He controlled his grief momentarily and poured out gracious hospitality instead.
Then he washed his face and came out; and he controlled himself and said, “Serve the meal.” (v.31) In this moment, Joseph—who lived around 1915-1805 BC—shows both his deep emotion and remarkable self-restraint. Having been overcome with weeping at the sight of his brothers, Joseph steps away to gather himself. When he reappears, he gives the directive to serve the meal, a calm and measured instruction that contrasts his inner turmoil. Although he is second-in-command in Egypt, Joseph is still the son of Jacob, the one who was sold into slavery and miraculously rose to a position of power under Pharaoh. His life in Egypt, the ancient land along the Nile in northeast Africa, displays God’s providential hand in redeeming what his brothers meant for evil.
Joseph’s composure as he returns to his brothers underscores his wisdom and restraint. In prior chapters, he orchestrated tests to reveal what lay in his brothers’ hearts, and he kept his true identity hidden. In this verse, Joseph’s decision to “control himself” shows that beneath his administrative authority, he still possesses a tender heart toward his family. It is reminiscent of how he is viewed as a type of Christ in the Scriptures, often foreshadowing Jesus’s compassion for His own people, even when they did not recognize Him (Luke 19:41-42).
Equally important is the act of “washing his face” before returning. It implies a return to duty and leadership even while personal pain remains. His choice of timing—to show strength in public and deep vulnerability in private—demonstrates the dual roles he skillfully navigates: a powerful Egyptian official and a Hebrew brother reconciling hidden wounds. Much like how Jesus wept yet continued to fulfill His ministry (John 11:35), Joseph’s posture here blends both sorrow and resolve.
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Genesis 43:31 meaning
Then he washed his face and came out; and he controlled himself and said, “Serve the meal.” (v.31) In this moment, Joseph—who lived around 1915-1805 BC—shows both his deep emotion and remarkable self-restraint. Having been overcome with weeping at the sight of his brothers, Joseph steps away to gather himself. When he reappears, he gives the directive to serve the meal, a calm and measured instruction that contrasts his inner turmoil. Although he is second-in-command in Egypt, Joseph is still the son of Jacob, the one who was sold into slavery and miraculously rose to a position of power under Pharaoh. His life in Egypt, the ancient land along the Nile in northeast Africa, displays God’s providential hand in redeeming what his brothers meant for evil.
Joseph’s composure as he returns to his brothers underscores his wisdom and restraint. In prior chapters, he orchestrated tests to reveal what lay in his brothers’ hearts, and he kept his true identity hidden. In this verse, Joseph’s decision to “control himself” shows that beneath his administrative authority, he still possesses a tender heart toward his family. It is reminiscent of how he is viewed as a type of Christ in the Scriptures, often foreshadowing Jesus’s compassion for His own people, even when they did not recognize Him (Luke 19:41-42).
Equally important is the act of “washing his face” before returning. It implies a return to duty and leadership even while personal pain remains. His choice of timing—to show strength in public and deep vulnerability in private—demonstrates the dual roles he skillfully navigates: a powerful Egyptian official and a Hebrew brother reconciling hidden wounds. Much like how Jesus wept yet continued to fulfill His ministry (John 11:35), Joseph’s posture here blends both sorrow and resolve.