Genesis 47:1 · Bible study
Genesis 47:1 Commentary: Joseph’s Respectful Report to Pharaoh
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why does Joseph personally inform Pharaoh? A study on respect for authority, providence, and settlement in Goshen.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Joseph reports his family’s arrival in Goshen, seeking Pharaoh’s approval for their settlement.
- Key words: וַיַּגֵּד (’told’, H5046, to declare or make known formally); גֹּשֶׁן (Goshen, H1657, fertile region in eastern Egypt).
- Main debate: Whether Joseph’s approach shows strategic caution (Gill) or simple deference (Calvin, JFB).
- Theological theme: God’s providence operates through respectful interaction with human authority.
- Best use: A model for believers in positions of influence, honesty, humility, and care for family within legal boundaries.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
So Joseph went and told Pharaoh: “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks, their herds, and all that they own, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.”
KJV King James Version 1769
Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Joseph cometh, and declareth to Pharaoh, and saith, `My father, and my brethren, and their flock, and their herd, and all they have, have come from the land of Canaan, and lo, they are in the land of Goshen.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Joseph came and told Pharaoh and said, My father and my brethren, and their sheep and their cattle, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
Then Joseph went in and told Pharao, saying: My father and brethren, their sheep and their herds, and all that they possess, are come out of the land of Chanaan: and behold they stay in the land of Gessen.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y JOSÉ vino, é hizo saber á Faraón, y dijo: Mi padre y mis hermanos, y sus ovejas y sus vacas, con todo lo que tienen, han venido de la tierra de Canaán, y he aquí, están en la tierra de Gosén.
E José veio, e fez saber a Faraó, e disse: Meu pai e meus irmãos, e suas ovelhas e suas vacas, com tudo o que têm, vieram da terra de Canaã, e eis que, estão na terra de Gósen.
Joseph alla avertir Pharaon, et lui dit: Mes frères et mon père sont arrivés du pays de Canaan, avec leurs brebis et leurs bœufs, et tout ce qui leur appartient; et les voici dans le pays de Gosen.
Da kam Joseph und sagte es Pharao an und sprach: Mein Vater und meine Brüder, ihr kleines und großes Vieh und alles, was sie haben, sind gekommen aus dem Lande Kanaan; und siehe sie sind im Lande Gosen.
Toen kwam Jozef en boodschapte Farao, en zeide: Mijn vader en mijn broeders, en hun schapen, en hun runderen, met alles wat zij hebben, zijn gekomen uit het land Kanaan, en zie, zij zijn in het land Gosen.
Giuseppe andò quindi a informare Faraone, e gli disse: “Mio padre e i miei fratelli coi loro greggi, coi loro armenti e con tutto quello che hanno, son venuti dal paese di Canaan; ed ecco, sono nel paese di Goscen”.
Tedy przyjechawszy Józef, oznajmił Faraonowi, i rzekł: Ojciec mój i bracia moi z owcami swemi, i z wołami swymi, i ze wszystkiem, co mają, przyjechali z ziemi Chananejskiej; a oto, są w ziemi Gosen.
И пришел Иосиф и известил фараона и сказал: отец мой и братья мои, с мелким и крупным скотом своим и со всем, что у них, пришли из земли Ханаанской; и вот, они в земле Гесем.
約瑟 進去 告訴 法老 說：「我的父親 和我的弟兄 帶著羊群 牛群，並一切 所 有的，從迦南 地 來了，如今 在歌珊 地。」
Then Joseph went to Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brothers with their flocks and their herds and all they have, are come from Canaan, and are now in the land of Goshen.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Genesis 47:1
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Genesis 47:1 shows Joseph acting with careful respect toward Pharaoh as his sovereign. The verse reports that Joseph “went in and told” the king, making the family’s arrival an official matter rather than a private arrangement. Gill notes Joseph did not want his family to appear “a mean beggarly family” or to settle without the king’s approval. Calvin observes that Joseph “indirectly intimates his desire” for Goshen, but without cunning, the king freely grants Joseph’s wish. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown praises Joseph for remembering he had a superior even in high office. The consensus sees this verse as an example of godly deference to civil authority, rooted in Joseph’s honesty and his care for his family’s long-term protection.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Joseph’s action is an act of respectful reporting that demonstrates his integrity and his high regard for Pharaoh’s authority.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Joseph’s motivation for reporting personally | Joseph acted out of respect for Pharaoh and did not presume to settle his family without the king’s knowledge. | Some commentators (Gill) stress that Joseph wanted Pharaoh to know the family was not a burden; others (Calvin) emphasize that Joseph ‘did not dare ask for what was best’ but trusted Pharaoh’s generosity. |
| The timing of the report | Joseph waited until the family had already arrived in Goshen before informing Pharaoh. | The Cambridge Bible sees this as Joseph’s modesty, while Calvin suggests that Joseph acted to avoid appearing presumptuous. |
| The significance of Goshen as a location | Goshen was fertile and set apart from main Egyptian society, protecting Israel’s distinct identity. | Some emphasize the agricultural benefit (best pasture), others the cultural separation from Egyptians who despised shepherds. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Goshen lay in the eastern Nile Delta, a region of rich pasturelands. The famine described earlier (chapters 41, 45) had driven Jacob’s family from Canaan. Joseph had already secured Pharaoh’s general invitation (Genesis 45:16, 20), but the family needed a specific place to settle. Shepherds were “an abomination to the Egyptians” (Genesis 46:34), so Goshen’s separation from main Egyptian society protected the Hebrews from cultural pressure. Joseph’s choice of five brothers to present to Pharaoh, a number Barnes notes was “favorite in Egypt”, shows sensitivity to court protocol. The Cambridge Bible observes that Joseph speaks as if Pharaoh were unaware of the family’s arrival, even though Pharaoh had earlier invited them. This suggests Joseph treated the settlement as a request, not a demand, honoring Pharaoh’s authority. Joseph waited until his father and brothers were already in Goshen before reporting. He neither assumed permission nor acted secretly; he brought his family under the king’s knowledge and approval. The land of Goshen later becomes the protected zone during the plagues (Exodus 8:22; 9:26), showing that this act of respectful reporting helped establish Israel’s distinct identity in Egypt.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Genesis 47:1. The verse is stable across manuscript traditions. The Hebrew text reads consistently: Joseph “came and told” (וַיַּגֵּד) Pharaoh, using the Hiphil form of נָגַד, indicating a formal declaration.
Reception History
This verse has been read in Jewish tradition as an example of a righteous official who honors the king while caring for his kin. Early Christian interpreters (e.g., Chrysostom) saw Joseph as a type of Christ, mediating between a hostile world and God’s chosen people. Reformation commentators (Calvin, Matthew Henry) emphasized Joseph’s respect for civil authority, offering a model for Christian conduct toward rulers. In modern preaching, the verse is often used to discuss the integration of faith and public life, showing that godly character can thrive even in a foreign court.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Joseph’s faithful stewardship: He manages the transition with honesty, reporting his family’s arrival without exaggeration or concealment.
- Respect for earthly authority: Joseph acknowledges Pharaoh’s sovereignty over the land, modeling submission that honors God’s order.
- Providence working through structures: God’s plan for Israel’s survival unfolds through Joseph’s wise interaction with a pagan ruler.
Five-point outline
- Joseph reports personally, he does not delegate this conversation.
- He lists the family’s possessions, showing they are not a burden.
- He notes they have already stopped in Goshen, signalling readiness for approval.
- He presents five brothers in a culturally appropriate way.
- The result: Pharaoh offers “the best of the land” (v. 6).
Illustration hooks
- A manager who must inform a CEO about a new team, balancing loyalty to his family with respect for company policy.
- An immigrant family arriving in a new country, following legal procedures while trusting God for provision.
- An employee who receives a promotion but continues to seek approval from those in authority, rather than acting independently.
Questions your congregation is asking
- How do I balance loyalty to my family with submission to civil authorities?
- Is it wrong to seek the “best land” (the best outcome) for my family, or should I accept whatever comes?
- Can I trust God’s providence even when my plans require government approval?
Leading a Discussion
Genesis 47:1 sits at the intersection of family loyalty, civil obedience, and faith in God’s hidden guidance. Joseph had every reason to settle his father quickly, yet he took the time to go to Pharaoh personally. This opens questions about how we navigate relationships of authority while caring for those closest to us.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think Joseph chose to report to Pharaoh personally instead of sending a messenger?
- What does Joseph’s description of his family (flocks, herds, all they own) reveal about his intentions?
- How does the famine in Canaan shape the urgency of this request?
- In what ways does Joseph show respect for Pharaoh’s authority while also advocating for his family?
- Were there any risks in Joseph telling Pharaoh that his family had already stopped in Goshen?
- How does this passage inform your view of how Christians should relate to government leaders?
- What would it look like for you to “go in and tell” someone in authority about a need you have, while still trusting God to provide?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 45:10 | You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you will be near to me, you, your children, your children’s children, your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. |
| Genesis 45:16 | The report of it was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, “Joseph’s brothers have come.” It pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. |
| Genesis 46:28 | Jacob sent Judah before him to Joseph, to show the way before him to Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. |
| Genesis 46:31 | Joseph said to his brothers, and to his father’s house, “I will go up, and speak with Pharaoh, and will tell him, ‘My brothers, and my father’s house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. |
| Genesis 46:34 | that you shall say, ‘Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers:’ that you may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians.” |
| Exodus 8:22 | I will set apart in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there, to the end you may know that I am Yahweh on the earth. |
| Exodus 9:26 | Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail. |
| Hebrews 2:11 | For both he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one, for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brothers, |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke treats the verse as the straightforward historical report that opens a longer account of how Joseph settled his family in Goshen. His focus is on the sequence of events: Joseph informing Pharaoh, then presenting his brothers, and the detailed negotiation that follows.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes emphasizes that Joseph's famine policies were
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin highlights Joseph's careful restraint with Pharaoh: he does not ask outright for the best land, but Pharaoh perceives his wish and grants it freely, giving in full knowledge. Joseph also wisely leaves most of his family in Goshen until royal permission is secured, and he presents only five of the least imposing brothers to avoid their being drafted into the army.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentary points out a tension between this passage and an earlier one where Pharaoh himself offered Joseph’s family a home in Egypt. Here, Joseph presents their arrival in Goshen to Pharaoh as if it were accidental, and as though Pharaoh knew nothing of their coming.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Bible highlights Joseph’s careful reporting to Pharaoh, listing his father, brothers, livestock, and possessions to demonstrate their full arrival in Goshen. This detailed account serves to establish the family’s legitimate presence and resources before the Egyptian ruler, ensuring they are recognized as a settled group rather than transient wanderers.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights Joseph's careful respect for Pharaoh's authority. Even with his own high rank, Joseph does not settle his family privately but reports their arrival and all their possessions, showing they are not a burden. He then requests Pharaoh's approval for Goshen as their home.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown highlight Joseph's balanced character: even in high office and with deep love for his father, he did not presume to settle his family in Goshen without first seeking Pharaoh's approval. His respect for authority remained intact in prosperity.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil and Delitzsch note the detail that Joseph chose five of his brothers, not all, to present to Pharaoh. The Hebrew phrase used, translated as "from the whole number," points to a deliberate selection rather than a random or complete presentation.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that Jacob's halt at Beersheba to seek divine sanction reveals the crucial distinction between human confidence and God's assurance. The migration into Egypt was a bold undertaking that required the promise of a return to Canaan. The number 70 marks the family as the holy seed of God's people.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry observes that Jacob, though he describes his days as few and evil, does not come before Pharaoh as a supplicant but as a patriarch who blesses him. This underscores the spiritual dignity of God's people, who can bestow blessing even while depending on worldly rulers for provision.