King James Version

What Does Genesis 45:17 Mean?

Genesis 45:17 in the King James Version says “And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Cana...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 45 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;”

Genesis 45:17 · KJV

Context

15

Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

16

And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well , and his servants. pleased: Heb. was good in the eyes of Pharaoh

17

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;

18

And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.

19

Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

Read Genesis 45 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you u... This passage is part of the Joseph narrative, a masterfully crafted account demonstrating God's sovereign providence working through human choices and circumstances to accomplish His redemptive purposes. The Joseph cycle shows how God transforms evil intentions into instruments of salvation.

Central themes include divine providence orchestrating events toward redemptive ends, the testing and refinement of character through suffering and success, forgiveness overcoming betrayal and injustice, and the preservation of God's covenant people through famine. Joseph's rise from slavery to second-in-command of Egypt illustrates how God exalts the humble and uses seeming disasters for ultimate good.

Theologically, these chapters reveal: (1) God's meticulous sovereignty over all events, even evil human actions; (2) suffering as preparation for future service rather than punishment; (3) forgiveness as reflecting divine character and enabling reconciliation; (4) God's covenant faithfulness across generations ensuring the survival and blessing of His people; (5) how present suffering gains meaning when viewed from the perspective of God's larger purposes. Joseph's words "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good" (50:20) epitomize biblical theodicy and providence.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12-50) reflect the cultural, social, and legal customs of the ancient Near East during the Middle Bronze Age (2000-1500 BCE). Archaeological discoveries including the Mari tablets, Nuzi tablets, and Egyptian records confirm many details: nomadic pastoralism, covenant-making ceremonies, marriage customs, property laws, and international travel patterns described in Genesis.

The cultural practices reflected include: treaty/covenant forms (Genesis 15), bride-price customs (Genesis 24, 29), inheritance laws favoring firstborn sons (Genesis 25, 27), adoption practices (Genesis 15, 30), levirate-type arrangements (Genesis 38), and Egyptian administrative systems (Genesis 41, 47). These parallels confirm Genesis's historical reliability while showing how God worked within ancient cultural frameworks to accomplish His purposes.

For later Israelites, these narratives established their identity as Abraham's descendants, explained their claim to Canaan, justified their possession of Joseph's bones (Exodus 13:19), and provided models of faith despite imperfection. The patriarchs' failures and God's faithfulness encouraged Israel that covenant relationship depended on God's grace rather than human merit. The movement from Mesopotamia to Canaan to Egypt set the stage for the Exodus and conquest narratives.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this verse contribute to the biblical doctrine of creation, fall, or redemption?
  2. How can we apply the principles from this passage to contemporary challenges in family, work, or church?
  3. How does understanding Christ as the ultimate fulfillment illuminate this passage's meaning?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
אֱמֹ֥ר1 of 16

“Say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

פַּרְעֹה֙2 of 16

“And Pharaoh”

H6547

paroh, a general title of egyptian kings

אֶל3 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יוֹסֵ֔ף4 of 16

“unto Joseph”

H3130

joseph, the name of seven israelites

אֱמֹ֥ר5 of 16

“Say”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל6 of 16
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אַחֶ֖יךָ7 of 16

“unto thy brethren”

H251

a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])

זֹ֣את8 of 16
H2063

this (often used adverb)

עֲשׂ֑וּ9 of 16

“This do”

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

טַֽעֲנוּ֙10 of 16

“ye lade”

H2943

to load a beast

אֶת11 of 16
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בְּעִ֣ירְכֶ֔ם12 of 16

“your beasts”

H1165

cattle

וּלְכוּ13 of 16
H1980

to walk (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

בֹ֖אוּ14 of 16

“get”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

אַ֥רְצָה15 of 16

“you unto the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

כְּנָֽעַן׃16 of 16

“of Canaan”

H3667

kenaan, a son a ham; also the country inhabited by him

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Genesis. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Genesis 45:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Genesis 45:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 42:25-26Genesis 44:1-2

Places in This Verse

CanaanRegion · Modern: Canaan · 32.77°N, 35.33°E101 verses across 16 books
View all places in Genesis 45 →

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