King James Version

What Does Genesis 45:19 Mean?

Genesis 45:19 in the King James Version says “Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, a...” — study this verse from Genesis chapter 45 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

Genesis 45:19 · KJV

Context

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.

20

Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. regard: Heb. let not your eye spare, etc.

21

And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. commandment: Heb. mouth

Read Genesis 45 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, a... 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. What does this passage reveal about God's sovereignty and human responsibility?
  2. How should this truth about Family Reunion shape our daily decisions and priorities?
  3. In what ways does this narrative foreshadow or typify aspects of Christ's redemptive work?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
וְאַתָּ֥ה1 of 15
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

צֻוֵּ֖יתָה2 of 15

“Now thou art commanded”

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

זֹ֣את3 of 15
H2063

this (often used adverb)

עֲשׂ֑וּ4 of 15

“this do”

H6213

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

קְחוּ5 of 15

“ye take”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

לָכֶם֩6 of 15
H0
מֵאֶ֨רֶץ7 of 15

“out of the land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

מִצְרַ֜יִם8 of 15

“of Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

עֲגָל֗וֹת9 of 15

“you wagons”

H5699

something revolving, i.e., a wheeled vehicle

לְטַפְּכֶם֙10 of 15

“for your little ones”

H2945

a family (mostly used collectively in the singular)

וְלִנְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם11 of 15

“and for your wives”

H802

a woman

וּנְשָׂאתֶ֥ם12 of 15

“and bring”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

אֶת13 of 15
H853

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

אֲבִיכֶ֖ם14 of 15

“your father”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

וּבָאתֶֽם׃15 of 15

“and come”

H935

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

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 45:19 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 45:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 46:5Genesis 45:27Isaiah 49:1Isaiah 49:23Genesis 31:17-18

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in Genesis 45 →

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