Genesis 43

1 Now the famine [severe hunger, bitter need of food] was still [continued to be, got worse] severe [heavy, sore] in the land [the earth, Canaan, a country or territory]. word study 2 So when Jacob’s sons had eaten [consumed, finished] all the grain [corn, food] they had brought [imported, fetched] from Egypt [the land of the Nile], their father [parent, patriarch] said to them, “Go back [return, turn back] and buy [purchase, acquire] us a little [small amount, limited quantity] more food [sustenance, provisions].” word study 3 But Judah [the son of Jacob, a leader of the tribe] replied, “The man [the Egyptian official, a powerful leader] solemnly warned [protested, testified] us, ‘You will not see my face [presence, countenance] again unless [except, without] your brother [male sibling, close relative] is with [near, accompanying] you.’ word study 4 If [on the condition that, provided that] you will send [dispatch, let go] our brother [male sibling, close relative] with us, we will go down [descend, travel to a lower place] and buy [acquire, trade for] food [nourishment, sustenance] for you. word study 5 But if you will not send [refuse to let go, decline to dispatch] him, we will not go [descend, travel down]; for the man [the leader, the ruler] told us, ‘You will not see [gaze upon, behold] my face [presence, countenance] again unless [except, without] your brother [male sibling, close relative] is with [accompany, near] you.’” word study 6 “Why [for what reason, what purpose] did you bring this trouble [affliction, distress] upon me?” Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants] asked. “Why [what motivated you] did you tell [declare openly, reveal] the man [a male person, individual] you had another brother [a male sibling, close relative]?” word study 7 They replied, “The man [the Lord, or master] questioned us in detail [straitly, or closely] about ourselves [our state, or condition] and our family [relatives, or kindred]: ‘Is your father [the patriarch, or head of the family] still alive [yet living, or surviving]? Do you have another brother [a male sibling, or close relative]?’ And we answered him accordingly [in the same manner, or as he asked]. How could we possibly know [ascertain, or understand] that he would say [command, or instruct], ‘Bring your brother [the sibling, or relative] here’?” word study 8 And Judah [the praise of God] said to his father Israel [the one who wrestles with God], “Send the boy [youth, young one] with me, and we will go at once [arise and go, set forward], so that we may live [have life, be revived] and not die [perish, come to destruction]—neither we [us], nor you [as our father], nor our children [little ones, infants]. word study 9 I [the speaker] will guarantee [pledge, take responsibility for] his safety [well-being, security]. You may hold me personally [from my hand, as a guarantor] responsible [liable, accountable]. If [in the event that] I do not [fail to] bring him back [return, come back with] and set him before you [place him in your presence, establish him before you], then may I bear [carry, endure] the guilt [blame, sin] before you [in your sight, to your face] all my life [all the days, forever]. word study 10 If we had not [lingered] delayed, we could have come [returned, traveled back] and gone [returned again, made a round trip] twice [a second time, again] by now [at this time, already].” word study 11 Then their father [the patriarch and symbol of God’s people] Israel said to them, “If [if it is necessary] it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best [choicest, finest, most excellent] products of the land [earth, territory, region] in your packs [vessels, containers] and carry them down [go down, descend] as a gift [offering, present] for the man [individual, person]—a little [small amount, few] balm [fragrant resin, perfume] and a little [small amount, few] honey [sweet, valuable food], spices [aromatic gums, fragrances] and myrrh [fragrant gum, ladanum], pistachios [type of nut, delicacy] and almonds [type of nut]. word study 12 Take double [twice as much] the silver [money, payment] with you so that you may return [give back, restore] the silver [money, payment] that was put back [returned, restored] into the mouths [lips, edges] of your sacks [bags, containers]. Perhaps [it may be, possibly] it was a mistake [error, oversight, something done incorrectly]. word study 13 Take [also, in addition to the others] your brother [male sibling, close relative] as well, and [arise, stand up, get up] return [to turn back, go again] to the man [a male person, individual] at once [immediately, right away, without delay]. word study 14 May God [all-powerful] Almighty [Shadday, the all-sufficient One] grant you [bestow upon you, give to you] mercy [compassion, tender love] before the man [in the presence of, facing], that he may release [send away, let go] your other brother [sibling, close relative] along with Benjamin [son of the right hand]. As for me, if I am bereaved [experience barrenness, lose my children], I am bereaved [left with nothing].” word study 15 So the men [the brothers, sons of Jacob] took these gifts [a present, an offering], along with double [twice as much] the amount of silver [money, payment], and Benjamin [son of the right hand] as well. Then they hurried [rose up quickly] down to Egypt [a country in northeastern Africa] and stood [to stand firm, in the presence of] before Joseph [Jehovah has added]. word study 16 When Joseph [the one God has added] saw Benjamin [son of the right hand] with his brothers, he said to the steward [ruler, supervisor] of his house, “Take these men [individuals, persons] to my house [dwelling place, home]. Slaughter [kill, butcher] an animal and prepare [make ready, establish] it, for they shall dine [eat, devour] with me at noon [midday, when the sun is highest].” word study 17 The man [servant, individual] did as Joseph [Jehovah has added] had commanded [instructed, given orders] and took [brought, led] the brothers [men, relatives] to Joseph’s [the house of Joseph] house [dwelling place, home]. word study 18 But the brothers [men, male persons] were frightened [filled with fear, afraid] that they had been taken [brought, come] to Joseph’s [Jehovah has added] house [dwelling place, family home]. “We have been brought [come, entered] here because of the silver [money, payment] that was returned [given back, restored] in our bags [sacks, containers] the first time [at the beginning, initially],” they said [spoke, uttered]. “They intend [plan, seek] to overpower [attack, fall upon] us and take us as slaves [servants, bondmen], along with our donkeys [asses, male donkeys].” word study 19 So they approached [drew near, came to] Joseph’s [Jehovah has added] steward [household supervisor, man in charge] and spoke [communicated, talked] to him at the entrance [door, doorway] to the house [dwelling place, family home]. word study 20 “Please [oh that, if it please you], sir [lord, master],” they said, “we really did come down [descend, go to a lower place] here the first time [at the beginning, from the start] to buy [trade, acquire] food [grain, sustenance, provisions]. word study 21 But when we came [arrived, stopped] to the place [inn, lodging] we lodged [rested, camped] for the night, we opened [uncovered, revealed] our sacks [bags, containers] and, behold [look, see], each of us found his silver [money, payment] in the mouth [lip, edge] of his sack [bag, pouch]! It was the full amount [exact weight, complete measure] of our silver [treasure, riches], and we have brought [returned, given back] it back with us [in our hand, as an offering]. word study 22 We have brought additional [more, other] silver [money, payment] with us to buy [acquire, purchase] food [sustenance, provisions]. We do not know [are unaware, cannot tell] who [what person, which one] put [placed, set] our silver [money, wealth] in our sacks [bags, containers].” word study 23 “It is fine,” said the steward. “Do not [be anxious or fearful] be afraid. Your God [the supreme Provider], the God of your father, gave [bestowed, granted] you the treasure [hidden riches, secret storehouse] that was in your sacks. I received [had, possessed] your silver [money, payment].” Then he brought Simeon [Shimeon, the second son of Jacob] out to them. word study 24 And the steward [the man, servant] took the men into Joseph’s [Jehovah has added] house, gave them water [for washing, to refresh] to wash their feet [as a sign of hospitality], and provided [gave, supplied] food [fodder, provender] for their donkeys [asses, male donkeys]. word study 25 Since the brothers had been told that they were going to eat [have a meal, share bread] a meal [food, bread] there, they prepared [made ready, set in order] their gift [offering, present] for Joseph’s [Jehovah has added] arrival [coming, at the noon hour] at noon [midday, when the sun is highest]. word study 26 When Joseph [the one Jehovah has added] came home, they presented him with the gifts [offerings, tokens of respect] they had brought, and they bowed [to bow down, to show reverence] to the ground [the earth, the land] before him [in his presence, as a sign of honor]. word study 27 He asked [about their welfare, inquiring of their peace] if they were well [in good health, prospering], and then he asked, “How is your elderly [old] father [the patriarch, head of the family] you told me about [spoken of, mentioned]? Is he [yet, still] still alive [living, in good health]?” word study 28 “Your servant [devoted one, bondslave] our father [parent, patriarch] is well [in good health, at peace],” they answered. “He is still [yet, continuing] alive [living, in possession of life].” And they bowed down [prostrated themselves, showed respect] to honor [show respect, pay homage] him. word study 29 When Joseph looked up [lifting his eyes, gazing] and saw his brother Benjamin [his own mother’s son, his closest relative], his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother [the smallest, most vulnerable one], the one you told me about [spoken of, described to me]?” Then he declared, “May God [Elohim, the all-powerful One] be gracious [show kindness, favor] to you, my son [my child, my beloved].” word study 30 Joseph [with a heart full of emotion] hurried out because he was moved to tears [with deep compassion, his heart yearned] for his brother [his male sibling, a close relative], and he went to a private room [his chamber, a secluded place] to weep [to cry, shedding tears]. word study 31 Then he washed [with water, to cleanse] his face [presence, countenance] and came back out [from his private chamber, into the open]. Regaining [gaining control of, composing] his composure [emotions, inner self], he said [spoke, commanded], “Serve [set before us, bring forth] the meal [food, bread, sustenance].” word study 32 They separately [apart, by themselves] served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians [who did eat with him]. They ate separately [at a separate table, alone] because the Egyptians [as a cultural practice] would not eat with the Hebrews [people of Israel, descendants of Eber], since that was [considered] detestable [an abomination, utterly disgusting] to them. word study 33 They were seated [in order, according to their birthright] before Joseph [in his presence, face to face] in order by age [from the oldest to the youngest], from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men [individuals, brothers] looked at one another [in wonder, marvelled] in astonishment [amazed, stunned]. word study 34 When the portions [gifts from Joseph’s table] were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s [son of the right hand, youngest son of Jacob] portion was five times larger [exceeding, more abundant] than any of the others [all the rest, every one of them]. So they feasted [ate and drank freely, made merry] and drank [partook of wine, became cheerful] freely [without restraint, abundantly] with Joseph [in his presence, together with him]. word study