded me in Egypt and about everything you have seen. And bring my father down here quickly."

Genesis 45:13 esv

You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here."

Genesis 45:13 nlt

Go tell my father of my honored position here in Egypt. Describe for him everything you have seen, and then bring my father here quickly."

Genesis 45 verses

Genesis 45 13 Meaning

Joseph, after revealing his identity to his brothers, instructs them to return to their father, Jacob, and convey the full extent of his exalted position and abundant resources in Egypt. He urges them to hasten back and bring Jacob and the entire family to dwell with him in Egypt, emphasizing the urgency due to the continuing severe famine. This verse is a direct command from Joseph, signifying his desire for immediate reunion, practical care for his family, and the beginning of the next phase of God's redemptive plan for Israel.

Genesis 45 13 Context

Genesis chapter 45 marks a pivotal turning point in the Joseph narrative and the story of Jacob's family. Prior to this verse, Joseph had orchestrated several tests for his brothers, culminating in Judah's heartfelt plea and offer to remain a slave in Benjamin's place. Overcome with emotion and recognizing their repentance, Joseph reveals his true identity ("I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?"). This revelation shatters their fears and shame, replacing it with overwhelming shock.

Following his identity revelation, Joseph quickly comforts his terrified brothers, assuring them that his suffering and elevation were part of God's providential plan to preserve the family and a multitude of people from the severe famine gripping the land (Gen 45:5-8). He explains the extent of the remaining famine and the need for the entire family to relocate to Egypt, where he could provide for them abundantly in the land of Goshen. Verse 13, therefore, is a direct instruction from Joseph to his brothers, part of his plan to reunite with his father and secure his family's survival, signaling the end of long-standing family strife and the commencement of Israel's sojourn in Egypt. This narrative anticipates the growth of Israel into a nation and the eventual Exodus.

Historically, severe multi-year famines were devastating events in the ancient Near East, capable of destroying entire populations. Egypt, with its reliance on the Nile River and advanced irrigation, often served as a granary for the region during such crises. Joseph's role as Pharaoh's vizier, in charge of all food supplies, made him the ultimate source of survival for his family. The command for Jacob to "go down" (geographical direction from Canaan to Egypt) was also a culturally significant act, indicating a major move from the patriarchal homeland to a foreign power.

Genesis 45 13 Word analysis

• וְהִגַּדְתֶּם (ve'higgadtem): "And you must tell / declare / report"
  • Transliteration: ve'higgadtem
  • Root: נ.ג.ד (N-G-D), nagad, meaning to make known, report, announce.
  • Grammar: Hifil imperative plural, implying a clear, definite command to communicate a specific message. This is not a casual suggestion but an urgent directive.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the imperative for his brothers to convey the full message, not just part of it. The act of "telling" is crucial for Jacob's understanding and decision.
• לְאָבִי (le'avi): "to my father"
  • Transliteration: le'avi
  • Meaning: "to my father," "for my father." The preposition לְ (le) indicates direction or dative.
  • Significance: Highlights the primary recipient of the message and Joseph's deep familial longing and filial respect. Despite his immense power, his deepest desire is reunion with his father, Jacob, whom he had not seen for decades and knew was grieving.
• אֶת-כָּל-כְּבוֹדִי (et kol-kevodhi): "of all my glory / my honor / my wealth"
  • Transliteration: et kol-kevodhi
  • Meaning: "all my glory/honor/weight/splendor." Kavod (כְּבוֹדִי) can signify honor, status, authority, and often refers to tangible wealth and power.
  • Significance: This is not mere boasting but a factual assurance for Jacob. Joseph wants Jacob to know that he is not just alive but thriving and capable of supporting his entire family royally. His "glory" here points to the divinely appointed power and provision at his disposal. It removes any doubt of poverty or struggle.
• בְּמִצְרַיִם (be'Mitzrayim): "in Egypt"
  • Transliteration: be'Mitzrayim
  • Meaning: "in Egypt," or "the two Egypts" (referencing Upper and Lower Egypt).
  • Significance: Specifies the geographic locus of Joseph's authority. This indicates where Jacob and his family would find relief from the famine and prosperity under Joseph's care. Egypt was a well-known, powerful land, adding credibility and gravitas to Joseph's status.
• וְאֵת כָּל-אֲשֶׁר רְאִיתֶם (ve'et kol-asher re'item): "and all that you have seen"
  • Transliteration: ve'et kol-asher re'item
  • Meaning: "and all that which you (plural) have seen." Refers to direct, observable evidence.
  • Significance: This instructs the brothers to serve as eye-witnesses. Their testimony would be more powerful and convincing to Jacob than mere words, validating Joseph's claims of glory. They had seen his position of power, his authority over resources, and his personal wealth, making their account undeniable.
• וּמַהֲרוּ (u'mahuru): "and hurry / and hasten"
  • Transliteration: u'mahuru
  • Root: מ.ה.ר (M-H-R), mahar, meaning to hurry, be quick.
  • Grammar: Piel imperative plural.
  • Significance: Conveys extreme urgency. The ongoing famine, with five years still remaining (Gen 45:6), makes a quick migration essential for the survival of the entire family and their livestock. Delay could be disastrous.
• וְהוֹרַדְתֶּם (ve'horadtem): "and bring down / cause to descend"
  • Transliteration: ve'horadtem
  • Root: י.ר.ד (Y-R-D), yarad, meaning to go down, descend.
  • Grammar: Hifil imperative plural. The Hifil causative stem means "to cause to go down" or "bring down."
  • Significance: Emphasizes the brothers' active role in persuading and transporting Jacob. Geographically, Egypt was considered "down" from Canaan. The term marks a significant movement of the patriarchal family out of the promised land, under divine direction.
• אֶת-אָבִי הֵנָּה (et-avi hennah): "my father here"
  • Transliteration: et-avi hennah
  • Meaning: "my father to this place / here." Hennah is an adverb indicating location towards "here."
  • Significance: A very direct command for Jacob's immediate arrival at Joseph's location. This underlines the complete nature of Joseph's instructions—Jacob must personally come to Egypt.

• Word Group Analysis: "tell my father of all my glory in Egypt and of all that you have seen"
  • This phrase underscores Joseph's strategic approach. He understands Jacob's deeply analytical nature and profound grief. To convince Jacob to leave Canaan, he needs more than words; he needs tangible proof of Joseph's prosperity and capacity to care for the family. The combination of Joseph's "glory" (authority, wealth) and the brothers' "seen" (eyewitness testimony) provides an undeniable narrative. This is not about self-aggrandizement but about reassuring a grieving patriarch that his beloved son is alive, well, and mighty, capable of providing for their very survival.
• Word Group Analysis: "Hurry and bring my father down here"
  • This pair of imperatives highlights the dire situation and Joseph's loving concern. "Hurry" emphasizes the ongoing threat of famine; time is of the essence. "Bring down" shows Joseph's desire for an immediate physical reunion and his expectation that the brothers will facilitate this journey. This expresses the immediate, practical, and compassionate intention of Joseph to relieve his father's suffering and ensure the well-being of the entire clan, ensuring the preservation of the covenant line.

Genesis 45 13 Bonus section

The immediate and definitive tone of Joseph's command to "hurry" (וּמַהֲרוּ, u'mahuru) carries significant weight, implying that Jacob’s family was at real risk of starvation or dispersion without swift intervention. This urgency underlines the severity of the famine not only on a regional scale but on the intimate level of personal survival for Jacob's vast family. The detailed instructions show Joseph's forethought and deep understanding of Jacob's grief and potential reluctance to leave the Promised Land; he therefore equipped his brothers with overwhelming evidence and an undeniable reason. Furthermore, this migration to Egypt, orchestrated by divine design through Joseph's suffering and exaltation, would prove pivotal in forming the collective identity of Israel, as they would multiply there and later experience God's powerful deliverance during the Exodus. Thus, Joseph's invitation in this verse marks the genesis of Israel's national history and serves as a testament to God's faithful orchestration of events to fulfill His promises to Abraham.

Genesis 45 13 Commentary

Genesis 45:13 serves as Joseph’s urgent appeal and comprehensive directive to his brothers, providing the necessary assurance and incentive for their father, Jacob, to make the monumental move to Egypt. Joseph understood that Jacob, having suffered profoundly believing his beloved son was dead, would need irrefutable evidence and compelling motivation. His "glory" and the brothers' eyewitness account of it were essential to convey the truth of his unparalleled position, which enabled him to offer total provision during the global famine. This "glory" was not worldly conceit but a divine empowerment that had saved Egypt and was now purposed to save the nascent nation of Israel. The command to "hurry" reflected the harsh reality of the famine, emphasizing the imminent danger if they delayed. This verse encapsulates reconciliation, familial love, divine providence at work to preserve God’s chosen people, and the transition of the covenant family from Canaan to Egypt, a crucial step in the unfolding history of Israel and the fulfillment of God’s ancient promises. Joseph, in this instruction, acts as God's instrument for preservation, not just for his family, but for the lineage through which the Redeemer would one day come.