Genesis 45 in the early church

55 passages quote, allude to, or echo Genesis 45, grouped by verse; passages on the same verse are in date order. Verse text from the Berean Standard Bible (public domain). References use the Protestant English Bible's numbering, with a writer's own numbering in brackets where it differs.

Verses: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 14 · 16 · 17 · 18 · 19 · 20 · 21 · 22 · 23 · 24 · 25 · 26 · 27 · 28

Genesis 45:1

Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!” So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:1Against Celsus 4.47 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 248
Gen 45:1–15Demonstration 9.3 · Aphrahatallusion, medium confidence337-345
Gen 45:1–15Tractates 1.6.6 · Zeno of Veronaallusion, high confidenceca. 362-380
Gen 45:1Homilies on Matthew 33.11 · John Chrysostomallusion, high confidenceca. 390
Gen 45:1On Joseph 67 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 45:1–11Genesis, lines 1400–1423 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.

Genesis 45:2

But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:2On Joseph 66 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 45:3

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:3On Joseph 67 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 45:3Part 1, chapter 31 · Quodvultdeus of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 445-450

Genesis 45:4

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt!

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:4Exposition of Psalm 118 12.31.5 · Ambroseallusion, medium confidenceca. 386-397
Gen 45:4On Joseph 68 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 45:4On Joseph 69 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 45:5

And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:5Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origenallusion, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 45:5Exposition of Psalm 118 8.51.3 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-397
Gen 45:5On Joseph 69 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 45:5On Joseph 70 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 45:5On Joseph 71 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 45:5Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.15.3 · Ambroseallusion, low confidenceca. 387-397
Gen 45:5Poem 24, lines 697–730 · Paulinus of Nolaallusion, high confidenceca. 393–431
Gen 45:5–7Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 118–124 · Anonymousallusion, medium confidence5th century (disputed)
Gen 45:5The Conferences 13.11 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429
Gen 45:5–8Part 1, chapter 31 · Quodvultdeus of Carthagequotation, high confidenceca. 445-450

Genesis 45:6

For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:6Preparation for the Gospel 9.21.17 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, medium confidenceca. 313–324
Gen 45:6City of God 18.4 · Augustine of Hippoallusion, high confidence413–426

Genesis 45:7

God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:7Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 45:7The Conferences 13.11 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Genesis 45:8

Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:8Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 45:8The Conferences 13.11 · John Cassianquotation, high confidenceca. 426–429

Genesis 45:9

Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:9On Joseph 70 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 45:10

You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:10Pilgrimage (Itinerarium) 7.1 · Egeriaallusion, medium confidenceca. 381-395
Gen 45:10On Joseph 72 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 45:14

Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:14On Joseph 73 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 45:16

When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:16On Joseph 74 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 45:16–28Genesis, lines 1424–1447 · Cyprianus Gallusallusion, high confidenceearly 5th cent.

Genesis 45:17

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:17On Joseph 74 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

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.’

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:18Apostolic Constitutions 7.20.2 · Anonymousquotation, high confidenceca. 380

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:19On Joseph 74 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 45:20

But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:20Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origenquotation, high confidenceca. 220-254

Genesis 45:21

So the sons of Israel did as they were told. Joseph gave them wagons as Pharaoh had instructed, and he also gave them provisions for their journey.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:21Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origenallusion, medium confidenceca. 220-254
Gen 45:21On Joseph 74 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 45:22

He gave new garments to each of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five sets of clothes.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:22Preparation for the Gospel 9.21.15 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 313–324
Gen 45:22On Joseph 74 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 45:22On Joseph 75 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 45:22On Joseph 76 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 45:22Part 1, chapter 31 · Quodvultdeus of Carthageallusion, high confidenceca. 445-450

Genesis 45:23

And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father’s journey.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:23Preparation for the Gospel 9.21.15 · Eusebius of Caesareaallusion, high confidenceca. 313–324
Gen 45:23On Joseph 77 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 45:24

Then Joseph sent his brothers on their way, and as they were leaving, he said to them, “Do not quarrel on the way!”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:24On Prayer 11 · Tertullianquotation, high confidenceca. 198–206
Gen 45:24On Joseph 78 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 45:25

So the brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:25On Joseph 79 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 45:26

“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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:26On Jacob and the Happy Life 2.36 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 386-390
Gen 45:26On Joseph 79 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390
Gen 45:26On Joseph 80 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390

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.

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:27On Joseph 80 · Ambroseallusion, high confidenceca. 387-390

Genesis 45:28

“Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”

BSB
ReferencePassageKindDate
Gen 45:28On Joseph 80 · Ambrosequotation, high confidenceca. 387-390