New International Version
Genesis 45:5
5And 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 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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (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.
Context of Genesis 45:5
3Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still living?” But his brothers were not able to answer him, because they were terrified at his presence. 4Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come close to me.” When they had done so, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 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. 6For two years now there has been famine in the land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. 7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on 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 40:1Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
- Luke 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
- 2 Corinthians 2:7Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow.
- Genesis 45:7But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
- Genesis 47:25“You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”
- Genesis 50:20You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
- 1 Samuel 1:19Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
- 2 Samuel 12:12You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ”
- 2 Samuel 16:10But the king said, “What does this have to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’ ”
- 2 Samuel 17:14Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
- Job 1:21and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
- Psalms 105:16He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food;
- Acts 2:23This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.
- Acts 4:24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.
- Acts 7:9“Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave 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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