Genesis 45:10

KJV

And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:

KJV (with Strong's)

And thou shalt dwell {H3427} in the land {H776} of Goshen {H1657}, and thou shalt be near {H7138} unto me, thou, and thy children {H1121}, and thy children's {H1121} children {H1121}, and thy flocks {H6629}, and thy herds {H1241}, and all that thou hast:

Complete Jewish Bible

You will live in the land of Goshen and be near me - you, your children, your grandchildren, flocks, herds, everything you own.

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

and thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children’s children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Genesis 45:10 captures Joseph's earnest invitation to his father, Jacob, and the entire family to relocate to Egypt, specifically the fertile land of Goshen. This verse, spoken amidst the shock of Joseph's revelation to his brothers and the ongoing severe famine, promises not only physical dwelling but also intimate proximity to Joseph's care, ensuring their comprehensive provision, security, and the preservation of their lineage and possessions during the crisis. It underscores God's meticulous providence in using Joseph's position to safeguard the nascent nation of Israel.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Genesis 45:10 is spoken by Joseph to his brothers, who are still reeling from the shock of discovering that the powerful Egyptian viceroy is their long-lost sibling. After [Joseph's dramatic revelation to his brothers](/genesis/45-3 "Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers"), he quickly moves to reassure them and instruct them on how to bring their father, Jacob, and the entire family to Egypt. The land was suffering from a severe famine, and Joseph, through divine wisdom, had prepared Egypt for this crisis. This verse is part of Joseph's earnest invitation, promising safety, provision, and proximity to himself, ensuring the survival of the family and their vital livestock. This invitation follows Joseph's emotional reunion with his brothers in [Genesis 45:1-8](/genesis/45-1-8 "Joseph Reveals Himself and Explains God's Plan"), where he interprets his suffering and rise to power as God's providential plan to preserve life. The immediate context of verse 10 is Joseph's direct command to his brothers to return to Canaan, inform their father, and bring the entire household back to Egypt before the famine's remaining five years fully devastate them, highlighting the urgency and comprehensive nature of his offer.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The historical and cultural backdrop of Genesis 45:10 is crucial for understanding its significance. Egypt, at this time, was a highly centralized and powerful ancient civilization, with the Pharaoh holding absolute authority. Joseph, as the vizier (second in command), wielded immense power, making his invitation a royal decree, backed by the full authority of the Egyptian state. The seven-year famine, divinely foretold and prepared for by Joseph, was a devastating reality across the region, making Egypt, with its vast grain reserves, the only viable place for survival. Culturally, Egyptians often viewed shepherds with disdain, considering them unclean or inferior. Placing Jacob's family, who were primarily pastoralists, in Goshen, a fertile but somewhat isolated region in the eastern Nile Delta, served a dual purpose: it provided excellent grazing land for their extensive flocks and herds, and it allowed them to maintain their distinct nomadic lifestyle and identity without causing cultural friction or forced assimilation into Egyptian society. This separation would prove vital for their preservation as a distinct people group.
* **Key Themes:** Genesis 45:10 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Genesis and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost among these is **Divine Providence**, demonstrating God's sovereign control over seemingly chaotic events to fulfill His purposes. Joseph's entire journey, from betrayal to exaltation, is presented as God's meticulous plan to preserve the covenant family, as Joseph himself articulates in [Genesis 50:20](/genesis/50-20 "God's Intent for Good"). The verse also highlights the theme of **Preservation of the Covenant Lineage**, ensuring the survival of Jacob's family, through whom God's promises to Abraham regarding a great nation and a blessed seed would be realized (cf. [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1-3 "The Abrahamic Covenant")). Furthermore, it underscores **Reconciliation and Forgiveness**, as Joseph's generous provision and invitation to his family, despite their past wrongs, exemplify profound love and a desire for restoration, setting the stage for the healing of deep familial wounds. Finally, the promise of abundant **Provision and Security** in Goshen speaks to God's faithfulness to care for His people, even in dire circumstances, a theme echoed throughout the biblical narrative, from the manna in the wilderness ([Exodus 16](/exodus/16 "Manna and Quail")) to the ultimate provision in Christ.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **dwell (Hebrew, _yâshab'_):** From H3427, meaning "to sit down... by implication, to dwell, to remain." Here, it signifies a permanent, secure settlement rather than a temporary encampment. Joseph is offering a stable home, a place of rest and security for his family, ensuring their continued existence and prosperity amidst a devastating famine. It implies not just physical presence but a settled, established life.
* **Goshen (Hebrew, _Gôshen'_):** From H1657, "probably of Egyptian origin; Goshen, the residence of the Israelites in Egypt." This specific geographical designation is crucial. Goshen was renowned for its fertility and suitability for pasturage, making it an ideal location for Jacob's pastoral family. Its location in the eastern Nile Delta also provided a degree of separation from the main Egyptian population, allowing the Israelites to maintain their cultural and religious distinctiveness.
* **near (Hebrew, _qârôwb'_):** From H7138, meaning "near (in place, kindred or time); allied, approach." This word emphasizes not just physical proximity to Joseph but also a close, intimate relationship and direct access to his protection and provision. Being "near" the second most powerful man in Egypt meant unparalleled security, immediate assistance, and a personal guarantee of welfare, highlighting Joseph's deep personal commitment to his family's survival and flourishing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen":** This clause establishes the designated location for Jacob's family. Goshen, a fertile region in the eastern Nile Delta, was strategically chosen for its rich pasturage, making it ideal for the Israelites' extensive flocks and herds. This was not a temporary refuge but a promised dwelling place, signifying stability and security amidst the widespread famine. The choice also ensured a degree of separation from the main Egyptian populace, allowing the pastoral Israelites to maintain their distinct cultural and occupational identity.
* **"and thou shalt be near unto me":** This phrase underscores the personal and protective nature of Joseph's invitation. As the vizier of Egypt, Joseph's proximity meant direct access to his authority, resources, and personal oversight. It conveyed a promise of unparalleled security, immediate provision, and a deep, personal commitment to their welfare, ensuring they would not lack for anything under his powerful care. This "nearness" symbolizes the intimate bond and the privilege of being under the direct patronage of the most powerful man in Egypt after Pharaoh.
* **"thou, and thy children, and thy children's children":** This expansive enumeration highlights the comprehensive scope of Joseph's invitation, extending beyond Jacob himself to encompass the entire extended family across multiple generations. It emphasizes the preservation of the entire lineage, ensuring the continuity and growth of the nascent nation of Israel. This demonstrates Joseph's foresight and commitment to the long-term survival and prosperity of his entire household, not just immediate needs.
* **"and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast":** This final clause explicitly includes all their material possessions, particularly their livestock, which were the foundation of their wealth and livelihood as shepherds. The promise covers not only the people but also their entire economic base and all their movable assets, ensuring their ability to thrive, not just survive, in Egypt. This comprehensive provision underscores the absolute nature of Joseph's commitment to their total welfare, leaving no aspect of their lives unaddressed.

#### Literary Devices
Genesis 45:10 employs several literary devices to convey the depth and scope of Joseph's offer. The most prominent is **Enumeration**, seen in the detailed listing of those included in the invitation: "thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast." This comprehensive list emphasizes the all-encompassing nature of Joseph's provision, ensuring that no one and nothing vital to the family's survival and prosperity is overlooked. The **Repetition** of "children" ("thy children, and thy children's children") serves to highlight the generational scope of the promise, underscoring the preservation of the entire lineage. Furthermore, the phrase "near unto me" functions as **Metonymy** or **Symbolism**, where physical proximity stands for the profound personal care, protection, and abundant provision that Joseph, as the second most powerful man in Egypt, would extend to his family. This phrase also carries a strong emotional resonance, signifying reconciliation and restoration of familial bonds. The entire verse, in its detailed promise of dwelling, proximity, and comprehensive provision, acts as **Foreshadowing** of God's future care for Israel, particularly during their sojourn in Egypt and subsequent deliverance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 45:10 is rich with theological significance, serving as a powerful testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and meticulous providence. Joseph's invitation is not merely an act of familial kindness but a divinely orchestrated step in God's grand plan to preserve the nascent nation of Israel. Despite the severe famine and the deep familial fractures caused by the brothers' betrayal, God used Joseph's suffering and exaltation to ensure the survival and future flourishing of Jacob's household. This verse underscores God's commitment to His covenant promises, particularly those made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding a numerous offspring and a land of their own, even if it meant a temporary sojourn in Egypt. It portrays God as the ultimate provider and protector, working through human agents to bring about His redemptive purposes, transforming evil intentions into good outcomes for His people.

* [Genesis 50:20](/genesis/50-20 "God's Intent for Good in Genesis 50:20")
* [Genesis 12:1-3](/genesis/12-1-3 "The Abrahamic Covenant Promises")
* [Philippians 4:19](/philippians/4-19 "God Will Supply All Your Needs According to His Riches")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 45:10 offers profound spiritual lessons for believers today, inviting us to reflect on God's sovereign care and the power of reconciliation. In times of personal or global crisis, like the famine faced by Jacob's family, this verse reminds us that God is always at work, often in unseen ways, to preserve and provide for His people. We are called to trust in His meticulous providence, knowing that even when circumstances seem dire, His plans for our good and His glory will prevail. Joseph's generous and all-encompassing invitation to his family, despite their past betrayal, serves as a powerful model for **forgiveness** and **reconciliation** within our own relationships, urging us to extend grace as we have received it. Furthermore, the promise of being "near unto me" speaks to the spiritual truth that our greatest security and most abundant provision come from dwelling in intimate proximity to God. Just as Jacob's family found safety and sustenance near Joseph, we find true life and peace in drawing near to our Heavenly Father, trusting Him to meet our every need, both physical and spiritual, and to guide us through all of life's challenges.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Joseph's comprehensive provision for his family in Goshen strengthen your trust in God's providence during your own times of uncertainty or need?**
* **Considering Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers, what steps might you need to take to extend forgiveness or seek reconciliation in a fractured relationship in your own life?**
* **What does it mean for you to "be near" to God in your daily life, and how does this spiritual proximity impact your sense of security and provision?**

### FAQ
**Why was the land of Goshen specifically chosen for Jacob's family?**

Answer: Goshen was chosen for several strategic reasons, demonstrating Joseph's foresight and God's providence. It was a highly fertile region located in the eastern Nile Delta, renowned for its rich pasturage, making it ideal for the Israelites' extensive flocks and herds. This ensured their economic viability and ability to thrive. Furthermore, Goshen's geographical distinctness from the main Egyptian population centers allowed Jacob's family, who were primarily shepherds (an occupation often disdained by Egyptians, as seen in [Genesis 46:34](/genesis/46-34 "Shepherds are an Abomination to Egyptians")), to maintain their unique cultural identity, pastoral lifestyle, and religious practices without conflict or forced assimilation into Egyptian society. This separation was crucial for their preservation as a distinct people group before their eventual growth into a nation and the Exodus.

**What is the significance of Joseph saying "thou shalt be near unto me"?**

Answer: The phrase "near unto me" carries profound significance beyond mere physical proximity. It represents Joseph's personal commitment to his family's welfare, direct oversight, and the unique privilege of being under his immediate protection and provision. As the vizier, second only to Pharaoh in power and authority, being near Joseph meant guaranteed access to the best resources, security from the devastating famine, and a direct line to the most powerful man in Egypt, ensuring their complete care and safety. It symbolizes a personal bond, a promise of patronage, and the assurance that they would be shielded from hardship under his direct, watchful eye, reflecting the deep love and reconciliation Joseph felt for his family after years of separation.

**How does Joseph's provision for his family in Goshen connect to God's covenant promises?**

Answer: Joseph's actions in providing Goshen and sustenance are a direct and powerful fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Specifically, it relates to the promise of a numerous offspring and the preservation of their lineage (e.g., [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's Promise to Make Abraham a Great Nation") and [Genesis 15:5](/genesis/15-5 "Abraham's Descendants as Numerous as the Stars")). Despite the severe famine and the family's fractured state, God used Joseph's position and wisdom to preserve the nascent nation of Israel, ensuring the survival of the family through whom the covenant promises would continue to unfold. This divine intervention ensured that the lineage leading to the Messiah would be safeguarded, underscoring God's faithfulness to His word and His overarching redemptive plan for humanity.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joseph, in his profound role as a preserver and provider for his family, serves as a remarkable type of Christ. Just as Joseph, once rejected by his brothers but later exalted to power, provided a place of refuge and sustenance in Goshen for his starving brethren, so Christ, once rejected by humanity but now exalted to the right hand of God ([Acts 2:33](/acts/2-33 "Jesus Exalted to the Right Hand of God")), provides ultimate refuge and spiritual sustenance for all who come to Him in faith. Joseph brought his estranged family into a place of proximity and reconciliation; similarly, Christ brings those who were alienated from God "near unto Himself" through His atoning work on the cross ([Ephesians 2:13](/ephesians/2-13 "Brought Near by the Blood of Christ")), reconciling them to the Father and granting them eternal security and abundant provision in His presence. He is the true bread of life ([John 6:35](/john/6-35 "Jesus, the Bread of Life")), offering spiritual nourishment that transcends any earthly famine. The preservation of Jacob's family through Joseph ensured the lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come, highlighting Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, the true source of life and salvation ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life")), and the one who gathers His scattered children into His eternal dwelling place.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Exodus 8:22

And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms [of flies] shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I [am] the LORD in the midst of the earth.

Exodus 9:26

Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel [were], was there no hail.

Genesis 46:34

That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, [and] also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd [is] an abomination unto the Egyptians.

Genesis 47:6

The land of Egypt [is] before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest [any] men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

Genesis 46:28

¶ And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.

Genesis 46:29

And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

John 17:24

¶ Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.