Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 45:3
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I [am] Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
3. doth my father yet live? ] This question has seemed to some a strange one after the interviews which Joseph has already had (Gen 43:27-28). But the thought of his father is uppermost in his mind, and in the agitation of the moment the turn which he gives to this first question seems to imply a desire to forget the last occasion on which they had met as brothers. He does not wait for an answer, or expect one.
they were troubled, &c.] Cf. Gen 50:15-21. No wonder that confusion and consternation made them speechless.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 3. I am Joseph] Mr. Pope supposed that the discovery of Ulysses to his son Telemachus bears some resemblance to Joseph’s discovery of himself to his brethren. The passage may be seen in Homer, Odyss. l. xvi., ver. 186-218.
A few lines from Cowper’s translation will show much of the spirit of the original, and also a considerable analogy between the two scenes: –
“I am thy father, for whose sake thou lead’st
A life of wo by violence oppress’d.
So saying, he kiss’d his son; while from his cheeks
Tears trickled, tears till then perforce restrain’d.
Then threw Telemachus
His arms around his father’s neck, and wept.
Pangs of soft sorrow, not to be suppress’d,
Seized both. So they, their cheeks with big round drops of wo
Bedewing, stood.”
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
He repeats his former question, Gen 43:27, either because he questioned the truth of their former relation, or would be further satisfied in it, it being usual with men to ask over and over again what they long to know; or because he now desired a more particular relation of his fathers condition, and how he did bear up under all his calamities.
They were troubled at his presence, from a sudden and deep sense of their horrid guilt, and their just fear of some dreadful punishment.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
3. I am Josephor, “terrifiedat his presence.” The emotions that now rose in his breast aswell as that of his brethrenand chased each other in rapidsuccessionwere many and violent. He was agitated by sympathy andjoy; they were astonished, confounded, terrified; and betrayed theirterror, by shrinking as far as they could from his presence. So”troubled” were they, that he had to repeat hisannouncement of himself; and what kind, affectionate terms he diduse. He spoke of their having sold himnot to wound their feelings,but to convince them of his identity; and then, to reassure theirminds, he traced the agency of an overruling Providence, in his exileand present honor [Ge35:5-7]. Not that he wished them to roll the responsibility oftheir crime on God; no, his only object was to encourage theirconfidence and induce them to trust in the plans he had formed forthe future comfort of their father and themselves.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I [am] Joseph,…. As soon as he could compose himself a little, and utter his words, the first thing he said was, that he was Joseph; that was his right name, his Hebrew name; though he was called by the Egyptians Zaphnathpaaneah, and by which name Joseph’s brethren only knew him, if they knew his name at all; and it must be very startling to them to bear this sound, and to be told by himself that that was his name; and which was not all he meant and they understood, but that he was Joseph their brother as afterwards expressed:
doth my father yet live? this he knew before, for they had told him he was alive; wherefore he puts this question not through ignorance, or as doubting but to express his affliction for his father, and his joy that he was alive:
and his brethren could not answer him; they were so surprised and astonished; they were like men thunderstruck, they were not able to utter a word for awhile:
for they were troubled at his presence; the sin of selling him came fresh into their minds, the guilt of it pressed their consciences, and the circumstances that Joseph was in filled them with fear that he would avenge himself on them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. I am Joseph. Although he had given them the clearest token of his mildness and his love, yet, when he told them his name, they were terrified, as if he had thundered against them: for while they revolve in their minds what they have deserved, the power of Joseph seems so formidable to them, that they anticipate nothing for themselves but death. When, however, he sees them overcome with fear, he utters no reproach, but only labors to calm their perturbation. Nay, he continues gently to soothe them, until he has rendered them composed and cheerful. By this example we are taught to take heed lest sadness should overwhelm those who are truly and seriously humbled under a sense of shame. So long as the offender is deaf to reproofs, or securely flatters himself, or wickedly and obstinately repels admonitions, or excuses himself by hypocrisy, greater severity is to be used towards him. But rigor should have its bounds, and as soon as the offender lies prostrate, and trembles under the sense of his sin, let that moderation immediately follow which may raise him who is cast down, by the hope of pardon. Therefore, in order that our severity may be rightly and duly attempered, we must cultivate this inward affection of Joseph, which will show itself at the proper time.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
3. Doth my father yet live In the warmth and fulness of his emotion he seems yet to betray a suspicion of the report of his brethren . This throws light on the undue severity with which he has treated them all along . First he feared that Benjamin was not; and now he even intimates a doubt whether, after all their protestations, his father is still alive . Accordingly, his brethren could not answer him The sudden revelation; the deep insinuation; the shock of mingled surprise and alarm rendered them speechless.
They were troubled Terrified; filled with amazement and trepidation ( ) at his presence, or, from his presence, ( 😉 as if they shrunk backward, away from before his face .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 45:3. Doth my father yet live There is great beauty in this interrogation: it is highly expressive of anxious affection; and the transition is finely wrought: I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? Is the pleasing intelligence still which you have before given me? Mr. Pope, in a note on Homer’s Odyssey, b. xvi. v. 490. observes. observes, “That the discovery of Ulysses to Telemachus, has some resemblance with that of Joseph’s discovery of himself to his brethren; and it may not be disagreeable,” says he, “to see how two such authors describe the same passion. I am JOSEPH, I am your brother JOSEPH.”
“I am ULYSSES; I, my son! am he! And wept aloud; and he fell on his brother’s neck, and wept. He wept abundant, and he wept aloud.”
“But it must be owned, that Homer falls infinitely short of Moses. He must be a very wicked man, who can read the history of Joseph without the keenest touches of compassion, and transport. There is a majestic simplicity in the whole relation, and such an affecting portrait of human nature, that it overwhelms us with vicissitudes of joy and sorrow. This is a pregnant instance, how much the best of heathen writers is inferior to the Divine historian upon a parallel subject, where the two authors endeavour to move the softer passions.” But, above all, the one account is true, and the other feigned.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Act 7:13 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 45:3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I [am] Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
Ver. 3. I am Joseph. ] What a word was that! At the hearing thereof, what a strange conflict of contrary passions fell out in the hearts of the patriarchs! Wonder, doubt, reverence, fear, hope, guiltiness, joy, grief, struck them at once. Shall it not be so with the Jews at their glorious conversion, when they shall hear, “I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom ye have persecuted and pierced?” Zec 12:10 Rev 1:7 See Trapp on “ Gen 38:27 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
I am Joseph. So the true Joseph will one day reveal Himself, and His brethren will then be troubled indeed. Rev 1:7. Mat 24:30. Zec 12:9-14.
doth, &c. Figure of speech Erotesis (App-6). For he had just been informed of the fact (Gen 43:28).
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
I am Joseph: Mat 14:27, Act 7:13, Act 9:5
for they: Job 4:5, Job 23:15, Zec 12:10, Mat 14:26, Mar 6:50, Luk 5:8, Luk 24:37, Luk 24:38, Rev 1:7
troubled: or, terrified
Reciprocal: Gen 50:18 – fell Exo 4:18 – and see Exo 34:31 – and Moses talked
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 45:3. I am Joseph Doubtless he had all along been addressed and spoken of by his Egyptian name, Zaphnath-paaneah, or by his titles of office: so that, although in the narrative he is named Joseph, it is probable his brethren had never heard him called by that name by any person in Egypt. Doth my father yet live? A most natural inquiry this, after he had informed them who he was, and evidently suggested by his love to his father, respecting whose welfare he was anxious to have full information; and it comes in here with great beauty, and by a most easy transition. But who can describe what his brethren now felt? The historian does not attempt to describe it: he only informs us, They could not answer him: for they were troubled at his presence From a sudden and deep sense of their guilt, and their just fear of some dreadful punishment. Therefore, to encourage them and alleviate their sorrow, he calls them kindly and familiarly to him: Come near to me, I pray you Thus, when Christ manifests himself to his people, he encourages them to draw near to him with a true heart Perhaps being about to speak of their selling of him, he would not speak aloud, lest the Egyptians should overhear, and it should make the Hebrews to be yet more an abomination to them; therefore he would have them come near, that he might whisper with them, which, now the tide of his passion was a little over, he was able to do, whereas, at first, he could not but cry out.