Genesis 43:34

Genesis 43:34 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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.
• New International Version (NIV)When portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as anyone else’s. So they feasted and drank freely with him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Portions were taken to them from Joseph's table, but Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then he took servings to them from before him, but Benjamin’s serving was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.

Context of Genesis 43:34

32So the servants served Joseph by himself [in honor of his rank], and his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because [according to custom] the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is loathsome to the Egyptians. 33Now Joseph’s brothers were seated [by the steward] before him [in the order of their birth]—the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth; and the men looked at one another in astonishment [because so much was known about them]. Joseph selected and sent portions to them from his own table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they feasted and drank freely and celebrated with him.

Genesis 43:34 word by word

וַיִּשָּׂ֨א מַשְׂאֹ֜ת מֵאֵ֣ת פָּנָיו֮ אֲלֵהֶם֒ וַתֵּ֜רֶב מַשְׂאַ֧ת בִּנְיָמִ֛ן מִמַּשְׂאֹ֥ת כֻּלָּ֖ם חָמֵ֣שׁ יָד֑וֹת וַיִּשְׁתּ֥וּ וַֽיִּשְׁכְּר֖וּ עִמּֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And he tookנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
• messesמַשְׂאֵתmaώ'êth · tributeH4864
• unto them from before himפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• but Benjamin’sבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
• was fiveחָמֵשׁchâmêsh chămishshâh · fiveH2568
• timesיָדyâd · hand: timesH3027
• so much asרָבָהrâbâh · to multiplyH7235
• any of theirs. And they drankשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• and were merryשָׁכַרshâkar · be drunkH7937

Cross-references for Genesis 43:34

• 2 Samuel 11:8Then David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house, and wash your feet (spend time at home).” Uriah left the king’s palace, and a gift from the king was sent out after him.
• Genesis 45:22To each of them Joseph gave changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing.
• 1 Samuel 1:5But to Hannah he would give a double portion, because he loved Hannah, but the Lord had given her no children.
• 1 Samuel 9:22Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall [at the high place] and gave them a place [to sit] at the head of the persons—about thirty men—who were invited [while the rest ate outside].
• Proverbs 31:6Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away, And wine to him whose life is bitter.
• Ecclesiastes 9:7Go your way, eat your bread with joy and drink your wine with a cheerful heart [if you are righteous, wise, and in the hands of God]; for God has already approved and accepted your works.
• Ecclesiastes 10:19The officials make a feast for enjoyment [instead of repairing what is broken], and serve wine to make life merry, and money is the answer to everything.
• Habakkuk 1:6For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans [who rule in Babylon], That fierce and impetuous nation Who march throughout the earth To take possession of dwelling places that do not belong to them.
• Matthew 11:19The Son of Man came eating and drinking [with others], and they say, ‘Look! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews]!’ Yet wisdom is justified and vindicated by her deeds [in the lives of those who respond to Me].”
• John 2:10and said to him, “Everyone else serves his best wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then he serves that which is not so good; but you have kept back the good wine until now.”

Commentaries on Genesis 43:34

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 34Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs - Sir John Chardin observes that "in Persia, Arabia, and the Indies, there are several houses where they place several plates in large salvers, and set one of these before each person, or before two or three, according to the magnificence of each house. This is the method among the Hindoos; the dishes are not placed on the table, but messes are sent to each individual by the master of the feast or by…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-34Verses 1-34 - Joseph and His Eleven Brethren 11. דבשׁ debash “honey,” from the bee, or sirup from the juice of the grape. בטנים bôṭen “pistachio nuts.” שׁקד shâqêd “almond tree;” related: “awake.” The tree is also called לוּז lûz Some refer the former to the fruit, the latter to the tree. The eleven brothers are now to bow down before Joseph. Genesis 43:1-10 The famine was severe. The pressure began to be felt more and more. The twelve households had…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 26-34Verses 26-34 Observe the great respect Joseph's brethren paid to him. Thus were Joseph's dreams more and more fulfilled. Joseph showed great kindness to them. He treated them nobly; but see here the early distance between Jews and gentiles. In a day of famine, it is enough to be fed; but they were feasted. Their cares and fears were now over, and they ate their bread with joy, reckoning they were upon good terms with the lord of the land. If God accept…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 34The brothers experienced generous and gracious treatment from God through Joseph. Joseph tested them. He showed special favor to Benjamin, who was also Rachel’s son. In the past, their father’s favoritism toward Joseph had caused jealousy and hatred. By treating Benjamin with favor, Joseph tested whether they would respond with the same anger as before. This situation revealed whether their attitudes and behavior had changed.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3434. took and sent messes ... Benjamin's mess was five times--In Egypt, as in other Oriental countries, there were, and are, two modes of paying attention to a guest whom the host wishes to honor--either by giving a choice piece from his own hand, or ordering it to be taken to the stranger. The degree of respect shown consists in the quantity, and while the ordinary rule of distinction is a double mess, it must have appeared a very distinguished mark of…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 43:34

• Brother
• Dissembling
• Eating
• Favoritism
• Feasts
• Hospitality
• Wine

In the dictionaries

• Banquet
• Blame
• Chamber
• Entertain
• Famine
• Joseph
• Merry
• Mess
• Yearn
• Antediluvian Patriarchs

Commentaries on Genesis 43

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings