Genesis 45 · Verse 2

Genesis 45:2

And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.

Genesis 45:2, King James Version

Genesis 45:2 in other translations

BSB	But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.
WEB	He wept aloud. The Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
ASV	And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
YLT	and he giveth forth his voice in weeping, and the Egyptians hear, and the house of Pharaoh heareth.
DARBY	And he raised his voice in weeping; and the Egyptians heard, and the house of Pharaoh heard.
BBE	And so loud was his weeping, that it came to the ears of the Egyptians and all Pharaoh's house.
Webster	And he wept aloud; and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.

What does Genesis 45:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

2. he wept aloud--No doubt, from the fulness of highly excited feelings; but to indulge in vehement and long-continued transports of sobbing is the usual way in which the Orientals express their grief.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 2 The Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard - It seems strange that Joseph should have wept so loud that his cries should be heard at some considerable distance, as we may suppose his dwelling was not very nigh to the palace! "But this," says Sir John Chardin, "is exactly the genius of the people of Asia - their sentiments of joy or grief are properly transports, and their transports are ungoverned, excessive, and truly outrageous. When any one returns from a long journey, or dies, his family burst into cries that may be heard twenty doors off; and this is renewed at different times, and continues many days, according to the vigor of the passion. Sometimes they cease all at once, and then begin as suddenly with a greater shrillness and loudness than one could easily imagine." This circumstance Sir John brings to illustrate the verse in question. See Harmer, vol. iii. p. 17. But the house of Pharaoh may certainly signify Pharaoh's servants, or any of the members of his household, such as those whom Joseph had desired to withdraw, and who might still be within hearing of his voice. After all, the words may only mean that the report was brought to Pharaoh's house. See Gen 45:16.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 45:1-15

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, and very tender of their brother Benjamin. Now they were ripe for the comfort he designed, by making himself known. Joseph ordered all his attendants to withdraw. Thus Christ makes himself and his loving-kindness known to…

Read the full comment on Genesis 45:1-15 →

Genesis 45:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיִּתֵּ֥ןvai.yi.Tenand he gaveH5414

אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853

קֹל֖וֹko.Lovoice hisH6963

בִּבְכִ֑יbiv.Khiin weepingH1065

וַיִּשְׁמְע֣וּvai.yish.me.'Uand they heardH8085

מִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgyptH4713

וַיִּשְׁמַ֖עvai.yish.Ma'and it heardH8085

בֵּ֥יתbeit[the] household ofH1004

פַּרְעֹֽה\׃par.'OhPharaohH6547

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 45:2

Numbers 14:1
And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.
Genesis 46:29
And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
Acts 20:37
And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
Ruth 1:9
The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.
2 Kings 20:3
I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

wept aloud. Heb. gave forth his voice in weeping."This," says Sir J. Chardin, "is exactly the genius of the people of Asia; their sentiments of joy or grief are properly transports, and their transports are ungoverned, excessive, and truly outrageous. When anyone returns from a long journey or dies, his family burst into cries that may be heard twenty doors off; and this is renewed at different times, and continues many days, according to the vigour of the passion. Sometimes they cease all at once, and then begin as suddenly, with a greater shrillness and loudness than one could easily imagine."
Nu 14:1; Ru 1:9; 2Ki 20:3; Ac 20:37

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

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 known unto his brethren.
Genesis 45:2
And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
Genesis 45:3
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.

Read all of Genesis 45

Genesis 45:2 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Entonces se dió á llorar á voz en grito; y oyeron los Egipcios, y oyó también la casa de Faraón.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et il laissa éclater sa voix en pleurs, et les Égyptiens l’entendirent, et la maison du Pharaon l’entendit.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und er erhob seine Stimme mit Weinen; und die Ägypter hörten es, und das Haus des Pharao hörte es.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Elevavitque vocem cum fletu, quam audierunt Ægyptii, omnisque domus Pharaonis.