Genesis 47:2
New International Version
He chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

New Living Translation
Joseph took five of his brothers with him and presented them to Pharaoh.

English Standard Version
And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh.

Berean Standard Bible
And he chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

King James Bible
And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.

New King James Version
And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.

New American Standard Bible
And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.

NASB 1995
He took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.

NASB 1977
And he took five men from among his brothers, and presented them to Pharaoh.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he took five men from among his brothers and set them before Pharaoh.

Amplified Bible
He took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.

Christian Standard Bible
He took five of his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He took five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

American Standard Version
And from among his brethren he took five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.

English Revised Version
And from among his brethren he took five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Since he had taken five of his brothers with him, he presented them to Pharaoh.

Good News Translation
He then presented his brothers to the king.

International Standard Version
He brought along five of his brothers to present before Pharaoh.

Majority Standard Bible
And he chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

NET Bible
He took five of his brothers and introduced them to Pharaoh.

New Heart English Bible
And from among his brothers he took five men and presented them before Pharaoh.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them to Pharaoh.

World English Bible
From among his brothers he took five men, and presented them to Pharaoh.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And out of his brothers he has taken five men, and sets them before Pharaoh;

Young's Literal Translation
And out of his brethren he hath taken five men, and setteth them before Pharaoh;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he took from the whole number of his brethren five men and set them before Pharaoh.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Five men also the last of his brethren, he presented before the king:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Likewise, he stood in the sight of the king five men, the last of his brothers.

New American Bible
He then presented to Pharaoh five of his brothers whom he had selected from their full number.

New Revised Standard Version
From among his brothers he took five men and presented them to Pharaoh.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he took from among his brothers five men and presented them to Pharaoh.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he took five men of his brothers and he stood them before Pharaoh.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And from among his brethren he took five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he took of his brethren five men, and set them before Pharao.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Settles in Goshen
1So 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.” 2 And he chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh. 3“What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers. “Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.”…

Cross References
Exodus 18:21-22
Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. / Have these men judge the people at all times. Then they can bring you any major issue, but all minor cases they can judge on their own, so that your load may be lightened as they share it with you.

Acts 7:13-14
On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh. / Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.

Genesis 46:31-34
Joseph said to his brothers and to his father’s household, “I will go up and inform Pharaoh: ‘My brothers and my father’s household from the land of Canaan have come to me. / The men are shepherds; they raise livestock, and they have brought their flocks and herds and all that they own.’ / When Pharaoh summons you and asks, ‘What is your occupation?’ ...

Exodus 1:8-11
Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. / “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” ...

Acts 7:10
and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

Genesis 45:16-20
When the news reached Pharaoh’s house that Joseph’s brothers had come, Pharaoh and his servants were pleased. / Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Tell your brothers, ‘Do as follows: Load your animals and return to the land of Canaan. / 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.’ ...

Exodus 12:37-38
The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth with about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children. / And a mixed multitude also went up with them, along with great droves of livestock, both flocks and herds.

Acts 7:9
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

Genesis 50:4-6
When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please tell Pharaoh that / my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.” / Pharaoh replied, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”

Exodus 1:1-5
These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family: / Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; / Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin; ...

Acts 7:15-16
So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died. / Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.

Genesis 41:39-41
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. / You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” / Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.”

Exodus 3:10-12
Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.” / But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” / “I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”

Acts 7:6-7
God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. / ‘But I will punish the nation that enslaves them,’ God said, ‘and afterward they will come forth and worship Me in this place.’

Genesis 42:6-9
Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. / And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.” / Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And he took some of his brothers, even five men, and presented them to Pharaoh.

presented.

Acts 7:13
And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.

2 Corinthians 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

Colossians 1:28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

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Chose Five Pharaoh Presented Whole
Genesis 47
1. Joseph presents his father, and five of his brothers before Pharaoh.
11. He gives them habitation and maintenance.
13. He gets the Egyptian's money;
16. their cattle;
18. and their lands, except the priests', to Pharaoh.
23. He restores the land for a fifth.
28. Jacob's age.
29. He swears Joseph to bury him with his fathers.














And he chose
The act of choosing here is significant. Joseph, acting with wisdom and discernment, selects five of his brothers to present to Pharaoh. The Hebrew root for "chose" is "בָּחַר" (bachar), which implies a careful selection based on criteria. Joseph's choice reflects his understanding of Pharaoh's court and the need to present his family in a favorable light. This decision underscores the importance of discernment and wisdom in leadership, as Joseph navigates the political and social dynamics of Egypt.

five of his brothers
The number five in biblical terms often symbolizes grace and favor. By choosing five brothers, Joseph may be invoking a sense of divine favor upon his family. Historically, the number five can also represent balance and harmony, which Joseph seeks to establish between his family and the Egyptian empire. The selection of these particular brothers, though not named here, suggests that Joseph chose those who would best represent the family’s interests and character before Pharaoh.

and presented them
The act of presenting is more than a mere introduction; it is a formal act of bringing someone into the presence of a person of authority. The Hebrew word "עָמַד" (amad) can mean to stand or present, indicating a posture of respect and readiness. Joseph's presentation of his brothers to Pharaoh is a strategic move, ensuring that his family is recognized and accepted in the land of Egypt. This presentation is a pivotal moment, as it sets the stage for the Israelites' settlement in Goshen.

before Pharaoh
Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, is a central figure in this narrative. His acceptance or rejection of Joseph's family will determine their fate in a foreign land. The historical context of Pharaoh's court, known for its grandeur and power, highlights the significance of this meeting. Joseph's brothers stand before a man who is considered a god-king, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. This encounter is a testament to God's providence, as He orchestrates events to fulfill His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The presence of Joseph's brothers before Pharaoh symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter for the Israelites in Egypt, underlining themes of divine sovereignty and faithfulness.

(2) Even five men.--As the number "five" appears again and again in this narrative (Genesis 43:34; Genesis 45:22), it may have had some special importance among the Egyptians, like the number seven among the Jews.

Verse 2. - And he took some of his brethren, even five men, - literally, from the end, or extremity, of his brethren; not from the weakest, lest the king should select them for courtiers or soldiers (the Rabbis, Oleaster, Pererius, and others); or the strongest and most handsome, that the Egyptian monarch and his nobles might behold the dignity of Joseph s kindred (Lyre, Thostatus, and others); or the youngest and oldest, that the ages of the rest might be therefrom inferred (Calvin); but from the whole body of his brethren (Gesenius, Rosenmüller, Keil, Kalisch, et alii) he took five teen - and presented them unto Pharaoh (cf. Acts 7:13).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And he chose
לָקַ֖ח (lā·qaḥ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

five
חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה (ḥă·miš·šāh)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 2568: Five

of
אֲנָשִׁ֑ים (’ă·nā·šîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

his brothers
אֶחָ֔יו (’e·ḥāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

and presented
וַיַּצִּגֵ֖ם (way·yaṣ·ṣi·ḡêm)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3322: To place permanently

them before
לִפְנֵ֥י (lip̄·nê)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

Pharaoh.
פַרְעֹֽה׃ (p̄ar·‘ōh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6547: Pharaoh -- a title of Egypt kings


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OT Law: Genesis 47:2 From among his brothers he took five (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 47:1
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