Genesis 43:6
Genesis 43:6 in Multiple Translations
“Why did you bring this trouble upon me?” Israel asked. “Why did you tell the man you had another brother?”
And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
And Israel said, Why were you so cruel to me as to say to him that you had a brother?
“Why have you made things so bad for me by telling the man you had another brother?” Israel asked.
And Israel sayd, Wherefore delt ye so euill with me, as to tell the man, whether ye had yet a brother or no?
And Israel saith, 'Why did ye evil to me, by declaring to the man that ye had yet a brother?'
Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?”
And Israel said, Why dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
Israel said to them: You have done this for my misery in that you told him you had also another brother.
Jacob asked, “Why did you cause me to have this trouble by telling the man that you had a younger brother?”
Then Jacob said, “I don’t want you mob to take Benjamin to Egypt country. Why did you make this problem for me? Why did you tell that man that you have another brother?”
Berean Amplified Bible — Genesis 43:6
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
Genesis 43:6 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יֹּ֨אמֶר֙
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
לָ/מָ֥ה
הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם
לִ֑/י
לְ/הַגִּ֣יד
לָ/אִ֔ישׁ
הַ/ע֥וֹד
לָ/כֶ֖ם
אָֽח
וַ/יֹּ֨אמֶר֙
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
Israel
N-proper
לָ/מָ֥ה
mâh
H4100
what?
Prep | Part
הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם
râʻaʻ
H7489
be evil
V-Hiphil-Perf-2mp
לִ֑/י
Prep | Suff
לְ/הַגִּ֣יד
nâgad
H5046
to tell
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a
לָ/אִ֔ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
man
Prep | N-ms
הַ/ע֥וֹד
ʻôwd
H5750
still
Part | Adv
לָ/כֶ֖ם
Prep | Suff
אָֽח
ʼâch
H251
brother
N-ms
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — Genesis 43:6
וַ/יֹּ֨אמֶר֙
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
Yisrâʼêl
H3478
"Israel"
N-proper
Israel is the symbolic name of Jacob, also referring to his descendants. Jacob, son of Isaac and Rebekah, had 12 sons who became the tribes of Israel, as told in Genesis 25:26. His story is crucial to the Bible's narrative.
Definition: A man living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at Gen.25.26; son of: Isaac (H3327) and Rebekah (H7259); brother of: Esau (H6215); married to Rachel (H7354), Leah (H3812), Zilpah (H2153) and Bilhah (H1090A); father of: Reuben (H7205), Simeon (H8095), Levi (H3878), Judah (H3063), Dan (H1835H), Naphtali (H5321), Gad (H1410), Asher (H0836), Issachar (H3485), Zebulun (H2074), Dinah (H1783), Joseph (H3130) and Benjamin (H1144); also called Jacob frequently § Israel = "God prevails" 1) the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel 2) the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob 2a) the name of the nation until the death of Solomon and the split 2b) the name used and given to the northern kingdom consisting of the 10 tribes under Jeroboam; the southern kingdom was known as Judah 2c) the name of the nation after the return from exile
Usage: Occurs in 2231 OT verses. KJV: Israel. See also: Genesis 32:29; Exodus 13:18; Exodus 40:38.
לָ/מָ֥ה
mâh
H4100
"what?"
Prep | Part
This Hebrew word means what or how, often used to ask questions or express surprise, like in Genesis when God asks Adam what he has done. It can also mean why or when, and is used in various ways throughout the Old Testament. It appears in many KJV translations, including how or what.
Definition: interr pron 1) what, how, of what kind 1a) (interrogative) 1a1) what? 1a2) of what kind 1a3) what? (rhetorical) 1a4) whatsoever, whatever, what 1b) (adverb) 1b1) how, how now 1b2) why 1b3) how! (exclamation) 1c) (with prep) 1c1) wherein?, whereby?, wherewith?, by what means? 1c2) because of what? 1c3) the like of what? 1c3a) how much?, how many?, how often? 1c3b) for how long? 1c4) for what reason?, why?, to what purpose? 1c5) until when?, how long?, upon what?, wherefore? indef pron 2) anything, aught, what may
Usage: Occurs in 655 OT verses. KJV: how (long, oft, (-soever)), (no-) thing, what (end, good, purpose, thing), whereby(-fore, -in, -to, -with), (for) why. See also: Genesis 2:19; Numbers 21:5; 1 Samuel 19:5.
הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם
râʻaʻ
H7489
"be evil"
V-Hiphil-Perf-2mp
This word means to shatter or break something into pieces, making it useless or bad. It can also mean to afflict or displease someone.
Definition: 1) to be bad, be evil 1a)(Qal) 1a1) to be displeasing 1a2) to be sad 1a3) to be injurious, be evil 1a4) to be wicked, be evil (ethically) 1b) (Hiphil) 1b1) to do an injury or hurt 1b2) to do evil or wickedly 1b3) mischief (participle)
Usage: Occurs in 99 OT verses. KJV: afflict, associate selves (by mistake for H7462 (רָעָה)), break (down, in pieces), [phrase] displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat, man), show self friendly (by mistake for H7462 (רָעָה)), do harm, (do) hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, [idiom] indeed, do mischief, punish, still, vex, (do) wicked (doer, -ly), be (deal, do) worse. See also: Genesis 19:7; Psalms 27:2; Psalms 2:9.
לִ֑/י
""
Prep | Suff
לְ/הַגִּ֣יד
nâgad
H5046
"to tell"
Prep | V-Hiphil-Inf-a
To tell or declare something openly, as in Genesis 3:11 where God asks Adam to tell the truth. It means to stand boldly and announce something to someone present. In Exodus 32:27, Moses tells the Levites to declare their actions to the people.
Definition: 1) to be conspicuous, tell, make known 1a) (Hiphil) to tell, declare 1a1) to tell, announce, report 1a2) to declare, make known, expound 1a3) to inform of 1a4) to publish, declare, proclaim 1a5) to avow, acknowledge, confess 1a5a) messenger (participle) 1b) (Hophal) to be told, be announced, be reported
Usage: Occurs in 344 OT verses. KJV: bewray, [idiom] certainly, certify, declare(-ing), denounce, expound, [idiom] fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, [idiom] surely, tell, utter. See also: Genesis 3:11; 1 Samuel 14:33; 2 Kings 9:15.
לָ/אִ֔ישׁ
ʼîysh
H376
"man"
Prep | N-ms
The Hebrew word for man, referring to a male person or individual, is used in the Bible to describe humans in contrast to God or animals, as seen in Genesis and Psalms. It can also mean husband or servant. In the KJV, it is translated as man or male.
Definition: : man 1) man 1a) man, male (in contrast to woman, female) 1b) husband 1c) human being, person (in contrast to God) 1d) servant 1e) mankind 1f) champion 1g) great man 2) whosoever 3) each (adjective)
Usage: Occurs in 1851 OT verses. KJV: also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare H802 (אִשָּׁה). See also: Genesis 2:23; Genesis 42:25; Exodus 32:23.
הַ/ע֥וֹד
ʻôwd
H5750
"still"
Part | Adv
The word 'still' means something continues or happens again, like in Genesis 29:26 and Isaiah 2:11. It can also mean 'more' or 'additionally'.
Definition: subst 1) a going round, continuance adv 2) still, yet, again, besides 2a) still, yet (of continuance or persistence) 2b) still, yet, more (of addition or repetition) 2c) again 2d) still, moreover, besides Aramaic equivalent: od (עוֹד "still" H5751)
Usage: Occurs in 459 OT verses. KJV: again, [idiom] all life long, at all, besides, but, else, further(-more), henceforth, (any) longer, (any) more(-over), [idiom] once, since, (be) still, when, (good, the) while (having being), (as, because, whether, while) yet (within). See also: Genesis 4:25; Judges 9:37; 2 Chronicles 32:16.
לָ/כֶ֖ם
""
Prep | Suff
אָֽח
ʼâch
H251
"brother"
N-ms
In the Bible, this Hebrew word means a brother or male sibling, but it can also refer to a close relative, friend, or someone with a similar relationship. It is used to describe the bond between brothers, like the relationship between Cain and Abel in Genesis.
Definition: : male-sibling 1) brother 1a) brother of same parents 1b) half-brother (same father) 1c) relative, kinship, same tribe 1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship) 1e) (fig.) of resemblance
Usage: Occurs in 572 OT verses. KJV: another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. See also: Genesis 4:2; Genesis 42:13; Numbers 25:6.
Study Notes — Genesis 43:6
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — The Return to Egypt with Benjamin
4If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.
5But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”
6“Why did you bring this trouble upon me?” Israel asked. “Why did you tell the man you had another brother?”
7They replied, “The man questioned us in detail about ourselves and our family: ‘Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?’ And we answered him accordingly. How could we possibly know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother here’?” 8And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children.Genesis 43:6 Summary
In Genesis 43:6, Israel is upset with his sons because they told the man in Egypt that they had another brother, which caused trouble for their family. This shows that our words and actions can have consequences, and we should be mindful of how they might affect others. As believers, we can trust in God's sovereignty, even in difficult situations, and seek to honor Him in all we do, as encouraged in Psalm 37:5 and Proverbs 3:5-6. By trusting in God, we can find peace and guidance, even in the midst of trouble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Israel upset with his sons in Genesis 43:6?
Israel was upset because his sons had told the man in Egypt, likely Joseph, that they had another brother, which led to the man's demand that the brother be brought to him, causing trouble for Israel and his family, as seen in Genesis 43:5.
What trouble did Israel's sons bring upon him?
The trouble was the requirement to bring their brother Benjamin to Egypt, which put Israel's family at risk and caused him great concern, as he had already lost one son, Joseph, and was reluctant to lose another, as mentioned in Genesis 42:36-38.
How did Israel's sons respond to his questioning?
Israel's sons explained that they had been questioned by the man in Egypt and had truthfully answered his questions, including the fact that they had another brother, as recorded in Genesis 43:7.
What can we learn from Israel's reaction in Genesis 43:6?
We can learn that as believers, we should be mindful of the consequences of our actions and words, and seek to trust in God's sovereignty, even in difficult situations, as encouraged in Proverbs 3:5-6 and Psalm 37:5.
Reflection Questions
- How do I respond when faced with trouble or difficulty, do I turn to God or try to handle it on my own?
- What are some ways that I can apply the principle of trusting in God's sovereignty in my own life, especially in challenging situations?
- How can I balance being honest and transparent with others, like Israel's sons, while also being mindful of the potential consequences of my words and actions?
- What are some areas in my life where I need to trust God more and worry less, and how can I practically apply this trust?
Gill's Exposition on Genesis 43:6
And Israel said,.... In answer to the speech of Judah: wherefore dealt ye [so] ill with me; had done that which brought so much evil upon him, gave him so much grief and trouble, and threw him into
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Genesis 43:6
And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Trapp's Commentary on Genesis 43:6
Genesis 43:6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye [so] ill with me, [as] to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?Ver. 6. And Israel said, &c.] Here he begins to outwrestle his fears, by resting upon God; and is therefore called Israel.
Ellicott's Commentary on Genesis 43:6
XLIII. THE SECOND VISIT TO EGYPT.(7) The man asked us straitly.—In Genesis 42:13 they appear rather as volunteering a statement of their family relations than as having it wrung from them by cross-examination. But really this history must be taken as explaining and supplementing the former. Accused of being spies, they would naturally give an account of themselves, and Joseph, anxious to know about his father and brother, would certainly put numerous questions to them concerning their home and family. And they would answer them fully and frankly, little suspecting who was the questioner, and what was his real reason for exacting Benjamin’s presence in proof of their trustworthiness: Of our state and of our kindred.—Heb., concerning ourselves and our birthplace (see Genesis 12:1; Genesis 24:4; Genesis 24:7; Genesis 31:3), that is, our home. Questions about ourselves would be such as those given: “Is your father yet alive? Have ye a brother?” And besides these, Joseph would interrogate them closely concerning the place whence they came, and the state of things there.
Cambridge Bible on Genesis 43:6
6. Israel] Observe the change from “Jacob” (Genesis 42:36) to “Israel” here and Genesis 43:8; Genesis 43:11. Jacob seems here for the first time to realize that Benjamin is a condition for the next journey to Egypt. It slowly dawns upon the old man that he must accept the conditions.