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Pentecost Season · Proper 15 · Year A

Genesis 45:1-15

Joseph Reveals Himself to His Brothers

August 16, 2026

Joseph reconnu par ses freres (Joseph Recognized by His Brothers), Louis-Andre-Gabriel Bouchet
Joseph reconnu par ses freres (Joseph Recognized by His Brothers), Louis-Andre-Gabriel Bouchet, 1789Musee des Beaux-Arts, via Wikimedia Commons
A French neoclassical prize painting of the recognition, with the brothers falling back and Joseph stepping down from the throne.I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.Musee des Beaux-Arts, via Wikimedia CommonsA French municipal fine art museum; the specific town is not recorded with the image.Musee des Beaux-Arts, via Wikimedia Commons
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 15:(10-20), 21-28Mt 15:(10-20), 21-28
EpistleRom. 11:1-2a, 29-32Rom 11:1-2a, 29-32
Old TestamentGen. 45:1-15Gn 45:1-15Alt. OTIsa. 56:1, 6-8Is 56:1, 6-8
PsalterPs. 133Ps 133Alt. PsalmPs. 67Ps 67

Overview & Insights

"God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors." (Genesis 45:7)

Joseph makes himself known to the brothers who sold him, weeping and forgiving them, and interprets his suffering as God's providence sent ahead to preserve life during the famine.

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Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on Genesis 45:1-15Working Preacher: Commentary on Gn 45:1-15 Working Preacher

Lutheran lectionary commentary on Joseph's reconciliation with his brothers for the semicontinuous track.

Enduring Word: Genesis 45Enduring Word: Gn 45 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the whole chapter.

StudyLight: Genesis 45 CommentariesStudyLight: Gn 45 Commentaries StudyLight

Many complete commentaries on Genesis 45 gathered on one passage page.

BibleHub: Commentaries on Genesis 45:1BibleHub: Commentaries on Gn 45:1 BibleHub

Parallel classic commentaries keyed to Joseph making himself known.

Background & Word Study

BibleProject: Genesis 12-50 OverviewBibleProject: Gn 12-50 Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the ancestral narratives, including the Joseph cycle.

Sefaria: Genesis 45 (Hebrew)Sefaria: Gn 45 (Hebrew) Sefaria

Hebrew text with English and classical Jewish commentary on the chapter.

BibleHub: Genesis 45 InterlinearBibleHub: Gn 45 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew-English interlinear for word-level study of the chapter.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Genesis 45Catena: Gn 45 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on Genesis 45.

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