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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:1 | Against Celsus 4.47 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 248 |
| Gen 45:1–15 | Demonstration 9.3 · Aphrahat | allusion, medium confidence | 337-345 |
| Gen 45:1–15 | Tractates 1.6.6 · Zeno of Verona | allusion, high confidence | ca. 362-380 |
| Gen 45:1 | Homilies on Matthew 33.11 · John Chrysostom | allusion, high confidence | ca. 390 |
| Gen 45:1 | On Joseph 67 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 45:1–11 | Genesis, lines 1400–1423 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 5th cent. |
Genesis 45:2
But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:2 | On Joseph 66 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:3 | On Joseph 67 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 45:3 | Part 1, chapter 31 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 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!
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:4 | Exposition of Psalm 118 12.31.5 · Ambrose | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Gen 45:4 | On Joseph 68 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 45:4 | On Joseph 69 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:5 | Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origen | allusion, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 45:5 | Exposition of Psalm 118 8.51.3 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-397 |
| Gen 45:5 | On Joseph 69 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 45:5 | On Joseph 70 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 45:5 | On Joseph 71 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 45:5 | Explanation of Twelve Psalms 36.15.3 · Ambrose | allusion, low confidence | ca. 387-397 |
| Gen 45:5 | Poem 24, lines 697–730 · Paulinus of Nola | allusion, high confidence | ca. 393–431 |
| Gen 45:5–7 | Questions and Answers to the Orthodox 118–124 · Anonymous | allusion, medium confidence | 5th century (disputed) |
| Gen 45:5 | The Conferences 13.11 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 426–429 |
| Gen 45:5–8 | Part 1, chapter 31 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | quotation, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:6 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.21.17 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 45:6 | City of God 18.4 · Augustine of Hippo | allusion, high confidence | 413–426 |
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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:7 | Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 45:7 | The Conferences 13.11 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:8 | Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 45:8 | The Conferences 13.11 · John Cassian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:9 | On Joseph 70 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:10 | Pilgrimage (Itinerarium) 7.1 · Egeria | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 381-395 |
| Gen 45:10 | On Joseph 72 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
Genesis 45:14
Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:14 | On Joseph 73 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
Genesis 45:16
When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:16 | On Joseph 74 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 45:16–28 | Genesis, lines 1424–1447 · Cyprianus Gallus | allusion, high confidence | early 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:17 | On Joseph 74 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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.’
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:18 | Apostolic Constitutions 7.20.2 · Anonymous | quotation, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:19 | On Joseph 74 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
Genesis 45:20
But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:20 | Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origen | quotation, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:21 | Fragments on Genesis, column 139 · Origen | allusion, medium confidence | ca. 220-254 |
| Gen 45:21 | On Joseph 74 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:22 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.21.15 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 45:22 | On Joseph 74 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 45:22 | On Joseph 75 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 45:22 | On Joseph 76 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 45:22 | Part 1, chapter 31 · Quodvultdeus of Carthage | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:23 | Preparation for the Gospel 9.21.15 · Eusebius of Caesarea | allusion, high confidence | ca. 313–324 |
| Gen 45:23 | On Joseph 77 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 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!”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:24 | On Prayer 11 · Tertullian | quotation, high confidence | ca. 198–206 |
| Gen 45:24 | On Joseph 78 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
Genesis 45:25
So the brothers went up out of Egypt and came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:25 | On Joseph 79 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:26 | On Jacob and the Happy Life 2.36 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 386-390 |
| Gen 45:26 | On Joseph 79 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
| Gen 45:26 | On Joseph 80 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 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.
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:27 | On Joseph 80 · Ambrose | allusion, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |
Genesis 45:28
“Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”
| Reference | Passage | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 45:28 | On Joseph 80 · Ambrose | quotation, high confidence | ca. 387-390 |