Genesis 45:19

You are also directed to tell them: ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives, and bring your father and come back.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joseph speaks to his brothers in Egypt, issuing a direct command to relay his instructions regarding the family's relocation. He directs them to secure transport and bring Jacob and the household back to the land.

The words — The Hebrew text highlights צֻוֵּיתָה (tzu.Vei.tah), meaning "you are commanded," and עֲגָל֗וֹת (a.ga.Lot), meaning "carts" or wagons. These terms anchor the directive in official authority and the specific provision of transport.

The thread — The provision of wagons recurs in Genesis 46:5 when Pharaoh supplies carts for the migration, and in Genesis 45:27 when the brothers witness them. This contrasts with Genesis 31:17, where Jacob previously used camels to transport his family.

Why it lands — The passage requires readers to recognize the practical provision of state resources for family preservation and obedience. It establishes a pattern where divine orchestration operates through tangible, logistical means rather than abstract promises.

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

וְאַתָּ֥הve./'a.Tahand/ you צֻוֵּ֖יתָהtzu.Vei.tahyou are commanded זֹ֣אתzotthis עֲשׂ֑וּ'a.Sudo קְחוּ־ke.chu-takeלָכֶם֩la./Khemfor/ yourselvesמֵאֶ֨רֶץme./'E.retzfrom/ [the] land of מִצְרַ֜יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgypt עֲגָל֗וֹתa.ga.Lotcarts לְטַפְּכֶם֙le./ta.pe./Khemfor/ little one[s]/ your וְלִנְשֵׁיכֶ֔םve./li/n.shei./Khemand/ for/ wives/ your וּנְשָׂאתֶ֥םu./ne.sa.Temand/ you will carry אֶת־'et-<obj.>אֲבִיכֶ֖ם'a.vi./Khemfather/ your וּבָאתֶֽם׃u./va.Temand/ you will come

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Genesis 46:5 Then Jacob departed from Beersheba, and the sons of Israel took their father Jacob in the wagons Pharaoh had sent to carry him, along with their children and wives.
Genesis 45:27 However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived.
Genesis 31:17 Then Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels,
Isaiah 49:1 Listen to Me, O islands; pay attention, O distant peoples: The LORD called Me from the womb; from the body of My mother He named Me.
Isaiah 49:23 Kings will be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers. They will bow to you facedown and lick the dust at your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD; those who hope in Me will never be put to shame.”