The Meaning of Genesis 45:26 Explained

Genesis 45:26

KJV: And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not.

YLT: and they declare to him, saying, 'Joseph is yet alive,' and that he is ruler over all the land of Egypt; and his heart ceaseth, for he hath not given credence to them.

Darby: And they told him, saying, Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And his heart fainted, for he did not believe them.

ASV: And they told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt. And his heart fainted, for he believed them not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And told  him, saying,  Joseph  [is] yet alive,  and he [is] governor  over all the land  of Egypt.  And Jacob's heart  fainted,  for he believed  them not. 

What does Genesis 45:26 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 45:16-28 - Joseph Sends For His Father
This is indeed an Easter lesson. It must have seemed to Jacob and his children as though Joseph were indeed risen from the dead. Hardly more startling were the appearances of the risen Lord than the news carried back to Jacob that his long-lost and much-mourned son was the prime minister of Egypt. Joseph had not forgotten his father. His one desire was to bring him to share his glory. For this he sent the wagons to transport the whole family to his side. At first Jacob was incredulous. It seemed too good to be true. But when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent, that touch of delicate thoughtfulness, in such striking contrast to the cheerless isolation and loneliness of the last few years, caused his aged spirit to revive. Let us talk of the glory of our risen and ascended Lord, and especially of His desire that where He is we may be also. Now let us thank Him that He is not only willing to receive us, but provides the grace and help of the Spirit to transport us thither. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 45

1  Joseph makes himself known to his brothers
5  He comforts them in God's providence
9  He sends for his father
16  Pharaoh confirms it
21  Joseph furnishes then for their journey
25  Jacob is revived with the news

What do the individual words in Genesis 45:26 mean?

and they told him saying still Joseph [is] alive and he [is] governor over all the land of Egypt And stood still his heart because not he did believe them
וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ ל֜וֹ לֵאמֹ֗ר ע֚וֹד יוֹסֵ֣ף ! חַ֔י וְכִֽי־ ה֥וּא מֹשֵׁ֖ל בְּכָל־ אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וַיָּ֣פָג לִבּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י לֹא־ הֶאֱמִ֖ין לָהֶֽם

וַיַּגִּ֨דוּ  and  they  told 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָגַד  
Sense: to be conspicuous, tell, make known.
לֵאמֹ֗ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
ע֚וֹד  still 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
יוֹסֵ֣ף  Joseph  [is] 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
! חַ֔י  alive 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
ה֥וּא  he  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
מֹשֵׁ֖ל  governor 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁל  
Sense: to rule, have dominion, reign.
בְּכָל־  over  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֶ֣רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
מִצְרָ֑יִם  of  Egypt 
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
וַיָּ֣פָג  And  stood  still 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פּוּג  
Sense: to grow numb, be feeble, be benumbed.
לִבּ֔וֹ  his  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
כִּ֥י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
הֶאֱמִ֖ין  he  did  believe 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.