Genesis 45 5

Genesis 45:5 kjv

Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

Genesis 45:5 nkjv

But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.

Genesis 45:5 niv

And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.

Genesis 45:5 esv

And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

Genesis 45:5 nlt

But don't be upset, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.

Genesis 45 verses

Genesis 45 5 meaning

In Genesis 45:5, Joseph seeks to alleviate the profound guilt and distress of his brothers, who feared retribution for their past crime of selling him into slavery. He offers a profound theological interpretation of their wicked act, declaring that God superintended their actions for a greater redemptive purpose. He reassures them that their wrongdoing, though real and culpable, was providentially used by the Almighty to ensure the survival and flourishing of their family and, by extension, the continuation of the covenant lineage. This verse emphasizes God's sovereign control over human events, even sinful ones, to accomplish His good will.

Genesis 45 5 Context

Genesis 45:5 occurs immediately after Joseph reveals his identity to his astonished and terrified brothers in Egypt. Following Jacob's decision to send his sons a second time to Egypt to buy grain due to the severe famine, Joseph orchestrates a series of events to test his brothers and draw out their repentance and character development. Having witnessed their concern for Benjamin and Judah's self-sacrificing plea, Joseph can no longer control his emotions and breaks down, revealing himself. The brothers are naturally distressed and speechless, anticipating punishment. This verse serves as Joseph's comforting reassurance, explaining the divine orchestrator behind their past sinful actions and relieving them of their immense guilt. It shifts the perspective from their malice to God's sovereign purpose, linking their desperate journey for food to the fulfillment of God's wider plan for the family of Jacob.

Genesis 45 5 Word analysis

• "Now therefore":

  • Word: Hebrew: וְעַתָּה (wĕʿattâ).
  • Analysis: This connective phrase functions as a logical conclusion drawn from the preceding emotional revelation. It introduces Joseph's explanation and exhortation, moving from his personal disclosure to a profound theological instruction. It signifies a pivotal shift in the dialogue.

• "be not grieved":

  • Word: Hebrew: תֵּעָצְבוּ (tēʿāṣĕḇû). From the root עָצַב (ʿaṣab).
  • Analysis: This is a direct command in the imperative. The root "ʿaṣab" signifies deep sorrow, vexation, or distress, often arising from a sense of guilt or regret. Joseph understands their inward pain over their past actions and directly addresses their emotional state.

• "nor angry":

  • Word: Hebrew: וְאַל־יִחַר (wĕ’al-yiḥar). From the root חָרָה (ḥārâ).
  • Analysis: "Ḥārâ" means to be incensed, to burn, to become furious. Coupled with "with yourselves," it describes anger directed inwardly, specifically self-reproach or self-condemnation for their deed. Joseph urges them to release both sorrow and internal anger.

• "with yourselves":

  • Word: Hebrew: בְּעֵינֵיכֶם (bĕʿêneykem - literally "in your own eyes").
  • Analysis: This phrase emphasizes the inward focus of their distress. It highlights that their sorrow and anger are rooted in their own perception of guilt and the wrong they committed against him, implying internal torment and fear of his judgment.

• "that ye sold me hither":

  • Word: Hebrew: כִּֽי־מְכַרְתֶּם (kî mĕkhartem - for you sold) אֹתִי (ʾōtî - me) הֵנָּה (hēnnâ - hither/here).
  • Analysis: Joseph does not minimize their sin; he explicitly states their direct responsibility for the act ("you sold me"). This acknowledges the historical fact of their wrongdoing, yet it immediately sets the stage for a reinterpretation of its ultimate purpose by introducing God's involvement. "Hither" specifically refers to Egypt, emphasizing his journey and present position of power.

• "for God":

  • Word: Hebrew: אֱלֹהִים (Elohim).
  • Analysis: This marks the pivotal shift from human culpability to divine sovereignty. "Elohim" is the plural form of El, referring to the powerful, majestic God, often used in a more general sense for the universal Creator and sustainer, suitable for a truth applicable to all. It underlines the divine, purposeful agent behind Joseph's journey.

• "did send me":

  • Word: Hebrew: שְׁלָחַנִי (šĕlāḥanî). From the root שָׁלַח (šālaḥ - to send forth, dispatch).
  • Analysis: This is a strong verb indicating purposeful action, not mere happenstance or passive permission. God actively sent Joseph. This divine sending elevates the event from a malicious act of brothers to a purposeful mission orchestrated by God, thereby changing the brothers' perspective on their role.

• "before you":

  • Word: Hebrew: לִפְנֵיכֶם (lip̄nêḵem - before your faces/in advance of you).
  • Analysis: This phrase implies a purposeful preceding. Joseph was sent ahead as a pioneer or scout, establishing a pathway or securing provision. It indicates divine foresight and preparation for their benefit.

• "to preserve life":

  • Word: Hebrew: לְמִחְיָה (lĕmiḥyâ - for a keeping alive, for subsistence). From the root חָיָה (ḥāyâ - to live, keep alive).
  • Analysis: This is the ultimate stated divine purpose. The word "miḥyâ" denotes preservation, sustenance, or livelihood. It explicitly means saving lives from the famine and ensuring the survival of the family and thus the seed promised to Abraham. This phrase provides comfort by showing that God brought good from their evil.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves": This command is not to deny their responsibility, but to move beyond crippling guilt and self-condemnation. Joseph offers them a way to interpret their past actions within a larger divine framework, encouraging psychological and emotional healing through a theological lens.
  • "that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you": This forms a striking antithesis. Joseph directly links their sinful act ("you sold me") with God's purposeful action ("God did send me"). It illustrates the concept of concurrence, where human will and divine will operate simultaneously, yet God remains sovereign and accomplishes His good purposes even through human wickedness. Their deed was not outside God's plan.
  • "to preserve life": This final phrase encapsulates God's redemptive intention. It means securing not just the physical survival of Jacob's family during the severe famine but also the continuity of the covenant line. This divine purpose elevates Joseph's suffering and their sin to a profound act within God's salvation history, paving the way for the nation of Israel.

Genesis 45 5 Bonus section

• Joseph as a Type of Christ: Joseph's story strikingly prefigures that of Jesus Christ. Both were beloved sons sent by their fathers, rejected and betrayed by their own brethren, sold for silver, falsely accused, suffered unjustly, were imprisoned, yet were exalted to a position of power (one in Egypt, one at God's right hand) through which they brought salvation and sustenance to their own people and beyond, not condemning but forgiving their persecutors. Joseph's words here, "God did send me... to preserve life," echo Christ's mission of preserving eternal life (Jn 10:10).
• The Nature of Divine Sovereignty and Human Responsibility: This verse beautifully illustrates the tension between God's sovereignty and human responsibility. God's act of "sending" Joseph does not diminish the brothers' blameworthiness for their "selling" him. Both aspects are presented as true. God can providentially orchestrate events, even working through the sinful choices of people, without Himself being the author of sin. This deep theological truth reassures believers that God's plans are unthwartable, even amidst chaos and evil wrought by others or self.
• Significance of "Preserve Life" (לְמִחְיָה - lĕmiḥyâ): This phrase implies more than just physical sustenance for Jacob's family during the famine. By preserving the patriarchal lineage, God ensured the continuation of the covenant promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This physical preservation was essential for the eventual birth of the nation Israel, from whom the Messiah would come, ultimately bringing spiritual and eternal life to all humanity.

Genesis 45 5 Commentary

Genesis 45:5 is a pinnacle of redemptive theology, demonstrating God's sovereign control over human events, including human sin, to bring about His predetermined benevolent purposes. Joseph does not excuse his brothers' moral culpability for their act of selling him into slavery, but rather reinterprets it through the lens of divine providence. Their evil intention was real, but God, in His wisdom and power, superimposed His perfect will upon their sinful act, causing it to serve as the very means by which He would save them and His covenant people from perishing. This perspective offers comfort and release from paralyzing guilt, revealing that God can meticulously weave together threads of suffering, betrayal, and human wickedness into a tapestry of His unfolding plan for life and salvation. Joseph's statement prepares them not for punishment, but for restoration, highlighting God's grace that super-abounds over sin, turning a familial tragedy into a miraculous rescue. It portrays Joseph as a forerunner of Christ, suffering unjustly but being exalted to a position of power to provide salvation.

Examples for practical usage:

• Finding Purpose in Adversity: When facing hardship, ask how God might be using the circumstances, even those caused by others' sin, to prepare for a greater good.
• Extending Forgiveness: Inspired by Joseph, learn to forgive those who have wronged you by recognizing God's ultimate sovereignty and ability to redeem situations.
• Trusting God's Plan: In situations where circumstances seem overwhelming or unjust, recall that God has a master plan and is capable of turning apparent evil into ultimate good.