New Living Translation
Genesis 45:5
5But 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 45:5 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
3“I am Joseph!” he said to his brothers. “Is my father still alive?” But his brothers were speechless! They were stunned to realize that Joseph was standing there in front of them. 4“Please, come closer,” he said to them. So they came closer. And he said again, “I am Joseph, your brother, whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. 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. 6This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. 7God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.
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 23:34Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
- 2 Corinthians 2:7Now, however, it is time to forgive and comfort him. Otherwise he may be overcome by discouragement.
- Genesis 45:7God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors.
- Genesis 47:25“You have saved our lives!” they exclaimed. “May it please you, my lord, to let us be Pharaoh’s servants.”
- Genesis 50:20You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
- 1 Samuel 1:19The entire family got up early the next morning and went to worship the Lord once more. Then they returned home to Ramah. When Elkanah slept with Hannah, the Lord remembered her plea,
- 2 Samuel 12:12You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”
- 2 Samuel 16:10“No!” the king said. “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah! If the Lord has told him to curse me, who are you to stop him?”
- 2 Samuel 17:14Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “Hushai’s advice is better than Ahithophel’s.” For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!
- Job 1:21He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”
- Psalms 105:16He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply.
- Acts 2:23But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.
- Acts 4:24When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: “O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—
- Acts 7:9“These patriarchs were jealous of their brother Joseph, and they sold him to be a slave in 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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