And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.
Parallel translations
- WEB They told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” His heart fainted, for he didn’t believe them.
- BSB “Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them.
- NKJV And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” And Jacob’s heart stood still, because he did not believe them.
- NASB And they told him, saying, “Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.” But he was stunned, for he did not believe them.
- NLT “Joseph is still alive!” they told him. “And he is governor of all the land of Egypt!” Jacob was stunned at the news—he couldn’t believe it.
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
Told that Joseph lives and rules Egypt, Jacob's heart faints because he cannot believe it. The news is too good to be received at first.
Overview
The brothers announce that Joseph is alive and governs Egypt, but Jacob is stunned into disbelief. Years of grief and presumed loss make the joyful report hard to accept. His initial unbelief gives way only when the evidence of Joseph's love is set before him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Gen 44:28And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:
- Gen 37:35And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
- Gen 45:8–9So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
- Job 9:16If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
- Gen 42:38And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
- Luke 24:11And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
- Gen 42:36And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
- Job 29:24If I laughed on them, they believed it not; and the light of my countenance they cast not down.
- Luke 24:34Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
- Luke 24:41And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
- Jonah 2:7When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD: and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
- Ps 105:21He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
- Ps 126:1When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
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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 45:26 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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