New English Translation
Genesis 45:5
5Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life!
Genesis 45:5 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (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.
- English Standard Version (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.
- New King James Version (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.
Context of Genesis 45:5
3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” His brothers could not answer him because they were dumbfounded before him. 4Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me,” so they came near. Then he said, “I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. Now, do not be upset and do not be angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life! 6For these past two years there has been famine in the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
Read all of Genesis 45Genesis 45:5 word by word
וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ אַל־תֵּעָ֣צְב֗וּ וְאַל־יִ֙חַר֙ בְּעֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־מְכַרְתֶּ֥ם אֹתִ֖י הֵ֑נָּה כִּ֣י לְמִֽחְיָ֔ה שְׁלָחַ֥נִי אֱלֹהִ֖ים לִפְנֵיכֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Now therefore be not grievedעָצַב‛âtsab · to hurtH6087
- nor angryחָרָהchârâh · to be incensedH2734
- with yourselvesעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
- that ye soldמָכַרmâkar · to sellH4376
- me hither: for Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- did sendשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
- me before youפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- to preserve lifeמִחְיָהmichyâh · recoveryH4241
Cross-references for Genesis 45:5
- Isaiah 40:1“Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.
- Luke 23:34[But Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”] Then they threw dice to divide his clothes.
- 2 Corinthians 2:7so that now instead you should rather forgive and comfort him. This will keep him from being overwhelmed by excessive grief to the point of despair.
- Genesis 45:7God sent me ahead of you to preserve you on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
- Genesis 47:25They replied, “You have saved our lives! You are showing us favor, and we will be Pharaoh’s slaves.”
- Genesis 50:20As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day.
- 1 Samuel 1:19They got up early the next morning and after worshiping the Lord, they returned to their home at Ramah. Elkanah had marital relations with his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
- 2 Samuel 12:12Although you have acted in secret, I will do this thing before all Israel, and in broad daylight.’”
- 2 Samuel 16:10But the king said, “What do we have in common, you sons of Zeruiah? If he curses because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David!’, who can say to him, ‘Why have you done this?’”
- 2 Samuel 17:14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite sounds better than the advice of Ahithophel.” Now the Lord had decided to frustrate the sound advice of Ahithophel, so that the Lord could bring disaster on Absalom.
- Job 1:21He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!”
- Psalms 105:16He called down a famine upon the earth; he cut off all the food supply.
- Acts 2:23this man, who was handed over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you executed by nailing him to a cross at the hands of Gentiles.
- Acts 4:24When they heard this, they raised their voices to God with one mind and said, “Master of all, you who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them,
- Acts 7:9The patriarchs, because they were jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt. But God was with him,
Commentaries on Genesis 45:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves - This discovers a truly noble mind: he not only forgives and forgets, but he wishes even those who had wronged him to forget the injury they had done, that they might not suffer distress on the account; and with deep piety he attributes the whole to the providence of God; for, says he, God did send me before you to preserve life. On every word here a strong emphasis may be laid. It is not you, but God; it is not…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
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5-8it was not you who sent me here, but God: This is the main message of Jacob's family story (37:2). As the Lord had told Abraham, he was bringing the Israelites into Egypt (15:13). God sent Joseph ahead to prepare a way to save his family during the famine. This is a clear statement about God’s sovereignty (his complete rule and control over all things). Joseph explained that God was at work through all events and human actions to carry out his plan…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 45:5
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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