Genesis 45:18

Then bring your father and your families and return to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat from the fat of the land.’

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joseph addresses his brothers in Egypt, directing them to gather Jacob and their households and return to him immediately following Pharaoh’s prior command.

The words — The Hebrew imperative קְחוּ (qəḥû) translates literally to “fetch” or “take,” governing the objects אֶת־אֲבִיכֶם (’et-’ăḇîḵem, “your father”) and בָּתֵּיכֶם (bāṯêḵem, “your households”). The conjunction וְאֶתְּנָה (wə’ettênâ) introduces the clause “so let me give,” marking a direct divine authorization behind the royal promise.

The thread — The guarantee of Egypt’s “best” and “fat” mirrors the agricultural abundance promised in Genesis 27:28 and anticipates the specific settlement location described in Genesis 47:6. The terminology for finest produce parallels the dedication language found in Numbers 18:12.

Why it lands — The verse explicitly commands family relocation to Egypt and pledges access to its richest agricultural resources. A reader must observe that this provision functions as a structural guarantee of survival, placing the family’s welfare under Joseph’s administrative control.

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

וּקְח֧וּu./ke.Chuand/ fetch אֶת־'et-<obj.>אֲבִיכֶ֛ם'a.vi./Khemfather/ your וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>בָּתֵּיכֶ֖םba.tei./Khemhouseholds/ your וּבֹ֣אוּu./Vo.'uand/ come אֵלָ֑י'e.La/ito/ me וְאֶתְּנָ֣הve./'e.te.Nahso/ let me giveלָכֶ֗םla./Khemto/ youאֶת־'et-<obj.>טוּב֙tuv[the] good thing[s] of אֶ֣רֶץ'E.retz[the] land of מִצְרַ֔יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgypt וְאִכְל֖וּve./'ikh.Luand/ eat אֶת־'et-<obj.>חֵ֥לֶבChe.lev[the] fat of הָאָֽרֶץ׃ha./'A.retzthe/ land

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Genesis 27:28 May God give to you the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth—an abundance of grain and new wine.
Genesis 47:6 the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They may dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know of any talented men among them, put them in charge of my own livestock.”
Numbers 18:12 I give you all the freshest olive oil and all the finest new wine and grain that the Israelites give to the LORD as their firstfruits.
Numbers 18:29 You must present the offering due the LORD from all the best of every gift, the holiest part of it.’
Psalms 147:14 He makes peace at your borders; He fills you with the finest wheat.
Deuteronomy 32:14 with curds from the herd and milk from the flock, with the fat of lambs, with rams from Bashan, and goats, with the choicest grains of wheat. From the juice of the finest grapes you drank the wine.
Psalms 81:16 But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”
Isaiah 28:1 Woe to the majestic crown of Ephraim’s drunkards, to the fading flower of his glorious splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, the pride of those overcome by wine.
Isaiah 28:4 The fading flower of his beautiful splendor, set on the summit above the fertile valley, will be like a ripe fig before the summer harvest: Whoever sees it will take it in his hand and swallow it.