New Living Translation
Genesis 45:26
26“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.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of Genesis 45:26
24So Joseph sent his brothers off, and as they left, he called after them, “Don’t quarrel about all this along the way!” 25And they left Egypt and returned to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan. “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. 27But when they repeated to Jacob everything Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons Joseph had sent to carry him, their father’s spirits revived. 28Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must 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 24:34who said, “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”
- Genesis 45:8So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.
- Psalms 105:21Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions.
- Genesis 37:35His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep.
- Genesis 42:36Jacob exclaimed, “You are robbing me of my children! Joseph is gone! Simeon is gone! And now you want to take Benjamin, too. Everything is going against me!”
- Genesis 44:28and one of them went away and never returned. Doubtless he was torn to pieces by some wild animal. I have never seen him since.
- Jonah 2:7As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.
- Job 9:16And even if I summoned him and he responded, I’m not sure he would listen to me.
- Job 29:24When they were discouraged, I smiled at them. My look of approval was precious to them.
- Psalms 126:1When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
- Luke 24:11But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.
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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