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Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Genesis 45:8

not you … but God Notice how Joseph here for the third time ascribes his presence in Egypt to the act of God; cf. Genesis 45:5; Genesis 45:7.

a father to Pharaoh According to some scholars, the word "father" was in use among Egyptians as a technical title of honour and position; cf. the use of the word in a more general sense, 2 Kings 2:12; 1Ma 11:32; and Add. Esth. 16:11. Observe the three phrases, "father," "lord," and "ruler," corresponding to Joseph's position, personal, social, and national, i.e. towards Pharaoh, towards the people, towards the kingdom.

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See also Genesis 45:8 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 45:8. _HE HATH MADE ME A FATHER TO PHARAOH_] It has already been conjectured that _father_ was a name of _office_ in Egypt, and that _father of Pharaoh_ might among them signify the sam...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - 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...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 45 JOSEPH REVEALS HIMSELF _ 1. He reveals himself (Genesis 45:1)_ 2. His address (Genesis 45:4) 3. He kissed his brethren (Genesis 45:14) 4. Pharaoh's command ...

  • B. W. Johnson's Bible Commentary

    SO NOW IT WAS NOT YOU THAT SENT ME HITHER, BUT GOD. If Joseph's brethren had said this we would have been justified in charging them with the crime of trying to shuffle off the responsibility for the...

  • Charles Simeon's Horae Homileticae

    DISCOURSE: 56 GOD VIEWED IN JOSEPH’S ADVANCEMENT Genesis 45:8. _So now, it was not you that sent me hither, but God._ BY looking through second causes to the first Cause of all, we learn to trace eve...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    HATH MADE ME A FATHER TO PHARAOH— i.e.. God has given me as much authority in the court of Pharaoh, as if I were really the king's father; so that he undertakes nothing without my advice, and executes...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    3. _Joseph as Prime Minister of Egypt_ (Genesis 41:46 to Genesis 47:31) 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh,...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _SO NOW IT WAS NOT YOU THAT SENT ME HITHER, BUT GOD: AND HE HATH MADE ME A FATHER TO PHARAOH, AND LORD OF ALL HIS HOUSE, AND A RULER THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT._ It was not you that sent me hit...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BRETHREN. PHARAOH INVITES JACOB AND HIS FAMILY TO SETTLE IN EGYPT 5-7. Joseph declares that the events of the past all witnessed to the providential care of God....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    A FATHER TO PHARAOH] a title of honour and respect: cp. Isaiah 22:21....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    ‘Like a father to *Pharaoh’ Perhaps this means that he had looked after *Pharaoh’s business. Or perhaps this was an official name that described Joseph’s authority. V9 Joseph continued, ‘Hurry! Go to...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 45 JOSEPH TELLS HIS BROTHERS WHO HE IS V1 Then Joseph could not control himself in front of all those who stood by him. He cried, ‘Make every one...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BUT GOD. — Heb., _but the God._ The article is. rarely found with Elohim in the history of Joseph, but wherever it is added it is a sign of deep feeling on the speaker’s part. (Comp. Genesis 48:15.) I...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וְ עַתָּ֗ה לֹֽא ־אַתֶּ֞ם שְׁלַחְתֶּ֤ם אֹתִי֙...

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE RECONCILIATION Genesis 45:1 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones.- Hebrews 11:22 IT is generally by so...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JOSEPH MAKES HIMSELF KNOWN TO HIS BROTHERS Genesis 45:1 It may be that we have here an exact representation of a scene which shall be transacted some day, when our Lord makes Himself known to His bre...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In the account of Joseph's revelation of himself to his brethren, the chief value is in his recognition of the fact that his destiny had been in the hand of God: "It was not you that sent me hither, b...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    JOSEPH MADE KNOWN TO HIS BROTHERS Joseph could restrain himself no longer, so he caused all the servants to leave. He revealed his true identity to his brothers and openly wept. The brothers were fear...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    So now [it was] not you [that] sent me hither, but (c) God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (c) Though God detests si...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Counsel. Joseph's brethren had no design of elevating him to so high a dignity; but God's will directed Pharao to appoint him his counsellor or prime minister. His father. (Haydock) --- So the Roman...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Genesis 50:20; Psalms 105:16 Observe how piety and charity are blended. Reader! while we behold the LORD'S hand in all the appointments of life, we shall never be disposed to feel much anger at the in...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    8._So now, it was not you that sent me hither_. This is a remarkable passage, in which we are taught that the right course of events is never so disturbed by the depravity and wickedness of men, but t...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 42 THROUGH 47. At the same time another scene presents itself. His brethren, who had rejected him, forced by famine, are brought, by the path of repentance an...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    SO NOW [IT WAS] NOT YOU [THAT] SENT ME HITHER, BUT GOD,.... Which is to be understood not absolutely, as if they had no concern at all in sending him thither; they sold him to the Ishmaelites, who bro...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    So now [it was] not you [that] sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. Ver. 8. _It was not you that...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _It was not you that sent me hither, but God_ That I came to this place and pitch of honour and power is not to be imputed to your design, which was of another nature, but to God's overruling providen...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Ioseph maketh himselfe knowen to his brethren. 5 Hee comforteth them in Gods prouidence. 9 Hee sendeth for his father. 16 Pharaoh confirmeth it. 21 Ioseph furnisheth them for their iourney, and...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God; they were mere instruments in the hand of Providence; AND HE HATH MADE ME A FATHER TO PHARAOH, his confidential counselor and friend, AND LORD OF AL...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Joseph Makes Himself Known...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    SEVENTH SECTION _The second journey. Benjamin accompanying. Joseph maketh himself known to his brethren. Their return. Jacob’s joy._ GENESIS 43-45 A. The trial of the brethren. Their repentance and...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JOSEPH REVEALS HIMSELF Now that the grace of God has wrought genuine repentance in the hearts of the brothers, and Judah in particular, Joseph is free to reveal to them His own true identity. He was...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-15 Joseph let Judah go on, and heard all he had to say. He found his brethren humbled for their sins, mindful of himself, for Judah had mentioned him twice in his speech, respectful to their father...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    That I came to this place, and pitch of honour and power, is not to be imputed to your design, which was of another nature, but to God's overruling providence, which ordered the circumstances of your...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    On which we shall dwell more particularly. There is not in scripture a more perfect and beautiful type of Christ than Joseph. Whether we view Christ as the object of the Father's love, the object of t...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 45:8 sent H7971 (H8804) God H430 made H7760 (H8799) father H1 Pharaoh H6547 lord H113 house...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    JOSEPH REVEALS HIS IDENTITY TO HIS BROTHERS AND SENDS FOR JACOB (GENESIS 45:1) Genesis 45:1 ‘Then Joseph could not restrain himself in front of all those who stood by him and he cried, “Cause every...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 45:5 , GENESIS 45:8 The words of Joseph in the text contrast somewhat strangely with the words spoken by his brethren of themselves. It is clear that the view he took of their conduct was the...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 45:7 I. "God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth." Joseph referred the whole order and purpose of his existence, all that had been adverse to it, all that had been pros...

  • Spurgeon's Bible Commentary

    Genesis 45:1. _Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him: and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself know...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Joseph reveals himself to his brethren whom he blesses and sends back to Egypt. CHARACTERS: Joseph, brothers, Pharaoh, Jacob. CONCLUSION: «He worketh all things together for good to them t...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 45:5. _Be not grieved;_ that is, not with any farther grief and trouble; for ye have wept and suffered enough. It was God, who taking advantage of your fault, sent me before you to preserve li...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 45:8 Joseph probably calls himself a FATHER TO PHARAOH to express his commitment to Pharaoh’s well-being. ⇐...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 45:1 Moved by Judah’s speech, Joseph is unable to restrain his emotions. He reveals his true identity to his amazed brothers. In a long speech he attempts to lessen their sense...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 45:6. Earring.] _To ear in_ the Anglo-Saxon means _to plough._ The word is used in this sense in Exodus 34:12; Deuteronomy 21:4.—...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 45:1, GENESIS 45:2 THEN (literally, and) JOSEPH COULD NOT REFRAIN HIMSELF (_i.e._ keep himself from giving way to the impulses of love) BEFORE ALL THEM THAT STOOD BY HIM ...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    Then Joseph could not refrain himself before them that stood by him; and he cried and he said, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known to hi...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    it was not. Genesis 45:5 John 15:16 John 19:11 Romans 9:16 father. Genesis 41:39

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    JOSEPH MAKING HIMSELF KNOWN Genesis 45:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS Chapter 44 of Genesis is introductory to 45. 1. DOING EVIL FOR GOOD. This is discussed in Genesis 44:1. Of course the sons of Jacob had n...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    See what a favourable colour he puts upon the injury they had done him, God sent me before you — God's Israel is the particular care of God's providence. Joseph reckoned that his advancement was not s...

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