God’s Word Translation
Genesis 42:2
2I’ve heard there’s grain for sale in Egypt. Go there and buy some for us so that we won’t starve to death.”
Genesis 42:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
- New International Version (NIV)He continued, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, "Behold, I have heard that there is grain for sale in Egypt. Go down and buy grain for us there, that we may live and not die."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he said, “Indeed I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down to that place and buy for us there, that we may live and not die.”
Context of Genesis 42:2
1When Jacob found out that grain was for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you keep looking at each other? I’ve heard there’s grain for sale in Egypt. Go there and buy some for us so that we won’t starve to death.” 3Ten of Joseph’s brothers went to buy grain in Egypt. 4Jacob wouldn’t send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with the other brothers, because he was afraid that something would happen to him.
Read all of Genesis 42Genesis 42:2 word by word
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֣ה שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רְדוּ־שָׁ֙מָּה֙ וְשִׁבְרוּ־לָ֣נוּ מִשָּׁ֔ם וְנִחְיֶ֖ה וְלֹ֥א נָמֽוּת׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- Behold, I have heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- that there isיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
- cornשֶׁ֫בֶרsheber · grainH7668
- in Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
- get you downיָרַדyârad · to go downH3381
- thither, and buyשָׁבַרshâbar · to buy grainH7666
- for us from thence; that we may liveחָיָהchâyâh · to liveH2421
- and not dieמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
Cross-references for Genesis 42:2
- Genesis 43:2When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, Israel said to his sons, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”
- Genesis 45:9“Hurry back to my father, and say to him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says, “God has made me lord of Egypt. Come here to me right away!
- Genesis 43:8Then Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy along with me. Let’s get going so that we won’t starve to death.
- Psalms 118:17I will not die, but I will live and tell what the Lord has done.
- Isaiah 38:1In those days Hezekiah became sick and was about to die. The prophet Isaiah, son of Amoz, came to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Give final instructions to your household, because you’re about to die. You won’t get well.”
- Matthew 4:4Jesus answered, “Scripture says, ‘A person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks.’ ”
Commentaries on Genesis 42:2
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-38Verses 1-38 - Joseph and Ten of His Brethren 1. שׁבר sheber “fragment, crumb, hence, grain.” בר bar “pure,” “winnowed,” hence, “corn” (grain). 6. שׁליט shallı̂yṭ “ruler, governor, hence,” Sultan. Not elsewhere found in the Pentateuch. 25. כלי kelı̂y “vessel,” here any portable article in which grain may be conveyed. שׂק śaq “sack,” the very word which remains in our language to this day. אמתחת 'amtachath “bag.” Twenty years, the period of Joseph‘s long…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-2God used the famine to bring Israel to Egypt under Joseph’s rule, thus fulfilling two prophecies (15:13; 37:7–11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-381. Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt--learned from common rumor. It is evident from Jacob's language that his own and his sons' families had suffered greatly from the scarcity; and through the increasing severity of the scourge, those men, who had formerly shown both activity and spirit, were sinking into despondency. God would not interpose miraculously when natural means of preservation were within reach.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 42:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 42
- 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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