Genesis 43 בְּרֵאשִׁית פרק מ״ג

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Genesis 43 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וְהָרָעָבand the famineכָּבֵדheavyבָּאָרֶץ׃in the land

   And the famine was sore in the land.

2. 2

   וַיְהִיand it came to passכַּאֲשֶׁרwhenכִּלּוּthey had finishedלֶאֱכֹלto eatאֶת־הַשֶּׁבֶרthe grainאֲשֶׁרwhichהֵבִיאוּthey had broughtמִמִּצְרָיִםfrom Egyptוַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲלֵיהֶםto themאֲבִיהֶםtheir fatherשֻׁבוּgo againשִׁבְרוּ־לָנוּbuy usמְעַט־אֹכֶל׃a little food

   And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

3. 3

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֵלָיוto himיְהוּדָהJudahלֵאמֹרsayingהָעֵדdid solemnlyהֵעִדprotestבָּנוּin usהָאִישׁthe manלֵאמֹרsayingלֹא־תִרְאוּnot you shall seeפָנַיmy faceבִּלְתִּיexceptאֲחִיכֶםyour brotherאִתְּכֶם׃with you

   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.

4. 4

   אִם־יֶשְׁךָif you willמְשַׁלֵּחַsendאֶת־אָחִינוּour brotherאִתָּנוּwith usנֵרְדָהlet us go downוְנִשְׁבְּרָהand we will buyלְךָfor youאֹכֶל׃food

   If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

5. 5

   וְאִם־אֵינְךָand if you will notמְשַׁלֵּחַsendלֹאnotנֵרֵדshall we go downכִּי־הָאִישׁbecause the manאָמַרsaidאֵלֵינוּunto usלֹא־תִרְאוּnot you shall seeפָנַיmy faceבִּלְתִּיexceptאֲחִיכֶםyour brotherאִתְּכֶם׃with you

   But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

6. 6

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelלָמָהwhyהֲרֵעֹתֶםdealt you so illלִיto meלְהַגִּידto declareלָאִישׁto the manהַעוֹדis there yetלָכֶםto youאָח׃a brother

   And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?

7. 7

   וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidשָׁאוֹלstraitlyשָׁאַל־הָאִישׁhe asked the manלָנוּto usוּלְמוֹלַדְתֵּנוּand of our kindredלֵאמֹרsayingהַעוֹדis there yetאֲבִיכֶםyour fatherחַיlivingהֲיֵשׁis thereלָכֶםto youאָחa brotherוַנַּגֶּד־לוֹand we told himעַל־פִּיaccording to the tenor ofהַדְּבָרִיםthe wordsהָאֵלֶּהtheseהֲיָדוֹעַcould we certainlyנֵדַעknowכִּיthatיֹאמַרhe would sayהוֹרִידוּbring downאֶת־אֲחִיכֶם׃your brother

   And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

8. 8

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיְהוּדָהJudahאֶל־יִשְׂרָאֵלto Israelאָבִיוhis fatherשִׁלְחָהsendהַנַּעַרthe ladאִתִּיwith meוְנָקוּמָהso let us ariseוְנֵלֵכָהand goוְנִחְיֶהso we may liveוְלֹאand notנָמוּתwe dieגַּם־אֲנַחְנוּalso weגַם־אַתָּהalso youגַּם־טַפֵּנוּ׃also our little ones

   And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

9. 9

   אָנֹכִיIאֶעֶרְבֶנּוּI will stand surety for himמִיָּדִיat my handתְּבַקְשֶׁנּוּyou will require himאִם־לֹאif notהֲבִיאֹתִיוI brought himאֵלֶיךָto youוְהִצַּגְתִּיוand I will set himלְפָנֶיךָbefore youוְחָטָאתִיthen let me bear the blameלְךָfor youכׇּל־הַיָּמִים׃all the days

   I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

10. 10

    כִּיforלוּלֵאunlessהִתְמַהְמָהְנוּwe had lingeredכִּי־עַתָּהbecause nowשַׁבְנוּwe had returnedזֶהthisפַעֲמָיִם׃two times

    For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

11. 11

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲלֵהֶםunto themיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelאֲבִיהֶםtheir fatherאִם־כֵּןif soאֵפוֹאthenזֹאתthisעֲשׂוּdoקְחוּtakeמִזִּמְרַתof the best fruits ofהָאָרֶץthe landבִּכְלֵיכֶםin your vesselsוְהוֹרִידוּand take downלָאִישׁto the manמִנְחָהa grain offeringמְעַטa littleצֳרִיbalmוּמְעַטand a littleדְּבַשׁhoneyנְכֹאתspiceוָלֹטand myrrhבׇּטְנִיםnutsוּשְׁקֵדִים׃and almonds

    And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

12. 12

    וְכֶסֶףand they gatheredמִשְׁנֶהdoubleקְחוּtakeבְיֶדְכֶםin your handוְאֶת־הַכֶּסֶףand the moneyהַמּוּשָׁבthat was returnedבְּפִיin the mouth ofאַמְתְּחֹתֵיכֶםyour sacksתָּשִׁיבוּyou will take backבְיֶדְכֶםin your handאוּלַיperhapsמִשְׁגֶּהan oversightהוּא׃it

    And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight:

13. 13

    וְאֶת־אֲחִיכֶםand your brotherקָחוּtakeוְקוּמוּand ariseשׁוּבוּreturnאֶל־הָאִישׁ׃to the man

    Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man:

14. 14

    וְאֵלand GodשַׁדַּיAlmightyיִתֵּןshall giveלָכֶםto youרַחֲמִיםmercyלִפְנֵיbeforeהָאִישׁthe manוְשִׁלַּחand may he send awayלָכֶםto youאֶת־אֲחִיכֶםyour brotherאַחֵרotherוְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִיןand Benjaminוַאֲנִיand IכַּאֲשֶׁרifשָׁכֹלְתִּיI am bereavedשָׁכָלְתִּי׃I have been bereaved

    And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.

15. 15

    וַיִּקְחוּand tookהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menאֶת־הַמִּנְחָהthe grain offeringהַזֹּאתthisוּמִשְׁנֶה־כֶּסֶףand double moneyלָקְחוּthey tookבְיָדָםin their handוְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִןand Benjaminוַיָּקֻמוּand rose upוַיֵּרְדוּand came downמִצְרַיִםEgyptוַיַּעַמְדוּand stoodלִפְנֵיbeforeיוֹסֵף׃Joseph

    And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.

16. 16

    וַיַּרְאand sawיוֹסֵףJosephאִתָּםwith themאֶת־בִּנְיָמִיןBenjaminוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלַאֲשֶׁרto him that wasעַל־בֵּיתוֹupon his householdהָבֵאbringאֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menהַבָּיְתָהhomeוּטְבֹחַand slayטֶבַחa beastוְהָכֵןand make readyכִּיforאִתִּיwith meיֹאכְלוּshall eatהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menבַּצׇּהֳרָיִם׃at noon

    And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

17. 17

    וַיַּעַשׂand he didהָאִישׁthe manכַּאֲשֶׁרasאָמַרsaidיוֹסֵףJosephוַיָּבֵאand he broughtהָאִישׁthe manאֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menבֵּיתָהto the house ofיוֹסֵף׃Joseph

    And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.

18. 18

    וַיִּירְאוּand fearedהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menכִּיbecauseהוּבְאוּthey were broughtבֵּיתthe house ofיוֹסֵףJosephוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidעַל־דְּבַרupon the word ofהַכֶּסֶףthe moneyהַשָּׁבthat was returnedבְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵינוּin our sacksבַּתְּחִלָּהat the firstאֲנַחְנוּweמוּבָאִיםare being broughtלְהִתְגֹּלֵלthat he may seek occasionעָלֵינוּover usוּלְהִתְנַפֵּלand fallעָלֵינוּover usוְלָקַחַתand takeאֹתָנוּusלַעֲבָדִיםfor servantsוְאֶת־חֲמֹרֵינוּ׃and our donkeys

    And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

19. 19

    וַיִּגְּשׁוּand they approachedאֶל־הָאִישׁto the manאֲשֶׁרwhichעַל־בֵּיתover the house ofיוֹסֵףJosephוַיְדַבְּרוּand spokeאֵלָיוto himפֶּתַחat the door ofהַבָּיִת׃the house

    And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

20. 20

    וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidבִּיOאֲדֹנִיmy lordיָרֹדindeedיָרַדְנוּwe came downבַּתְּחִלָּהat the firstלִשְׁבׇּר־אֹכֶל׃to buy food

    And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

21. 21

    וַיְהִיand it came to passכִּי־בָאנוּbecause we cameאֶל־הַמָּלוֹןto the lodging placeוַנִּפְתְּחָהand we openedאֶת־אַמְתְּחֹתֵינוּour sacksוְהִנֵּהand beholdכֶסֶף־אִישׁeach man's moneyבְּפִיin the mouth ofאַמְתַּחְתּוֹhis sackכַּסְפֵּנוּour moneyבְּמִשְׁקָלוֹin its weightוַנָּשֶׁבand we have brought backאֹתוֹitבְּיָדֵנוּ׃in our hand

    And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

22. 22

    וְכֶסֶףand they gatheredאַחֵרotherהוֹרַדְנוּwe have brought downבְיָדֵנוּin our handלִשְׁבׇּר־אֹכֶלto buy foodלֹאnotיָדַעְנוּwe knowמִי־שָׂםwho setכַּסְפֵּנוּour moneyבְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵינוּ׃in our sacks

    And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

23. 23

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidשָׁלוֹםpeaceלָכֶםto youאַל־תִּירָאוּfear notאֱלֹהֵיכֶםyour Godוֵאלֹהֵיand God ofאֲבִיכֶםyour fatherנָתַןhas givenלָכֶםto youמַטְמוֹןtreasureבְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵיכֶםin your sacksכַּסְפְּכֶםyour moneyבָּאcameאֵלָיunto meוַיּוֹצֵאand he brought outאֲלֵהֶםunto themאֶת־שִׁמְעוֹן׃Simeon

    And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them.

24. 24

    וַיָּבֵאand he broughtהָאִישׁthe manאֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menבֵּיתָהinto the house ofיוֹסֵףJosephוַיִּתֶּן־מַיִםand gave waterוַיִּרְחֲצוּand they washedרַגְלֵיהֶםtheir feetוַיִּתֵּןand gaveמִסְפּוֹאfodderלַחֲמֹרֵיהֶם׃to their donkeys

    And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

25. 25

    וַיָּכִינוּand they preparedאֶת־הַמִּנְחָהthe grain offeringעַד־בּוֹאagainst cameיוֹסֵףJosephבַּצׇּהֳרָיִםat the noonכִּיbecauseשָׁמְעוּthey heardכִּי־שָׁםthat thereיֹאכְלוּshall eatלָחֶם׃bread

    And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there.

26. 26

    וַיָּבֹאand cameיוֹסֵףJosephהַבַּיְתָהhomeוַיָּבִיאּוּand they broughtלוֹto himאֶת־הַמִּנְחָהthe grain offeringאֲשֶׁר־בְּיָדָםwhich was in their handהַבָּיְתָהinto the houseוַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ־לוֹand bowed themselves to himאָרְצָה׃to the ground

    And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.

27. 27

    וַיִּשְׁאַלand askedלָהֶםto themלְשָׁלוֹםof their welfareוַיֹּאמֶרand saidהֲשָׁלוֹםis it wellאֲבִיכֶםyour fatherהַזָּקֵןthe old manאֲשֶׁרwhichאֲמַרְתֶּםyou have saidהַעוֹדֶנּוּis he yetחָי׃alive

    And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

28. 28

    וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidשָׁלוֹםpeaceלְעַבְדְּךָyour servantלְאָבִינוּunto our fatherעוֹדֶנּוּwhile he stillחָיaliveוַיִּקְּדוּand they bowed low(וישתחו)[וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ]׃and made obeisance

    And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

29. 29

    וַיִּשָּׂאand he lifted upעֵינָיוhis eyesוַיַּרְאand sawאֶת־בִּנְיָמִיןBenjaminאָחִיוhis brotherבֶּן־אִמּוֹhis mother's sonוַיֹּאמֶרand saidהֲזֶהis thisאֲחִיכֶםyour brotherהַקָּטֹןthe youngerאֲשֶׁרwhichאֲמַרְתֶּםyou have saidאֵלָיunto meוַיֹּאמַרand saidאֱלֹהִיםGodיׇחְנְךָbe gracious unto youבְּנִי׃my son

    And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

30. 30

    וַיְמַהֵרand he hurriedיוֹסֵףJosephכִּי־נִכְמְרוּbecause yearnedרַחֲמָיוhis bowelsאֶל־אָחִיוupon his brotherוַיְבַקֵּשׁand requestedלִבְכּוֹתto weepוַיָּבֹאand cameהַחַדְרָהinto his chamberוַיֵּבְךְּand he weptשָׁמָּה׃there

    And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

31. 31

    וַיִּרְחַץand he washedפָּנָיוhis faceוַיֵּצֵאand went outוַיִּתְאַפַּקand he restrained himselfוַיֹּאמֶרand saidשִׂימוּset onלָחֶם׃bread

    And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.

32. 32

    וַיָּשִׂימוּand they set onלוֹfor himלְבַדּוֹaloneוְלָהֶםand for themלְבַדָּםfor themselves aloneוְלַמִּצְרִיםand for the Egyptiansהָאֹכְלִיםwhich did eatאִתּוֹwith himלְבַדָּםfor themselves aloneכִּיbecauseלֹאnotיוּכְלוּןthey are ableהַמִּצְרִיםthe Egyptiansלֶאֱכֹלto eatאֶת־הָעִבְרִיםthe Hebrewsלֶחֶםbreadכִּי־תוֹעֵבָהbecause abominableהִואitלְמִצְרָיִם׃to Egypt

    And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

33. 33

    וַיֵּשְׁבוּand they satלְפָנָיוbefore himהַבְּכֹרthe firstbornכִּבְכֹרָתוֹaccording to his birthrightוְהַצָּעִירand the youngerכִּצְעִרָתוֹaccording to his youthוַיִּתְמְהוּthey were astonishedהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menאִישׁeachאֶל־רֵעֵהוּ׃at one another

    And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth: and the men marvelled one at another.

34. 34

    וַיִּשָּׂאand he tookמַשְׂאֹתportionsמֵאֵתfromפָּנָיוhis faceאֲלֵהֶםunto themוַתֵּרֶבand was greaterמַשְׂאַתthe portion ofבִּנְיָמִןBenjaminמִמַּשְׂאֹתmore than the portions ofכֻּלָּםall of themחָמֵשׁfiveיָדוֹתtimesוַיִּשְׁתּוּand they did drinkוַיִּשְׁכְּרוּand were merryעִמּוֹ׃with him

    And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.