He washed his face, and came out. He controlled himself, and said, “Serve the meal.”
Parallel translations
- KJV And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
- BSB Then he washed his face and came back out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.”
- NKJV Then he washed his face and came out; and he restrained himself, and said, “Serve the bread.”
- NASB Then he washed his face and came out; and he controlled himself and said, “Serve the meal.”
- NLT After washing his face, he came back out, keeping himself under control. Then he ordered, “Bring out the food!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joseph washes his face, regains composure, and orders the meal served. He masters his emotion to continue the careful plan.
Overview
Restraining his tears, Joseph keeps his identity hidden a little longer to complete the testing of his brothers. His self-control serves a redemptive purpose, not pride or distance. The meal he commands becomes a setting of reconciliation in process, awaiting the right moment for the truth.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Gen 45:1Then Joseph couldn’t control himself before all those who stood before him, and he cried, “Cause everyone to go out from me!” No one else stood with him, while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.
- 1 Pet 3:10For, “He who would love life, and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.
- Isa 42:14“I have been silent a long time. I have been quiet and restrained myself. Now I will cry out like a travailing woman. I will both gasp and pant.
- Jer 31:16Yahweh says: “Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded,” says Yahweh; “and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 43:31 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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