English Standard Version
Genesis 43:18
18And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, "It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys."
Genesis 43:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.”
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, “It is because of the money, which was returned in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may make a case against us and seize us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.”
- New Living Translation (NLT)The brothers were terrified when they saw that they were being taken into Joseph’s house. “It’s because of the money someone put in our sacks last time we were here,” they said. “He plans to pretend that we stole it. Then he will seize us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys.”
Context of Genesis 43:18
16When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon." 17The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph's house. And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, "It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys." 19So they went up to the steward of Joseph's house and spoke with him at the door of the house, 20and said, "Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food.
Read all of Genesis 43Genesis 43:18 word by word
וַיִּֽירְא֣וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֗ים כִּ֣י הֽוּבְאוּ֮ בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵף֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ עַל־דְּבַ֤ר הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ הַשָּׁ֤ב בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה אֲנַ֖חְנוּ מֽוּבָאִ֑ים לְהִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּלְהִתְנַפֵּ֣ל עָלֵ֔ינוּ וְלָקַ֧חַת אֹתָ֛נוּ לַעֲבָדִ֖ים וְאֶת־חֲמֹרֵֽינוּ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- were afraidיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
- because they were broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- into Joseph’sיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
- houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- and they saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Becauseדָּבָרdâbâr · word: becauseH1697
- of the moneyכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
- that was returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
- in our sacksאַמְתַּ֫חַת'amtachath · sackH572
- at the first timeתְּחִלָּהtechillâh · beginningH8462
- that he may seek occasionגָּלַלgâlal · to rollH1556
- against us, and fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
- upon us, and takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
- us for bondmenעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
- and our assesחֲמוֹרchămôr chămôr · donkeyH2543
Cross-references for Genesis 43:18
- Genesis 42:21Then they said to one another, "In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us."
- Judges 13:22And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, for we have seen God."
- Job 15:21Dreadful sounds are in his ears; in prosperity the destroyer will come upon him.
- Psalms 53:5There they are, in great terror, where there is no terror! For God scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; you put them to shame, for God has rejected them.
- Psalms 73:16But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,
- Isaiah 7:2When the house of David was told, "Syria is in league with Ephraim," the heart of Ahaz and the heart of his people shook as the trees of the forest shake before the wind.
- Matthew 14:26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.
- Matthew 14:27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
- Mark 6:16But when Herod heard of it, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."
- Deuteronomy 22:14and accuses her of misconduct and brings a bad name upon her, saying, 'I took this woman, and when I came near her, I did not find in her evidence of virginity,'
- Judges 14:4His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.
- Job 30:14As through a wide breach they come; amid the crash they roll on.
- Romans 7:8But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. For apart from the law, sin lies dead.
Commentaries on Genesis 43:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18And the men were afraid - A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Every thing alarms them; they now feel that God is exacting retribution, and they know not what the degrees shall be, nor where it shall stop. Fall upon us - עלינו התגלל hithgolel alainu, roll himself upon us. A metaphor taken from wrestlers; when a man has overthrown his antagonist, he rolls himself upon him, in order to keep him down. And our asses - Which they probably had in great number…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. 15-25Verses 15-25 Jacob's sons went down the second time into Egypt to buy corn. If we should ever know what a famine of the word means, let us not think it much to travel as far for spiritual food, as they did for bodily food. Joseph's steward had orders from his master to take them to his house. Even this frightened them. Those that are guilty make the worst of every thing. But the steward encouraged them. It appears, from what he said, that by his good…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18the brothers were frightened: Compare 32:6–12. Their guilt stopped them from seeing that something good might happen.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. the men were afraid--Their feelings of awe on entering the stately mansion, unaccustomed as they were to houses at all, their anxiety at the reasons of their being taken there, their solicitude about the restored money, their honest simplicity in communicating their distress to the steward and his assurances of having received their money in "full weight," the offering of their fruit present, which would, as usual, be done with some parade, and the…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 43:18
In the dictionaries
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
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