Genesis 45 · Verse 3

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.
Genesis 45:3, King James Version

Genesis 45:3 in other translations

BSBJoseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.
WEBJoseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Does my father still live?” His brothers couldn’t answer him; for they were terrified at his presence.
ASVAnd 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.
YLTAnd Joseph saith unto his brethren, ‘I am Joseph, is my father yet alive?' and his brethren have not been able to answer him, for they have been troubled at his presence.
DARBYAnd Joseph said to his brethren, I am Joseph. Does my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him, for they were troubled at his presence.
BBEAnd Joseph said to his brothers, I am Joseph: is my father still living? But his brothers were not able to give him an answer for they were troubled before him.
WebsterAnd Joseph said to his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.

What does Genesis 45:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
3. I am Joseph--or, "terrified at his presence." The emotions that now rose in his breast as well as that of his brethren--and chased each other in rapid succession--were many and violent. He was agitated by sympathy and joy; they were astonished, confounded, terrified; and betrayed their terror, by shrinking as far as they could from his presence. So "troubled" were they, that he had to repeat his announcement of himself; and what kind, affectionate terms he did use. He spoke of their having sold him--not to wound their feelings, but to convince them of his identity; and then, to reassure their minds, he traced the agency of an overruling Providence, in his exile and present honor [Ge 35:5-7]. Not that he wished them to roll the responsibility of their crime on God; no, his only object was to encourage their confidence and induce them to trust in the plans he had formed for the future comfort of their father and themselves.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 I am Joseph - Mr. Pope supposed that the discovery of Ulysses to his son Telemachus bears some resemblance to Joseph's discovery of himself to his brethren. The passage may be seen in Homer, Odyss. l. xvi., ver. 186-218. A few lines from Cowper's translation will show much of the spirit of the original, and also a considerable analogy between the two scenes: - "I am thy father, for whose sake thou lead'st A life of wo by violence oppress'd. So saying, he kiss'd his son; while from his cheeks Tears trickled, tears till then perforce restrain'd. Then threw Telemachus His arms around his father's neck, and wept. Pangs of soft sorrow, not to be suppress'd, Seized both. So they, their cheeks with big round drops of wo Bedewing, stood."

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 45:3 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.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יוֹסֵ֤ףyo.SefJosephH3130
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אֶחָיו֙'e.Chavbrothers hisH251
אֲנִ֣י'a.NiIH589
יוֹסֵ֔ףyo.Sef[am] JosephH3130
הַע֥וֹדha.'od¿ stillH5750
אָבִ֖י'a.Vi[is] father myH1
חָ֑יChailivingH2416
וְלֹֽא\־ve.lo'-and notH3808
יָכְל֤וּya.khe.Luthey were ableH3201
אֶחָיו֙'e.Chavbrothers hisH251
לַעֲנ֣וֹתla.'a.Notto answerH6030
אֹת֔וֹ'o.To<obj.> himH853
כִּ֥יkiforH3588
נִבְהֲל֖וּniv.ha.Luthey were terrifiedH926
מִפָּנָֽיו\׃mi.pa.Navof <before> himH6440

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

Cross references for Genesis 45:3

  • Acts 7:13

    And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph’s kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

  • Acts 9:5

    And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

  • Zechariah 12:10

    And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

  • Revelation 1:7

    Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

  • Luke 24:37-38

    But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

  • Matthew 14:26-27

    And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

  • Mark 6:50

    For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

  • Job 4:5

    But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.

  • Luke 5:8

    When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

  • Job 23:15

    Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
I am Joseph.
Mt 14:27; Ac 7:13; 9:5
for they.
Job 4:5; 23:15; Zec 12:10; Mt 14:26; Mr 6:50; Lu 5:8; 24:37,38
Re 1:7
troubled. or, terrified.

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Genesis 45:4

    And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

Read all of Genesis 45

Genesis 45:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y dijo José á sus hermanos: Yo soy José: ¿vive aún mi padre? Y sus hermanos no pudieron responderle, porque estaban turbados delante de él.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Joseph dit à ses frères: Je suis Joseph. Mon père vit-il encore? Et ses frères ne pouvaient lui répondre, car ils étaient troublés devant lui.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Joseph sprach zu seinen Brüdern: Ich bin Joseph. Lebt mein Vater noch? Und seine Brüder konnten ihm nicht antworten, denn sie waren bestürzt vor ihm.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et dixit fratribus suis: Ego sum Joseph: adhuc pater meus vivit? Non poterant respondere fratres nimio terrore perterriti.