Bible Strands
Genesis 45:17
Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Pharaoh addresses Joseph immediately after his court learns that Joseph’s brothers have arrived in Egypt and are received with pleasure. The speech occurs at the moment of transition, directing Joseph to relay instructions to his brothers before the family’s full relocation is arranged.
The words — The verse begins with וַ/יֹּ֤אמֶר (va/i.Yo.mer), meaning “and he said,” and contains אֱמֹ֥ר ('e.Mor), meaning “say,” which marks Pharaoh’s command as a direct verbal relay to the brothers.
The thread — This directive to load animals and return to Canaan parallels Joseph’s earlier logistical commands in Genesis 42:25 and Genesis 44:1, where grain is packed and silver is returned to the brothers’ sacks.
Why it lands — The text records a royal order that reverses the brothers’ route from Egypt to Canaan, requiring the reader to observe how Pharaoh’s authority functions as the mechanism for Joseph’s family’s physical restoration.
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
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
Cross-references
- Genesis 42:25 Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return each man’s silver to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This order was carried out,
- Genesis 44:1 Then Joseph instructed his steward: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s silver in the mouth of his sack.