What is the meaning of Genesis 47:2?

And he chose

• Joseph acts decisively, exercising the authority earlier granted to him by Pharaoh (Genesis 41:40).

• His deliberate selection shows foresight; he is arranging matters so his family will settle securely in Goshen, just as he had told them would happen (Genesis 46:31-34).

• The initiative directly fulfills God’s providential plan first revealed to Abraham—his descendants would sojourn in a foreign land yet remain distinct (Genesis 15:13-14).

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five of his brothers

• Selecting only five—rather than the entire group—avoids overwhelming Pharaoh’s court and allows Joseph to put forward men best suited to represent the family.

• Five brothers likely embodies a representative sample, paralleling other instances where a subset stands for the whole clan (Numbers 13:2-3; Judges 18:2).

• Joseph may have chosen those whose appearance and skills would reinforce the family’s identity as shepherds, supporting the request for Goshen (Genesis 46:34).

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and presented them

• “Presented” signals an official audience; Joseph brings them formally into Pharaoh’s presence much like ambassadors (Esther 1:14; Acts 9:27).

• The verb underscores Joseph’s mediating role—he is bridge and protector, fulfilling earlier dreams that placed him before rulers (Genesis 37:9-10; Acts 7:10).

• By controlling the introduction, Joseph ensures the conversation centers on their need for pastureland and not on political ambitions.

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before Pharaoh

• Standing “before Pharaoh” highlights both privilege and dependence. Foreigners did not casually appear before Egypt’s king (Genesis 41:55).

• Pharaoh’s openness illustrates God’s favor resting on Jacob’s line, echoing earlier divine promises of blessing among the nations (Genesis 12:2-3; Isaiah 60:11).

• This moment inaugurates Israel’s residence in Egypt, setting the stage for both prosperity (Genesis 47:6) and, generations later, deliverance (Exodus 1:7-14; 12:40-42).

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summary

Joseph deliberately selects and escorts five of his brothers to Pharaoh, crafting an official introduction that secures their future in Goshen. Each phrase of Genesis 47:2 shows God’s providence working through Joseph’s wisdom: choosing representatives, positioning them respectfully, and placing the covenant family under royal favor while keeping them distinct within a foreign land.