Verse

Genesis 45:18

ESV and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.’
NIV and bring your father and your families back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt and you can enjoy the fat of the land.'
NASB and take your father and your households and come to me; and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.’
CSB Get your father and your families, and come back to me. I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you can eat from the richness of the land.'
NLT Then get your father and all of your families, and return here to me. I will give you the very best land in Egypt, and you will eat from the best that the land produces.’'
KJV And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.

What does Genesis 45:18 mean?

Pharaoh, the monarch ruling over Egypt, had placed Joseph in the position of second-in-command (Genesis 41:44). When he learned Joseph had reunited with his estranged family (Genesis 45:1–2), he reacted with joy (Genesis 45:16). As soon as his identity was revealed, Joseph described a plan for the entire family to move to Egypt and live near to him to survive the ongoing famine (Genesis 45:10–11).

Pharaoh favors Joseph highly, so he steps in to enhance this offer of hospitality. He promises to give to Joseph's extended family the best of the land of Egypt. Not only will they be cared for, but they will also be offered the best Egypt has to offer. This is far better than Jacob and his people could ever have hoped for. Instead of facing starvation, the Pharaoh of Egypt would see to it they would thrive.

Proverbs 21:1 says that a king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord. God turns it wherever He will. In this case, God has—among other things—prepared Pharaoh's heart. The Egyptian king's intent is to show favor to God's people, Israel. This will save them from a famine that would likely have wiped them out or scattered them.
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