Genesis 45 25

Genesis 45:25 kjv

And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,

Genesis 45:25 nkjv

Then they went up out of Egypt, and came to the land of Canaan to Jacob their father.

Genesis 45:25 niv

So they went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 45:25 esv

So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob.

Genesis 45:25 nlt

And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 45 verses

Genesis 45 25 meaning

Genesis 45:25 signifies the beginning of a joyous journey from the provision of Egypt back to the family's homeland in Canaan, bringing the long-awaited good news to Jacob that his son Joseph is alive. It marks a pivotal moment of imminent family reunion and the initial steps towards the fulfillment of divine providence, restoring hope after years of separation and grief.

Genesis 45 25 Context

Genesis chapter 45 marks the climax of Joseph's narrative, where he dramatically reveals his identity to his astonished brothers. Overwhelmed by emotion and driven by divine purpose, Joseph instructs his brothers to return swiftly to Canaan, inform their grieving father Jacob that he is alive and ruler over all Egypt, and bring the entire family back to Egypt to reside in Goshen for the remainder of the famine. This verse records the immediate, obedient departure of the brothers, indicating their complete acceptance of Joseph's incredible revelation and their eagerness to deliver the long-awaited joyous news to Jacob. Historically, travel from Egypt, located in the lower Nile delta, to the higher elevated region of Canaan was consistently referred to as "going up," a literal and significant geographic term. For Jacob, years of mourning for Joseph's presumed death were about to end, setting the stage for the temporary relocation of the patriarchal family to Egypt and the subsequent development of the twelve tribes.

Genesis 45 25 Word analysis

• So (וַיַּעֲלוּ - vaiya'alu): An introductory conjunction that signals a direct consequence of the preceding events and commands (Joseph's instruction in Gen 45:9-11). It denotes an immediate action taken by the brothers.

• they went up (וַיַּעֲלוּ - vaiya'alu): The verb עָלָה (alah) means "to go up" or "ascend." It is used geographically, as Egypt's elevation is lower than Canaan's. The plural form signifies the unified, immediate action of the brothers after their reconciliation with Joseph.

• from Egypt (מִמִּצְרָיִם - mimmitzrayim): מִן (min) means "from," indicating the point of origin. מִצְרָיִם (Mitzrayim), or Egypt, literally refers to "two straits" (Upper and Lower Egypt). At this point, Egypt is a place of provision and divine intervention, distinct from its later role as a land of bondage.

• and came (וַיָּבֹאוּ - vaiyavo'u): The verb בּוֹא (bo) means "to come" or "to enter." This consecutive imperfect verb indicates a subsequent action following their departure from Egypt, completing the journey.

• to the land of Canaan (אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן - eretz Kena'an): אֶרֶץ (eretz) means "land," and כְּנָעַן (Kena'an) refers to the promised land given to Abraham's descendants. It is the family's spiritual and physical homeland, a crucial theological anchor throughout Genesis.

• to Jacob (אֶל יַעֲקֹב - el Ya'akov): אֶל (el) means "to" or "towards." יַעֲקֹב (Ya'akov), or Jacob, is the patriarch, a central figure in the covenant narrative. The focus of their return is intensely personal and relational.

• their father (אֲבִיהֶם - avihem): אָב (av) means "father," with the possessive suffix הֶם (hem) meaning "their." This highlights the familial bond and deep motivation for their urgent return – to alleviate their father's long-standing grief.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "So they went up from Egypt and came to the land of Canaan": This phrase encapsulates the journey's scope, depicting a complete and successful travel. The swiftness and direction of their movement from a place of miraculous sustenance (Egypt) back to their designated homeland (Canaan) demonstrate their immediate obedience and the turning point in the family's destiny. This geographical movement symbolically signifies a spiritual transition from a state of unresolved conflict and mourning to imminent peace and joy.
  • "to Jacob their father": This part specifies the ultimate purpose and destination of their journey. It underscores the profound filial responsibility felt by the brothers and the central importance of Jacob's well-being and relief from sorrow in God's unfolding plan. It emphasizes that this entire sequence of events is designed, by God, for the restoration and reunion of Jacob's family.

Genesis 45 25 Bonus section

• Divine Initiative and Human Obedience: The promptness of the brothers' departure reflects not only their personal desire to see Jacob but also their immediate and unquestioning obedience to Joseph's command, which itself was inspired by divine providence (Gen 45:7-8). This rapid action underlines the spiritual transformation of the brothers and the urgency of the good news.
• Symbolic "Going Up": The Hebrew עָלָה (alah - went up) is more than geographical. It can also imply rising in status or coming forth. In this context, they are "ascending" from a position of distress and shame in Egypt, where they faced severe tests, to bring good news that elevates their father's spirit and sets the stage for the family's future prominence.
• Anticipation of Deliverance: While the immediate outcome is relocation to Egypt, this initial "going up" to Canaan for Jacob prefigures later, greater acts of "going up" from Egypt for the entire nation of Israel during the Exodus. It highlights a recurring pattern of divine intervention and a journey towards God's appointed destination for His people.

Genesis 45 25 Commentary

Genesis 45:25 serves as a bridge, transitioning the narrative from the dramatic revelation of Joseph in Egypt to the impending reunion with Jacob in Canaan. It succinctly captures the prompt and decisive action of the brothers, a tangible sign of their transformed character and readiness to right the wrongs of the past. Their "going up" is not merely geographical; it signifies an ascent from the depths of deception and familial estrangement to a plane of truth and reconciliation. This verse prepares the reader for the culmination of Jacob's years of anguish, pointing towards the profound joy that awaits him as his beloved son, believed lost, is found. It testifies to God's orchestrating hand, turning a history of jealousy, betrayal, and sorrow into a narrative of miraculous preservation and restorative grace, all to secure the nascent nation that would become Israel.