English Standard Version
Genesis 45:26
26And they told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them.
Genesis 45:26 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.
- New International Version (NIV)They told him, “Joseph is still alive! In fact, he is ruler of all Egypt.” Jacob was stunned; he did not believe them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it.
Context of Genesis 45:26
24Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, "Do not quarrel on the way." 25So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob. And they told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28And Israel said, "It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."
Read all of Genesis 45Genesis 45:26 word by word
וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ ל֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר ע֚וֹד יוֹסֵ֣ף חַ֔י וְכִֽי־ה֥וּא מֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֣פָג לִבּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י לֹא־הֶאֱמִ֖ין לָהֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
- him, sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
- yet aliveחַיchay · aliveH2416
- governorמָשַׁלmâshal · to ruleH4910
- over all the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
- of Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- And Jacob’s heartלֵבlêb · heartH3820
- faintedפּוּגpûg · be numbH6313
- for he believedאָמַן'âman · be faithfulH539
Cross-references for Genesis 45:26
- Luke 24:34saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"
- Genesis 45:8So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.
- Psalms 105:21he made him lord of his house and ruler of all his possessions,
- Genesis 37:35All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, "No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning." Thus his father wept for him.
- Genesis 42:36And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me."
- Genesis 44:28One left me, and I said, "Surely he has been torn to pieces," and I have never seen him since.
- Jonah 2:7When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.
- Job 9:16If I summoned him and he answered me, I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.
- Job 29:24I smiled on them when they had no confidence, and the light of my face they did not cast down.
- Psalms 126:1When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
- Luke 24:11but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
Commentaries on Genesis 45:26
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26Jacob's heart fainted - Probably the good news so overpowered him as to cast him into a swoon. He believed them not - he thought it was too good news to be true; and though it occasioned his swooning, yet on his recovery he could not fully credit it. See a similar case, Luke 24:41; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-28Verses 1-28 - Joseph Made Himself Known to His Brethren 10. גשׁן gôshen Goshen, Gesem (Arabias related perhaps to גשׁם geshem “rain, shower”), a region on the borders of Egypt and Arabia, near the gulf of Suez. The appeal of Judah is to Joseph irresistible. The repentance of his brothers, and their attachment to Benjamin, have been demonstrated in the most satisfactory manner. This is all that Joseph sought. It is evident, throughout the whole narrative…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-28Verses 25-28 To hear that Joseph is alive, is too good news to be true; Jacob faints, for he believes it not. We faint, because we do not believe. At length, Jacob is convinced of the truth. Jacob was old, and did not expect to live long. He says, Let my eyes be refreshed with this sight before they are closed, and then I need no more to make me happy in this world. Behold Jesus manifesting himself as a Brother and a Friend to those who once were his…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 26-28As expected, Jacob was shocked when he heard that his son Joseph was still alive and ruling all Egypt. But as he heard their full report and saw everything Joseph had sent, he became convinced it was true. At once, he prepared to go to Egypt and see Joseph again after 22 years.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-281. Then Joseph could not refrain himself--The severity of the inflexible magistrate here gives way to the natural feelings of the man and the brother. However well he had disciplined his mind, he felt it impossible to resist the artless eloquence of Judah. He saw a satisfactory proof, in the return of all his brethren on such an occasion, that they were affectionately united to one another; he had heard enough to convince him that time, reflection, or…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 45:26
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 45
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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