Genesis 44:25 — Word Study
WLCוַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָבִ֑ינוּ שֻׁ֖בוּ שִׁבְרוּ־ לָ֥נוּ מְעַט־ אֹֽכֶל׃
BSAThen our fatherʼâb [our earthly parent, the patriarch] saidʼâmar▸ Go backshûwb [return, turn back] and buyshâbar [trade, acquire] somemᵉʻaṭ [a little, a small amount of] foodʼôkel [sustenance, nourishment, provision]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֹּ֖אמֶר | and he said | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אָבִ֑ינוּ | father our | Noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| שֻׁ֖בוּ | go back | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine plural |
| שִׁבְרוּ־ | buy | Verb, Qal, imperative second person masculine plural |
| לָ֥נוּ | for us | Preposition, suffix |
| מְעַט־ | a little of | Noun common, masculine singular construct |
| אֹֽכֶל׃ | food | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us some food.’ |
| KJV | And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. |
| ASV | And our father said, Go again, buy us a little food. |
| YLT | and our father saith, Turn back, buy for us a little food, |
| WEB | Our father said, ‘Go again and buy us a little food.’ |
| BBE | And our father said, Go again and get us a little food. |
Where they part company is מְעַט — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main clause followed by an imperative command, emphasizing Jacob's authority and urgency.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָמַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 44:25
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Jacob's Instructions to His Sonsgenerated
Genesis 44:25 occurs during a time of famine, where Jacob, the patriarch, instructs his sons to return to Egypt to buy food. This reflects the desperation of the family as they seek sustenance amidst scarcity. The preceding verses set the stage for this moment, as the brothers recount their previous encounter in Egypt and the need to bring their younger brother back with them.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 43:2–5 | So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.” |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 1 reference, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — שִׁבְרוּ, Shivru-generated
The Hebrew verb שִׁבְרוּ (shivru) means 'to buy' or 'to acquire', specifically in the context of purchasing grain. It is an imperative form, indicating a command directed at the brothers to take action for their survival.
This word is derived from the root meaning to break or shatter, but in this context, it emphasizes the act of trading for food, which is essential for the family's sustenance during the famine.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is וַיֹּ֖אמֶר (vai.Yo.mer), and he said, which governs the entire sentence. It introduces Jacob's command to his sons.
The structure includes a noun phrase as the subject (אָבִ֑ינוּ, our father) followed by an imperative clause that outlines the actions Jacob commands: to return and to buy food.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates וַיֹּ֖אמֶר with εἶπεν (eipen), meaning 'he said', which aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning.
For שִׁבְרוּ, the Greek uses ἀγοράσατε (agorāsate), meaning 'buy', which maintains the imperative command found in the Hebrew.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 44:25 shows Jacob telling his sons to go back to Egypt and buy food for the family. This command highlights the urgency of their situation as they face a famine.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Jacob is instructing his sons to acquire sustenance necessary for their survival during the famine.
The emphasis on 'a little' indicates the family's desperate need for sustenance, even in small quantities.
The command to return signifies the urgency of the situation and the need to take action to provide for the family.
This moment is pivotal as it leads to further interactions between Jacob's sons and Joseph, setting the stage for reconciliation.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does this verse teach us about the importance of providing for our families?
- How can we respond to urgent needs in our own lives, similar to Jacob's call to action?
- In what ways can we demonstrate faith in God's provision during difficult times?
- How does the context of famine in this passage relate to our understanding of dependence on God?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 44:25 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd our father said,.... After some time, when the corn was almost consumed they had bought in Egypt: go again, [and] buy us a little food; that may suffice fill the famine is over; see Genesis 43:1.
Read John Gill on Genesis 44 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 44 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges18–34. Judah’s Intercession This is one of the most beautiful and pathetic passages in Hebrew narrative. Judah’s speech falls into two unequal divisions: (1) Genesis 44:18-31 a simple recapitulation of the story, (2) Genesis 44:31-34 his self-sacrificing offer of himself as a substitute for Benjamin. The points emphasized are (a) Joseph’s previous demand to see Benjamin, (b) the aged father’s unwillingness to let him go, (c) the certainty that the loss of Benjamin would be Jacob’s death, (d) the offer to stay in Benjamin’s place.
Read Cambridge on Genesis 44 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us some food.’
Our father said, ‘Go again and buy us a little food.’
Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us some food.’
“Then our father said, ‘Go back and buy us a little food.’
Tyndale line
And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.
And our father said, Go again, buy us a little food.
And our father said, Go again, buy us a little food.
And our father said, Go again; buy us a little food.
And our father sayde vnto vs, Goe againe, bye vs a litle foode,
Strictly literal
And our father said, Go again, buy us a little food.
and our father saith, Turn back, buy for us a little food,
and our father says, Return, buy for us a little food,
And our father said, Go back and buy us a little food.
Our father said, 'Go again, buy us some food.'
From the Latin
And our father said: Go again, and buy us a little wheat.
Simplified
However, later on, our father told us, ‘Go back and buy some more food.’
And our father said, Go again and get us a little food.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads: וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָבִ֑ינוּ שֻׁ֖בוּ שִׁבְרוּ־ לָ֥נוּ מְעַט־ אֹֽכֶל׃. The Septuagint matches six of the seven words, indicating a close relationship between the two texts.
The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly, using the word שׁובו (return) instead of שֻׁ֖בוּ, but otherwise retains the same meaning.
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אָבִ֑ינוּ שֻׁ֖בוּ שִׁבְרוּ־ לָ֥נוּ מְעַט־ אֹֽכֶל׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויאמר אבינו שׁובו ושׁברו לנו מעט אכל
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: שׁובו (return)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 44:25
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
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)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.
אָב 1101 n.m. father
father of individual
of God as father of his people
head of household, family or clan
ancestor
originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
fig. of producer, generator
fig. of benevolence & protection
term of respect & honor
specif., ruler, chief (late)
base
H1 אָב father . father of individual
. of God as father of his people
. head of household, family or clan
. ancestor
. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
. fig. of producer, generator
. fig. of benevolence & protection
. term of respect & honor
. specif., ruler, chief (late)
1 'ab awb
a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or
figurative and remote application):--chief,
(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names
in "Abi-".
אָב (av) — father.
1) father of an individual
2) of God as father of his people
3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
4) ancestor
4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person
4b) of people
5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
6) of producer, generator (fig.)
7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)
8) term of respect and honour
9) ruler or chief (spec.)
Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;
Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)
אָב (av) — father of.
The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;
son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);
N-ms | Suff — Noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHNcmsc/Sp1bp
The Hebrew word שׁוּב (shuwb) means to turn back or return, covering a wide range of contexts including physical, spiritual, and relational. It can denote returning to a previous state, repenting, or even apostatizing. The entries describe various forms and uses, including bringing back, restoring, and refreshing. Notably, it can also imply a change in course of action.
שׁוּב 1056 vb. turn back, return
Qal 683;—turn back, return:
turn back
return, come or go back
esp. return unto
of dying
of revival from death
fig. of human relations:
return to leader, king
= change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)
turn, i.e. resort to
return to a physical condition
abs. = change course of action
fig., specif. of spiritual relations:
turn back from God = apostatize
of י׳, turn away
turn back to God (= seek penitently)
abs. repent
turn back from evil
of י׳
of י׳, return (to shew favour)
of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):
denoting repetition, etc.
trans.
Pō‛l.
bring back
fig. restore, refresh
restore, repair
lead away (enticingly)
shew turning = apostatize
Hiph. 353 cause to return, bring back
bring back into bondage
put back
= draw back
= give back, restore
= relinguish
= give in payment, requital
bring one back (from dead)
bring back heart
= refresh
H7725 שׁוּב turn back, return .—turn back, return: . turn back
. return, come or go back
. esp. return unto
. . of dying
. of revival from death
. fig. of human relations: . return to leader, king
. = change so as to appoach (in purpose, desire)
. turn, i.e. resort to
. return to a physical condition
. abs. = change course of action
. fig., specif. of spiritual relations: . turn back from God = apostatize
. of י׳, turn away
. turn back to God (= seek penitently)
. abs. repent
. turn back from evil
. of י׳
. of י׳, return (to shew favour)
. of inanimate things (sts. personified, or treated as things of life):
. denoting repetition, etc.
. trans.
. . bring back
. . fig. restore, refresh
. restore, repair
. lead away (enticingly)
. shew turning = apostatize
. cause to return, bring back . . bring back into bondage
. put back
. = draw back
. = give back, restore
. = relinguish
. = give in payment, requital
7725 shuwb shoob
a primitive root; to turn back (hence, away) transitively or
intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily
with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to
retreat; often adverbial, again:--((break, build, circumcise,
dig, do anything, do evil, feed, lay down, lie down, lodge,
make, rejoice, send, take, weep)) X again, (cause to) answer
(+ again), X in any case (wise), X at all, averse, bring
(again, back, home again), call (to mind), carry again (back),
cease, X certainly, come again (back), X consider, +
continually, convert, deliver (again), + deny, draw back,
fetch home again, X fro, get (oneself) (back) again, X give
(again), go again (back, home), (go) out, hinder, let, (see)
more, X needs, be past, X pay, pervert, pull in again, put
(again, up again), recall, recompense, recover, refresh,
relieve, render (again), requite, rescue, restore, retrieve,
שׁוּב (shuv) — to return: return.
: return
1) to return, turn back
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to turn back, return
1a1a) to turn back
1a1b) to return, come or go back
1a1c) to return unto, go back, come back
1a1d) of dying
1a1e) of human relations (fig)
1a1f) of spiritual relations (fig)
1a1f1) to turn back (from God), apostatise
1a1f2) to turn away (of God)
1a1f3) to turn back (to God), repent
1a1f4) turn back (from evil)
1a1g) of inanimate things
1a1h) in repetition
1b) (Polel)
1b1) to bring back
1b2) to restore, refresh, repair (fig)
1b3) to lead away (enticingly)
1b4) to show turning, apostatise
1c) (Pual) restored (participle)
1d) (Hiphil) to cause to return, bring back
1d1) to bring back, allow to return, put back, draw back, give back, restore, relinquish, give in payment
1d2) to bring back, refresh, restore
1d3) to bring back, report to, answer
1d4) to bring back, make requital, pay (as recompense)
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine pluralHVqv2mp
שָׁבַר (shabar) is a verb meaning to buy grain, derived from a related root. It covers the actions of purchasing grain in the Qal form and selling it in the Hiphil form. The word emphasizes trade in grain, with no significant disagreement noted among the lexicons.
[שָׁבַר] vb. denom. buy grain
Qal buy grain for food
Hiph. sell grain (prop. cause to buy grain)
base
H7666 שָׁבַר vb. denom. buy grain
7666 shabar shaw-bar'
denominative from 7668; to deal in grain:--buy, sell.
see HEBREW for 07668
שָׁבַר (sha.var) — to buy grain.
1) to buy or purchase grain
1a) (Qal) to buy grain
1b) (Hiphil) to sell grain
Aramaic equivalent: ze.van (זְבַן "to buy" H2084)
V-Qal-Impv-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperative second person masculine pluralHVqv2mp
נוּ (nu) — us.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 1st person plural
HR/Sp1bp — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp1bp
US, pronoun objective case of we.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Us , pron. [OE. us, AS. s; akin to OFries. & OS. s, D. ons, G. uns, Icel. & Sw. oss, Dan. os, Goth. uns, L. nos we, us, Gr. we, Skr. nas us. . Cf. Nostrum, Our.] The persons speaking, regarded as an object; ourselves; — the objective case of we. See We. “Tell us a tale.” Chaucer.
Give us this day our daily bread. Matt. vi. 11.
Us, pron. oblique case of we
מְעַט (m`at) refers to something that is small in quantity or degree, encompassing meanings like 'a little' or 'few.' It can be used adverbially to indicate a small amount or to describe something as almost or hardly. The term is derived from a root meaning 'to be small' and is associated with concepts of littleness and fewness.
מְעַט 101 subst. a little, fewness, a few
base
H4592 מְעַט a little, fewness, a few
4592 m`at meh-at'
or miat {meh-awt'}; from 4591; a little or few (often
adverbial or compar.):--almost (some, very) few(-er, -est),
lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some,
soon, X very.
see HEBREW for 04591
מְעַט (me.at) — little.
1) littleness, few, a little, fewness
1a) little, small, littleness, fewness, too little, yet a little
1b) like a little, within a little, almost, just, hardly, shortly, little worth
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular constructHNcmsc
ov:
(1) In Anglo-Saxon, had the meaning "from," "away from" (as the strengthened form "off" has still), and was not used for genitive or possessive relations, these being expressed by special case-forms. In the Norman period, however, "of" was taken to represent the French de (a use well developed by the time of Chaucer), and in the Elizabethan period both senses of "of" were in common use. But after about 1600 the later force of the word became predominant, and in the earlier sense (which is now practically obsolete) it was replaced by other prepositions. In consequence the King James Version (and in some cases the Revised Version (British and American)) contains many uses of "of" that are no longer familiar--most of them, to be sure, causing no difficulty, but there still being a few responsible for real obscurities.
OF, preposition ov. [Gr.]
1. From or out of; proceeding from, as the cause, source, means, author or agent bestowing.
I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered to you. 1 Corinthians 11:1.
For it was of the Lord to harden their hearts. Joshua 11:1.
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed.
Lamentations 3:1.
The whole disposing thereof is of the Lord. Proverbs 16:1.
Go, inquire of the Lord for me. 2 Chronicles 34:2.
That holy thing that shall be born of thee. Luke 1:1.
Hence of is the sign of the genitive case, the case that denotes production; as the son of man, the son proceeding from man, produced from man. This is the primary sense, although we now say, produced by man. 'Part of these were slain; ' that is, a number separate, for part denotes a division; the sense then is, a number from or out of the whole were slain. So also, 'some of these were slain; ' that is…
אֹ֫כֶל (okel) means food and encompasses a range of meanings including meal, meat, and food supply. It is derived from the root word for eating. The entries highlight its use in various contexts, such as meals and victuals, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among the lexicons.
אֹ֫כֶל 40 n.m. food
base
H400 אֹ֫כֶל food
400 'okel o'-kel
from 398; food:--eating, food, meal(-time), meat, prey,
victuals.
see HEBREW for 0398
אֹ֫כֶל (o.khel) — food.
1) food
1a) cereal
1b) meat
2) food supply
3) meal, dinner
N-ms — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
food:
I. VEGETABLE FOODS
1. Primitive Habits
2. Cereals
3. Leguminous Plants
4. Food of Trees
II. ANIMAL FOOD
LITERATURE
In a previous article (see BREAD) it has been shown that in the Bible "bread" usually stands for food in general and how this came to be so. In a complementary article on MEALS the methods of preparing and serving food will be dealt with. This article is devoted specifically to the foodstuffs of the Orient, more especially to articles of food in use among the Hebrews in Bible times. These are divisible into two main classes.
Food
Originally the Creator granted the use of the vegetable world for food to man (Gen. 1:29), with the exception mentioned (2:17). The use of animal food was probably not unknown to the antediluvians. There is, however, a distinct law on the subject given to Noah after the Deluge (Gen. 9:2-5). Various articles of food used in the patriarchal age are mentioned in Gen. 18:6-8; 25:34; 27:3, 4; 43:11. Regarding the food of the Israelites in Egypt, see Ex. 16:3; Num. 11:5. In the wilderness their ordinary food was miraculously supplied in the manna. They had also quails (Ex.…
The diet of eastern nations has been in all ages light and simple. Vegetable food was more used than animal. The Hebrews used a great variety of articles, (John 21:5) to give a relish to bread. Milk and its preparations hold a conspicuous place in eastern diet, as affording substantial nourishment; generally int he form of the modern leben , i.e. sour milk. Authorized Version "butter;" (Genesis 18:8; Judges 5:25; 2 Samuel 17:29) Fruit was another source of subsistence: figs stood first in point of importance; they were generally dried and pressed into cakes. Grapes were generally eaten in a dried state as raisins. Of vegetables we have most frequent notice of lentils…
In ancient the food of a people was more entirely the product of their own country than in our day. Palestine was favored with an abundance of animal food, grain, and vegetables. But throughout the East, vegetable food is more used than animal. Bread was the principal food. Grain of various kinds, beans, lentils, onions, grapes, together with olive oil, honey, and the milk of goats and cows were the ordinary fare. The wandering Arabs live much upon a coarse black bread. A very common dish in Syria is rice, with shreds of meat, vegetables, olive oil, etc., intermixed. A similar dish, made with beans, lentils, and various kinds of pulse, was in frequent use at an earlier age, Ge 25:29-34 2Ki 4:38-1.