Genesis 44:3 — Word Study
WLCהַבֹּ֖קֶר א֑וֹר וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים שֻׁלְּח֔וּ הֵ֖מָּה וַחֲמֹרֵיהֶֽם׃
BSAAt daybreakbôqer [as soon as it was, morning, when the morning was light] were sent on their wayshâlach■ [to depart] with their donkeyschămôwr [asses, male donkeys]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| הַבֹּ֖קֶר | the morning | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
| א֑וֹר | it was light | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים | and the men | Conjunction, particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| שֻׁלְּח֔וּ | they were sent off | Verb, Pual, perfect third person common plural |
| הֵ֖מָּה | they | Pronoun |
| וַחֲמֹרֵיהֶֽם׃ | and donkeys their | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. |
| KJV | As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. |
| ASV | As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. |
| YLT | The morning is bright, and the men have been sent away, they and their asses — |
| WEB | As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. |
| BBE | And at dawn the men, with their asses, were sent away. |
Where they part company is in the translation of בֹּקֶר — see How Translations Differ.
One main clause with additional phrases providing context about the subjects and their means of transport.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbאוֹר
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 44:3
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 — Joseph's Brothers Return Homegenerated
Genesis 44:3 describes the moment at daybreak when Joseph's brothers are sent on their way after their encounter with him. This moment is significant as it marks their departure from a tense situation back to their home, carrying with them the weight of their recent experiences. The narrative emphasizes the timing of their departure, highlighting the transition from night to day, which often symbolizes new beginnings and hope.
Cross References
The Key Word — בֹּקֶר, ha.Bo.kergenerated
The word בֹּקֶר (boqer) means 'morning' and is derived from the root for 'dawn.' It signifies the break of day, a time when light begins to appear, marking the end of night and the start of a new day. This word is often associated with brightness and new beginnings, as seen in the morning sacrifices in Exodus 29:39.
In this verse, it indicates the specific time when the men were sent away, highlighting the importance of the morning as a fresh start. The parsing as a noun in the singular form emphasizes its role as a specific time marker in the narrative.
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 finite verb שֻׁלְּח֔וּ (they were sent off) governs the sentence, with a noun phrase as the subject and additional noun phrases providing context. The structure emphasizes the action of sending away at a specific time.
The order of the Hebrew words places emphasis on the time of day, בֹּקֶר, highlighting its significance in the narrative.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates בֹּקֶר as πρωὶ (proi), meaning 'early' or 'at dawn.' This choice reflects a straightforward rendering of the Hebrew term, maintaining the emphasis on the time of day.
The verb אוֹר is rendered as διέφαυσεν, which suggests illumination or the act of becoming light, reinforcing the theme of morning and new beginnings.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 44:3 tells us that at daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. This marks a significant moment in the story, symbolizing a new beginning as they leave after their encounter with Joseph.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Daybreak signifies a new beginning, marking the transition from night to day, which often symbolizes hope and fresh starts.
Sending the men away at daybreak indicates a decisive moment in the narrative, highlighting their return home after a tense encounter.
The donkeys represent the means of transport for the men, emphasizing their readiness to leave and return home.
The timing of daybreak adds a layer of significance, as it symbolizes a fresh start for the men after their experiences in Egypt.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What new beginnings have I experienced in my life that parallel the concept of daybreak?
- How can I recognize moments of transition and new opportunities in my daily life?
- In what ways do I prepare for new beginnings, much like the men preparing to leave at daybreak?
- How can I support others during their transitions, helping them to embrace new opportunities?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 44:3 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAs soon as the morning was light,.... When it was break of day, before the sun rose: the men were sent away, they and their asses; the men being refreshed with food, and their asses having provender
Read John Gill on Genesis 44 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAs soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. As soon as the morning ... the men were sent away.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 44 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 44:3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.Ver. 3. The men were sent away.] This was no small courtesy to them, that were so willing of their way.
Read John Trapp 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
At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.
At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.
When morning came, the men and their donkeys were sent off.
Tyndale line
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they, and their asses.
And in the morning the men were sent away, they, and their asses.
Strictly literal
In the morning, when it was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
The morning is bright, and the men have been sent away, they and their asses —
The morning is bright, and the men have been sent away, they and their donkeys—
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
The morning dawned, and the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.
From the Latin
And when the morning arose, they were sent away with their asses.
Simplified
At sunrise they were sent on their way with their donkeys.
And at dawn the men, with their asses, were sent away.
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 states, "הַבֹּ֖קֶר א֑וֹר וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים שֻׁלְּח֔וּ הֵ֖מָּה וַחֲמֹרֵיהֶֽם׃" The Septuagint agrees with the Masoretic Text in terms of the words used, though it presents them in its own word order and structure. The Samaritan Pentateuch differs slightly by using the word "הם" (they) instead of the Masoretic Text's "הֵ֖מָּה" (they), but the overall meaning remains consistent across these texts.
הַבֹּ֖קֶר א֑וֹר וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים שֻׁלְּח֔וּ הֵ֖מָּה וַחֲמֹרֵיהֶֽם׃
6 of the 6 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.
הבקר אור והאנשׁים שׁלחו הם וחמריהם
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: הם (they)
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 44:3
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.
בֹּ֫קֶר (boqer) means 'morning' and is derived from the root word for 'dawn.' It encompasses the time of day when light begins to appear, marking the end of night and the start of a new day. The term can also refer to the next day or morning after a specific point in time. It is associated with brightness and joy following periods of distress.
בֹּ֫קֶר 214 n.m. morning
morning (of point of time, time at which, never during which, Eng. morning = forenoon
morrow, next day
base
H1242 בֹּ֫קֶר morning . morning (of point of time, time at which, never during which, Eng. morning = forenoon
. morrow, next day
1242 boqer bo'-ker
from 1239; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally,
morning:--(+) day, early, morning, morrow.
see HEBREW for 01239
בֹּ֫קֶר (bo.qer) — morning.
1) morning, break of day
1a) morning
1a1) of end of night
1a2) of coming of daylight
1a3) of coming of sunrise
1a4) of beginning of day
1a5) of bright joy after night of distress (fig.)
1b) morrow, next day, next morning
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
mor'-ning: There are several Hebrew and Greek words which are rendered "morning," the most common in Hebrew being boqer, which occurs 180 times. It properly means "the breaking forth of the light," "the dawn," as in Ge 19:27; Jud 19:8,25,27. Another word with the same meaning is shachar (Ge 19:15; Ne 4:21; Isa 58:8). mishchar ("womb of the morning," Ps 110:3) is a poetical term derived from. the same root. See HIND OF THE MORNING. noghah, naghha' (Da 6:19 (Hebrew 20)), mean "brightness." hashkem, comes from…
- The second part of the day at the creation
Ge 1:5,8,13,19,23,31
- The first part of the natural day
- Ordained by God
- Began with first dawn
אוֹר (or) is a Hebrew verb meaning to be or become light, covering various contexts such as shining of the sun, illumination by celestial bodies, and lighting lamps. It has different forms: Qal (to shine), Niphal (to be illuminated), and Hiphil (to give light). The entries emphasize both literal and metaphorical uses, including making one's face shine and enlightening the eyes.
[אוֹר] 43 vb. be or become light
Qal;—become light, shine of sun (esp. in early morn.)
Niph.—become lighted up of day-break
Hiph.—
give light, of sun, moon & stars
light up, cause to shine, shine
light a lamp
lighten, of the eyes
make shine, of face of God
base
H215 אוֹר be or become light .—become light, shine of sun (esp. in early morn.)
.—become lighted up of day-break
.— . give light, of sun, moon & stars
. light up, cause to shine, shine
. light a lamp
. lighten, of the eyes
. make shine, of face of God
215 'owr ore
a primitive root; to be (causative, make) luminous (literally
and metaphorically):--X break of day, glorious, kindle, (be,
en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine.
אוֹר (or) — to light.
1) to be or become light, shine
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to become light (day)
1a2) to shine (of the sun)
1a3) to become bright
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be illuminated
1b2) to become lighted up
1c) (Hiphil)
1c1) to give light, shine (of sun, moon, and stars)
1c2) to illumine, light up, cause to shine, shine
1c3) to kindle, light (candle, wood)
1c4) lighten (of the eyes, his law, etc)
1c5) to make shine (of the face)
HVqp3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
lit ('or, ma'or; phos; many other words):
1. Origin of Light
2. A Comprehensive Term
(1) Natural Light
(2) Artificial Light
(3) Miraculous Light
(4) Mental, Moral, Spiritual Light
3. An Attribute of Holiness
(1) God
(2) Christ
(3) Christians
(4) The Church
4. Symbolism
5. Expressive Terms
1. Origin of Light:
The creation of light was the initial step in the creation of life. "Let there be light" (Ge 1:3) was the first word of God spoken after His creative Spirit "moved" upon the primary material out of which He created the heavens and the earth, and which lay, until the utterance of that word, in the chaos of darkness and desolation. Something akin, possibly, to the all-pervasive electro-magnetic activity of the aurora borealis penetrated the chaotic night of the world. The ultimate focusing of light (on the 4th day of creation,
Light
The offspring of the divine command (Gen. 1:3). “All the more joyous emotions of the mind, all the pleasing sensations of the frame, all the happy hours of domestic intercourse were habitually described among the Hebrews under imagery derived from light” (1 Kings 11:36; Isa. 58:8; Esther 8:16; Ps. 97:11). Light came also naturally to typify true religion and the felicity it imparts (Ps. 119:105; Isa. 8:20; Matt. 4:16, etc.), and the glorious inheritance…
One of the most wonderful, cheering, and useful of all the works of God; called into being on the first of the six days of creation, by his voice: "Let there be light;" and there was light. No object better illustrates whatever is pure, glorious, spiritual, joyful, and beneficent. Hence the beauty and force of the expressions, "God is light," 1Jo 1:5, and "the Father of lights," Jas 1:17; Christ is the "Sun of righteousness," and "the light of the world," Joh 1:9 8:12. So also the word of God is "a light," Ps 119:105; truth and Christians are lights, Joh 3:19 12:36; prosperity is "light," Es 8:16; and heaven is full of…
אֱנוֹשׁ (enowsh) refers to man or mankind, often used in a poetic context. It denotes a mortal individual, distinguishing humans from more dignified terms for man. The word encompasses both singular and collective meanings, indicating people or persons in general. Its Aramaic equivalent is אֱנָשׁ (e.nash), also meaning 'man'.
אֱנוֹשׁ n.m. man, mankind, mostly poet.
of individ.
coll. men
man, mankind
base
H582 אֱנוֹשׁ man, mankind, mostly poet.
582 'enowsh en-oshe'
from 605; properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the
more dignified 120); hence, a man in general (singly or
collectively):--another, X (blood-)thirsty, certain,
chap(-man); divers, fellow, X in the flower of their age,
husband, (certain, mortal) man, people, person, servant, some
( X of them), + stranger, those, + their trade. It is often
unexpressed in the English versions, especially when used in
apposition with another word . Compare 376.
see HEBREW for 0605
see HEBREW for 0120
see HEBREW for 0376
אֱנוֹשׁ (e.nosh) — human.
1) man, mortal man, person, mankind
1a) of an individual
1b) men (collective)
1c) man, mankind
Aramaic equivalent: e.nash (אֱנָשׁ "man" H0606)
HC/Td/Ncmpa — Conjunction · particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHC/Td/Ncmpa
The Hebrew word שָׁלַח (shalach) is a primitive root meaning 'to send' with a wide range of applications. It can refer to sending away, stretching out (especially a hand), or letting go. The entries indicate various forms, including sending off, casting out, and setting free. Notably, it can also imply divorce or being sent away in a marital context.
שָׁלַח 814 vb. send
Qal
send: human subj.
send: subj. י׳ (God)
stretch out, esp. acc. hand
rarely send away: human subj.
let loose
Niph. letters were sent
Pi.
send off, away, human subj.
send away, subj. י׳
give over
cast out
send out, forth
let go, set free
shoot forth branches
let down
shoot
Phrases
Pu. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
Hiph. and I (י׳) will send
base
H7971 שָׁלַח send .. send: human subj.
. send: subj. י׳ (God)
. stretch out, esp. acc. hand
. rarely send away: human subj.
. let loose
. letters were sent
. . send off, away, human subj.
. . send away, subj. י׳
. give over
. cast out
. send out, forth
. let go, set free
. shoot forth branches
. let down
. shoot
. Phrases
. be sent off (started on journey); be put away, divorced, of wife; be impelled(?)
. and I (י׳) will send
7971 shalach shaw-lakh'
a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great
variety of applications):--X any wise, appoint, bring (on the
way), cast (away, out), conduct, X earnestly, forsake, give
(up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose),
push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send
(away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread,
stretch forth (out).
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: depart.
: depart/send
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
1d) (Pual) to be sent off, be put away, be divorced, be impelled
1e) (Hiphil) to send
שָׁלַח (sha.lach) — to send: let go.
: let_go/free
1) to send, send away, let go, stretch out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to send
1a2) to stretch out, extend, direct
1a3) to send away
1a4) to let loose
1b) (Niphal) to be sent
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to send off or away or out or forth, dismiss, give over, cast out
1c2) to let go, set free
1c3) to shoot forth (of branches)
1c4) to let down
1c5) to shoot
V-Pual-Perf-3cp — Verb · Pual · perfect third person common pluralHVPp3cp
הֵ֫מָּה (hemmah) is a masculine plural pronoun meaning 'they.' The entries indicate that it can also mean 'these,' 'the same,' or refer to people in an emphatic context. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its usage.
הֵ֫מָּה and הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) pron. 3 pl. masc. they
base
H1992 הֵ֫מָּה, הֵם (without appreciable distinction in usage, except prob. in so far as the longer or shorter form was better adapted to the rhythm of particular sentences) they
1992 hem haym
or (prolonged) hemmah {haym'-maw}; masculine plural from
1981; they (only used when emphatic):--it, like, X (how, so)
many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, X so, X such,
their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.
see HEBREW for 01981
הֵ֫מָּה (hem.mah) — they(masc.).
they, these, the same, who
HPp3mp — PronounHPp3mp
חֲמוֹר (chamor) refers to a male donkey, derived from a root meaning 'to be red' or 'dun.' The term is consistently translated as 'ass' or 'donkey' across various lexicons, indicating its specific reference to this animal in the Old Testament.
חֲמוֹר n.m. (he)-ass
base
H2543 חֲמוֹר (he)-ass
2543 chamowr kham-ore'
or (shortened) chamor {kham-ore}; from 2560; a male ass (from
its dun red):--(he)ass.
see HEBREW for 02560
חֲמוֹר (cha.mor) — donkey.
(he) ass
Conj | N-cp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncmpc/Sp3mp