Genesis 46:31

Authorized King James Version

And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וְאֹֽמְרָ֣ה
and say
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
יוֹסֵ֤ף
And Joseph
joseph, the name of seven israelites
#3
אֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#4
אַחַ֧י
unto him My brethren
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
#5
וְאֶל
near, with or among; often in general, to
#6
וּבֵית
house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#7
אָבִ֛י
H1
and my father's
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#8
אֶֽעֱלֶ֖ה
I will go up
to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
#9
וְאַגִּ֣ידָה
and shew
properly, to front, i.e., stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to manifest; figuratively, to announce (always by word of mouth to
#10
לְפַרְעֹ֑ה
Pharaoh
paroh, a general title of egyptian kings
#11
וְאֹֽמְרָ֣ה
and say
to say (used with great latitude)
#12
אֵלָ֔יו
near, with or among; often in general, to
#13
אַחַ֧י
unto him My brethren
a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance [like h0001])
#14
וּבֵית
house
a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
#15
אָבִ֛י
H1
and my father's
father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
#16
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#17
בְּאֶֽרֶץ
which were in the land
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
#18
כְּנַ֖עַן
of Canaan
kenaan, a son a ham; also the country inhabited by him
#19
בָּ֥אוּ
are come
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#20
אֵלָֽי׃
near, with or among; often in general, to

Analysis

The creation and providence theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of ancient Near Eastern narrative literature addressing origins and identity shapes this text's meaning. The development from creation to divine election established God's sovereign care over history Understanding a worldview where divine beings actively governed natural and historical processes helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine revelation in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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