Genesis

Genesis 43:15–22

¹⁵So the men took these gifts, along with double the amount of silver, and Benjamin as well. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

¹⁶When Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they shall dine with me at noon.” ¹⁷The man did as Joseph had commanded and took the brothers to Joseph’s house.

¹⁸But the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”

¹⁹So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. ²⁰“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food. ²¹But when we came to the place we lodged for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us. ²²We have brought additional silver with us to buy food. We do not know who put our silver in our sacks.”

Read all of Genesis 43

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 43:15

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So the men	הָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙	hā·’ă·nā·šîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
took	וַיִּקְח֤וּ	way·yiq·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3947 take
these	הַזֹּ֔את	haz·zōṯ	Article; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
gifts	הַמִּנְחָ֣ה	ham·min·ḥāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H4503 gift, tribute, offering
along with double	וּמִשְׁנֶה־	ū·miš·neh-	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H4932 double, copy, second
the amount of silver	כֶּ֛סֶף	ke·sep̄	Noun - masculine singular	H3701 silver, money
and	וְאֶת־	wə·’eṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
Benjamin as well	בִּנְיָמִ֑ן	bin·yā·min	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1144 Binjamin
Then they hurried down	וַיֵּרְד֣וּ	way·yê·rə·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3381 come or go down, descend
to Egypt	מִצְרַ֔יִם	miṣ·ra·yim	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians
and stood	וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ	way·ya·‘am·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5975 take one's stand, stand
before	לִפְנֵ֥י	lip̄·nê	Preposition-l; Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before
Joseph	יוֹסֵֽף׃	yō·w·sêp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3130 Joseph

Genesis 43:16

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
When Joseph	יוֹסֵ֣ף	yō·w·sêp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3130 Joseph
saw	וַיַּ֨רְא	way·yar	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7200 see
Benjamin	בִּנְיָמִין֒	bin·yā·mîn	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H1144 Binjamin
with	אִתָּם֮	’it·tām	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H854 with
he said	וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to the steward	לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר	la·’ă·šer	Preposition-l; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
of	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
his house	בֵּית֔וֹ	bê·ṯōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1004 house
Take	הָבֵ֥א	hā·ḇê	Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
these men	הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים	hā·’ă·nā·šîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
to my house	הַבָּ֑יְתָה	hab·bā·yə·ṯāh	Article; Noun - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H1004 house
Slaughter	וּטְבֹ֤חַ	ū·ṭə·ḇō·aḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H2873 slaughter, butcher, slay
an animal	טֶ֙בַח֙	ṭe·ḇaḥ	Noun - masculine singular	H2874 slaughtering, slaughter
and prepare it	וְהָכֵ֔ן	wə·hā·ḵên	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular	H3559 be firm
for	כִּ֥י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
they shall dine	יֹאכְל֥וּ	yō·ḵə·lū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H398 eat
with me	אִתִּ֛י	’it·tî	Preposition; first person common singular	H854 with
at noon	בַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃	baṣ·ṣā·ho·rā·yim	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine plural	H6672 midday, noon

Genesis 43:17

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The man	הָאִ֔ישׁ	hā·’îš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
did	וַיַּ֣עַשׂ	way·ya·‘aś	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
as	כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
Joseph	יוֹסֵ֑ף	yō·w·sêp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3130 Joseph
had commanded	אָמַ֣ר	’ā·mar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
and took	וַיָּבֵ֥א	way·yā·ḇê	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to Joseph’s	יוֹסֵֽף׃	yō·w·sêp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3130 Joseph
house	בֵּ֥יתָה	bê·ṯāh	Noun - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H1004 house

Genesis 43:18

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But the	הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֗ים	hā·’ă·nā·šîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
were frightened	וַיִּֽירְא֣וּ	way·yî·rə·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3372 fear
that	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
they had been taken	הֽוּבְאוּ֮	hū·ḇə·’ū	Verb - Hofal - Perfect - third person common plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to Joseph’s	יוֹסֵף֒	yō·w·sêp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3130 Joseph
house	בֵּ֣ית	bêṯ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1004 house
We	אֲנַ֖חְנוּ	’ă·naḥ·nū	Pronoun - first person common plural	H587 we
have been brought	מֽוּבָאִ֑ים	mū·ḇā·’îm	Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
here because of	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the silver	הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙	hak·ke·sep̄	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3701 silver, money
that was returned	הַשָּׁ֤ב	haš·šāḇ	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H7725 turn back, return
in our bags	בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙	bə·’am·tə·ḥō·ṯê·nū	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine plural construct; first person common plural	H572 sack
the first time	בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה	bat·tə·ḥil·lāh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8462 beginning
they said	וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
They intend	לְהִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל	lə·hiṯ·gō·lêl	Preposition-l; Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct	H1556 roll, roll away
to overpower	וּלְהִתְנַפֵּ֣ל	ū·lə·hiṯ·nap·pêl	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct	H5307 fall, lie
us	עָלֵ֔ינוּ	‘ā·lê·nū	Preposition; first person common plural	H5921 height
and take	וְלָקַ֧חַת	wə·lā·qa·ḥaṯ	Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H3947 take
us	אֹתָ֛נוּ	’ō·ṯā·nū	Direct object marker; first person common plural	H853 mark of the accusative
as slaves	לַעֲבָדִ֖ים	la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏîm	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural	H5650 slave, servant
along with	וְאֶת־	wə·’eṯ-	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
our donkeys	חֲמֹרֵֽינוּ׃	ḥă·mō·rê·nū	Noun - masculine plural construct; first person common plural	H2543 heap

Genesis 43:19

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So they approached	וַֽיִּגְּשׁוּ֙	way·yig·gə·šū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5066 draw near, approach
Joseph’s	יוֹסֵ֑ף	yō·w·sêp̄	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3130 Joseph
steward	הָאִ֔ישׁ	hā·’îš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
and spoke	וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ	way·ḏab·bə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1696 speak
to him	אֵלָ֖יו	’ê·lāw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H413 motion to
at the entrance	פֶּ֥תַח	pe·ṯaḥ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H6607 opening, doorway, entrance
to the house	הַבָּֽיִת׃	hab·bā·yiṯ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1004 house

Genesis 43:20

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Please	בִּ֣י	bî	Preposition; first person common singular	H994 I pray, excuse me
sir	אֲדֹנִ֑י	’ă·ḏō·nî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H113 lord
they said	וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
we really did come down	יָרֹ֥ד	yā·rōḏ	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H3381 come or go down, descend
here the first time	בַּתְּחִלָּ֖ה	bat·tə·ḥil·lāh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H8462 beginning
to buy	לִשְׁבָּר־	liš·bār-	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7666 buy grain
food	אֹֽכֶל׃	’ō·ḵel	Noun - masculine singular	H400 food

Genesis 43:21

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But	וַֽיְהִ֞י	way·hî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
when	כִּי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
we came	בָ֣אנוּ	ḇā·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the place we lodged for the night	הַמָּל֗וֹן	ham·mā·lō·wn	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4411 lodging-place, inn, khan
we opened	וַֽנִּפְתְּחָה֙	wan·nip̄·tə·ḥāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural; third person feminine singular	H6605 open
our sacks	אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ	’am·tə·ḥō·ṯê·nū	Noun - feminine plural construct; first person common plural	H572 sack
and	וְהִנֵּ֤ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
behold	וְהִנֵּ֤ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
each of us	אִישׁ֙	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
his silver	כֶֽסֶף־	ḵe·sep̄-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3701 silver, money
in the mouth	בְּפִ֣י	bə·p̄î	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H6310 mouth
of his sack	אַמְתַּחְתּ֔וֹ	’am·taḥ·tōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H572 sack
It was the full amount	בְּמִשְׁקָל֑וֹ	bə·miš·qā·lōw	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H4948 id.
of our silver	כַּסְפֵּ֖נוּ	kas·pê·nū	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common plural	H3701 silver, money
and we have brought it back	וַנָּ֥שֶׁב	wan·nā·šeḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural	H7725 turn back, return
with us	בְּיָדֵֽנוּ׃	bə·yā·ḏê·nū	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common plural	H3027 hand

Genesis 43:22

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
We have brought	הוֹרַ֥דְנוּ	hō·w·raḏ·nū	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common plural	H3381 come or go down, descend
additional	אַחֵ֛ר	’a·ḥêr	Adjective - masculine singular	H312 another
silver	וְכֶ֧סֶף	wə·ḵe·sep̄	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H3701 silver, money
with us	בְיָדֵ֖נוּ	ḇə·yā·ḏê·nū	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common plural	H3027 hand
to buy	לִשְׁבָּר־	liš·bār-	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7666 buy grain
food	אֹ֑כֶל	’ō·ḵel	Noun - masculine singular	H400 food
We do not	לֹ֣א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
know	יָדַ֔עְנוּ	yā·ḏa‘·nū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural	H3045 know
who	מִי־	mî-	Interrogative	H4310 who?
put	שָׂ֥ם	śām	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7760 put, place, set
our silver	כַּסְפֵּ֖נוּ	kas·pê·nū	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common plural	H3701 silver, money
in our sacks	בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵֽינוּ׃	bə·’am·tə·ḥō·ṯê·nū	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine plural construct; first person common plural	H572 sack

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Genesis 43:16 Genesis 44:1 · Genesis 43:19

Genesis 43:18 Genesis 42:35

Genesis 43:20 Genesis 42:3 · Genesis 42:10

Genesis 43:21 Genesis 43:12

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.