Bible Strands
Genesis 45:15
Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joseph speaks to his brothers in Egypt immediately after revealing his identity and embracing Benjamin.
The words — The Hebrew וַיִּשַּׁק (va.yi.shak, "and he kissed") paired with לְכָל־אֶחָיו (le.khol.acha.v, "to all his brothers") records a physical gesture, while וַיֵּבְכּ (va.ye.vekh, "and he wept") and עֲלֵיהֶם (a.lei.hem, "over them") document his tears. The clause וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן דִּבְּרוּ (ve.a.cha.rei.ken.di.be.ru, "and afterward they spoke") notes the brothers' subsequent verbal response.
The thread — The sequence of weeping and kissing upon reunion appears in Genesis 29:11 and Genesis 29:13, while the emotional embrace parallels the father's reaction in Luke 15:20.
Why it lands — The verse records Joseph's tears and kisses preceding the brothers' speech, establishing that reconciliation moves from physical and emotional acknowledgment to verbal engagement.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
Cross-references
- Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.
- Genesis 29:11 Then Jacob kissed Rachel and wept aloud.
- Genesis 29:13 When Laban heard the news about his sister’s son Jacob, he ran out to meet him. He embraced him and kissed him and brought him to his home, where Jacob told him all that had happened.
- Genesis 33:4 Esau, however, ran to him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.
- Genesis 45:2 But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.
- Exodus 4:27 Meanwhile, the LORD had said to Aaron, “Go and meet Moses in the wilderness.” So he went and met Moses at the mountain of God and kissed him.
- Ruth 1:9 May the LORD enable each of you to find rest in the home of your new husband.” And she kissed them as they wept aloud
- Ruth 1:14 Again they wept aloud, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law goodbye, but Ruth clung to her.
- 1 Samuel 10:1 Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?
- 1 Samuel 20:41 When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more.