New American Standard Bible 1995

Genesis 42

Joseph’s Brothers Sent to Egypt

1NowJacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290sawוַיַּ֣רְאvai.Yar'H7200that thereיֶשׁ־yesh-H3426was grainשֶׁ֖בֶרShe.verH7668in Egyptבְּמִצְרָ֑יִםbe.mitz.Ra.yimH4714,and Jacobיַעֲקֹב֙ya.'a.KoH3290saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his sonsלְבָנָ֔יוle.va.NavH1121, “Whyלָ֖מָּהLa.mahH4100are you staringתִּתְרָאֽוּ׃tit.ra.'UH7200at one another?”

2He saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Beholdהִנֵּ֣הhi.NehH2009,I have heardשָׁמַ֔עְתִּיsha.Ma'.tiH8085that thereיֶשׁ־yesh-H3426is grainשֶׁ֖בֶרShe.verH7668in Egyptבְּמִצְרָ֑יִםbe.mitz.Ra.yimH4714;goרְדוּ־re.du-H3381downH3381thereשָׁ֙מָּה֙Sha.mahH8033and buyוְשִׁבְרוּ־ve.shiv.ru-H7666some for usfrom that placeמִשָּׁ֔םmi.ShamH8033,so that we may liveוְנִחְיֶ֖הve.nich.YehH2421and not dieנָמֽוּת׃na.MutH4191.”

3Then tenעֲשָׂרָ֑ה'a.sa.RahH6235brothersאֲחֵֽי־'a.chei-H251of Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130wentH3381downוַיֵּרְד֥וּvai.ye.re.DuH3381to buyלִשְׁבֹּ֥רlish.BorH7666grainבָּ֖רbarH1250from Egyptמִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃mi.mitz.Ra.yimH4714.

4But Jacobיַעֲקֹ֖בya.'a.KoH3290did not sendשָׁלַ֥חsha.LachH7971Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130brotherאֲחִ֣י'a.ChiH251Benjaminבִּנְיָמִין֙bin.ya.MinH1144with his brothersאֶחָ֑יו'e.ChavH251,for he saidאָמַ֔ר'a.MarH559, “I am afraid that harmאָסֽוֹן׃'a.SonH611may befallיִקְרָאֶ֖נּוּyik.ra.'E.nuH7122him.”

5So the sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478cameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935to buyלִשְׁבֹּ֖רlish.BorH7666grainH7666amongבְּת֣וֹךְbe.TokhH8432those who were comingהַבָּאִ֑יםha.ba.'ImH935,for the famineהָרָעָ֖בha.ra.'AvH7458was in the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנָֽעַן׃ke.Na.'anH3667also.

6NowJosephוְיוֹסֵ֗ףve.yo.SefH3130was the rulerהַשַּׁלִּ֣יטha.sha.LitH7989overעַל־'al-H5921the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776;he was the one who soldהַמַּשְׁבִּ֖ירha.mash.BirH7666to allלְכָל־le.kholH3605the peopleעַ֣ם'amH5971of the landהָאָ֑רֶץha.'A.retzH776.And Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130brothersאֲחֵ֣י'a.CheiH251cameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙vai.ya.Vo.'uH935andbowedH7812downוַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־vai.yish.ta.cha.vu-H7812to him with theirfacesאַפַּ֖יִם'a.Pa.yimH639to the groundאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tzahH776.

7When Josephיוֹסֵ֛ףyo.SefH3130sawוַיַּ֥רְאvai.Yar'H7200his brothersאֶחָ֖יו'e.ChavH251he recognizedH5234them, but he disguisedH5235himself to them andspokeוַיְדַבֵּ֧רvay.da.BerH1696to them harshlyקָשׁ֗וֹתka.ShotH7186.And he saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Whereמֵאַ֣יִןme.'A.yinH370have you comeבָּאתֶ֔םba.TemH935from?” And they saidוַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּvai.Yo.me.RuH559, “From the landמֵאֶ֥רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנַ֖עַןke.Na.'anH3667,to buyלִשְׁבָּר־lish.bor-H7666foodאֹֽכֶל׃'O.khelH400.”

8But Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130had recognizedוַיַּכֵּ֥רvai.ya.KerH5234his brothersאֶחָ֑יו'e.ChavH251, althoughthey did not recognizeהִכִּרֻֽהוּ׃hi.ki.Ru.huH5234him.

9Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130rememberedוַיִּזְכֹּ֣רvai.yiz.KorH2142the dreamsהַחֲלֹמ֔וֹתha.cha.lo.MotH2472whichאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834hehadחָלַ֖םcha.LamH2492about them, and saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “You are spiesמְרַגְּלִ֣יםme.ra.ge.LimH7270;you have comeבָּאתֶֽם׃ba.TemH935to lookלִרְא֛וֹתlir.'otH7200at theundefendedH6172partsH6172of our landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776.”

10Then they saidוַיֹּאמְר֥וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to him, “Noלֹ֣אlo'H3808,my lordאֲדֹנִ֑י'a.do.NiH113,but your servantsוַעֲבָדֶ֥יךָva.'a.va.Dei.khaH5650have comeבָּ֖אוּBa.'uH935to buyלִשְׁבָּר־lish.bor-H7666foodאֹֽכֶל׃'O.khelH400.

11We are allכֻּלָּ֕נוּku.La.nuH3605sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of oneאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259manאִישׁ־'ish-H376; we arehonestH3653menH3653,your servantsעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650are not spiesמְרַגְּלִֽים׃me.ra.ge.LimH7270.”

12Yet he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “Noלֹ֕אlo'H3808,but you have comeבָּאתֶ֥םba.TemH935to lookלִרְאֽוֹת׃lir.'otH7200at theundefendedH6172partsH6172of our landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776!”

13But they saidוַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.RuH559, “Your servantsעֲבָדֶ֨יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650are twelveשְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂר֩she.Neim 'a.SarH8147 H6240brothersאַחִ֧ים׀'a.ChimH251in all,the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of oneאֶחָ֖ד'e.ChadH259manאִישׁ־'ish-H376in the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anH3667;and beholdוְהִנֵּ֨הve.hi.NehH2009,the youngestהַקָּטֹ֤ןha.ka.TonH6996is withour fatherאָבִ֙ינוּ֙'a.Vi.nuH1todayהַיּ֔וֹםhai.YomH3117, andoneוְהָאֶחָ֖דve.ha.'e.ChadH259is noH369longerH369alive.”

14Josephיוֹסֵ֑ףyo.SefH3130saidH559to them, “It is as I saidדִּבַּ֧רְתִּיdi.Bar.tiH1696to you, you are spiesמְרַגְּלִ֥יםme.ra.ge.LimH7270;

15by thisH2088you will be testedתִּבָּחֵ֑נוּti.ba.Che.nuH974:by the lifeחֵ֤יcheiH2416of Pharaohפַרְעֹה֙far.'OhH6547,you shall not goתֵּצְא֣וּte.tze.'UH3318from thisH2088place unlessכִּ֧יkiH3588 H518your youngestהַקָּטֹ֖ןha.ka.TonH6996brotherאֲחִיכֶ֥ם'a.chi.KhemH251comesבְּב֛וֹאbe.Vo'H935hereהֵֽנָּה׃He.nahH2008!

16Sendשִׁלְח֨וּshil.ChuH7971oneאֶחָד֮'e.ChadH259of you that he may getוְיִקַּ֣חve.yi.KachH3947your brotherאֲחִיכֶם֒'a.chi.KhemH251,while you remain confinedהֵאָ֣סְר֔וּhe.'A.se.RuH631,that your wordsדִּבְרֵיכֶ֔םdiv.rei.KhemH1697may be testedוְיִבָּֽחֲנוּ֙ve.yi.ba.cha.NuH974, whether there istruthהַֽאֱמֶ֖תha.'e.MetH571in you. But ifוְאִם־ve.'im-H518not, by the lifeחֵ֣יcheiH2416of Pharaohפַרְעֹ֔הfar.'OhH6547,surelyכִּ֥יkiH3588you are spiesמְרַגְּלִ֖יםme.ra.ge.LimH7270.”

17So he putH622them allH622togetherH622inprisonמִשְׁמָ֖רmish.MarH4929for threeשְׁלֹ֥שֶׁתshe.Lo.shetH7969daysיָמִֽים׃ya.MimH3117.

18Now Josephיוֹסֵף֙yo.SefH3130saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them on the thirdהַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔יha.she.li.ShiH7992dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117, “Doעֲשׂ֖וּ'a.SuH6213thisH2088and liveוִֽחְי֑וּvich.YuH2421, forI fearH3372Godהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430:

19ifאִם־'im-H518you are honestH3653menH3653,let oneאֶחָ֔ד'e.ChadH259of your brothersאֲחִיכֶ֣ם'a.chi.KhemH251be confinedיֵאָסֵ֖רye.'a.SerH631inyour prisonבְּבֵ֣ית מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑םbe.Veit mish.mar.KhemH1004 H4929; but as for the rest ofyou, goלְכ֣וּle.KhuH1980,carryהָבִ֔יאוּha.Vi.'uH935grainשֶׁ֖בֶרShe.verH7668for the famineרַעֲב֥וֹןra.'a.VonH7459of your householdsבָּתֵּיכֶֽם׃ba.tei.KhemH1004,

20andbringתָּבִ֣יאוּta.Vi.'uH935your youngestהַקָּטֹן֙ha.ka.TonH6996brotherאֲחִיכֶ֤ם'a.chi.KhemH251to me, so your wordsדִבְרֵיכֶ֖םdiv.rei.KhemH1697may be verifiedוְיֵאָמְנ֥וּve.ye.'a.me.NuH539,and you will not dieתָמ֑וּתוּta.Mu.tuH4191.”And they didוַיַּעֲשׂוּ־vai.ya.'a.su-H6213soכֵֽן׃KhenH3651.

21Then they saidוַיֹּאמְר֞וּvai.yo.me.RuH559to oneאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376anotherאָחִ֗יו'a.ChivH251, “Trulyאֲבָל֮'a.ValH61we are guiltyאֲשֵׁמִ֣ים׀'a.she.MimH818concerningעַל־'al-H5921our brotherאָחִינוּ֒'a.chi.NuH251,becauseאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834we sawרָאִ֜ינוּra.'I.nuH7200the distressצָרַ֥תtza.RatH6869of his soulנַפְשׁ֛וֹnaf.ShoH5315when he pleadedבְּהִתְחַֽנְנ֥וֹbe.hit.cha.NoH2603with us, yet we would not listenשָׁמָ֑עְנוּsha.Ma.'e.nuH8085;thereforeעַל־ כֵּן֙'al- kenH5921 H3651thisH2088distressהַצָּרָ֖הha.tza.RahH6869has comeבָּ֣אָהBa.'ahH935upon us.”

22Reubenרְאוּבֵ֨ןre.'u.VenH7205answeredוַיַּעַן֩vai.ya.'AnH6030them, sayingH559, “Did I not tellH559you, ‘Do not sinתֶּחֶטְא֥וּte.chet.'UH2398against the boyבַיֶּ֖לֶדvai.Ye.ledH3206’;and you would not listenשְׁמַעְתֶּ֑םshe.ma'.TemH8085?Nowוְגַם־ הִנֵּ֥הve.gam- hi.NehH1571 H2009comesH1875the reckoningH1875for his bloodדָּמ֖וֹda.MoH1818.”

23They did not knowיָֽדְע֔וּya.de.'UH3045,however, that Josephיוֹסֵ֑ףyo.SefH3130understoodשֹׁמֵ֖עַsho.Me.a'H8085,for there was an interpreterH3917betweenבֵּינֹתָֽם׃bei.no.TamH996them.

24He turnedH5437awayוַיִּסֹּ֥בvai.yi.SoH5437from them andweptוַיֵּ֑בְךְּvai.Ye.vekH1058.But when he returnedוַיָּ֤שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725to them and spokeוַיְדַבֵּ֣רvay.da.BerH1696to them, hetookוַיִּקַּ֤חvai.yi.KachH3947Simeonשִׁמְע֔וֹןshim.'onH8095from them and boundוַיֶּאֱסֹ֥רvai.ye.'e.SorH631him before their eyesלְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃le.'ei.nei.HemH5869.

25Then Josephיוֹסֵ֗ףyo.SefH3130gaveH6680ordersH6680to fillוַיְמַלְא֣וּvay.mal.'UH4390their bagsכְּלֵיהֶם֮ke.lei.HemH3627with grainבָּר֒barH1250and to restoreוּלְהָשִׁ֤יבu.le.ha.ShivH7725everyH376man’sH376moneyכַּסְפֵּיהֶם֙kas.pei.HemH3701in his sackשַׂקּ֔וֹsa.KoH8242,and to giveוְלָתֵ֥תve.la.TetH5414them provisionsצֵדָ֖הtze.DahH6720for the journeyלַדָּ֑רֶךְla.Da.rekhH1870.And thusכֵּֽן׃KenH3651it was doneוַיַּ֥עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213for them.

26So they loadedוַיִּשְׂא֥וּvai.yis.'UH5375their donkeysחֲמֹרֵיהֶ֑םcha.mo.rei.HemH2543with their grainשִׁבְרָ֖םshiv.RamH7668and departedוַיֵּלְכ֖וּvai.ye.le.KhuH1980from thereמִשָּֽׁם׃mi.ShamH8033.

27As oneהָאֶחָ֜דha.'e.ChadH259of themopenedוַיִּפְתַּ֨חvai.yif.TachH6605his sackשַׂקּ֗וֹsa.KoH8242to giveלָתֵ֥תla.TetH5414his donkeyלַחֲמֹר֖וֹla.cha.mo.RoH2543fodderמִסְפּ֛וֹאmis.Po'H4554at the lodgingבַּמָּל֑וֹןba.ma.LonH4411placeH4411,he sawוַיַּרְא֙vai.yaR'H7200hismoneyכַּסְפּ֔וֹkas.PoH3701;and beholdוְהִנֵּה־ve.hi.neh-H2009,it was in the mouthבְּפִ֥יbe.FiH6310of his sackאַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃'am.tach.ToH572.

28Then he saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his brothersאֶחָיו֙'e.ChavH251, “My moneyכַּסְפִּ֔יkas.PiH3701has been returnedהוּשַׁ֣בhu.ShavH7725,and beholdהִנֵּ֣הhi.NehH2009,it is evenוְגַ֖םve.GamH1571in my sackבְאַמְתַּחְתִּ֑יve.'am.tach.TiH572.”And their heartsלִבָּ֗םli.BamH3820sankוַיֵּצֵ֣אvai.ye.Tze'H3318, and they turnedtremblingוַיֶּֽחֶרְד֞וּvai.ye.cher.DuH2729to oneאִ֤ישׁ'ishH376anotherאָחִיו֙'a.ChivH251,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “Whatמַה־mah-H4100is thisH2088that Godאֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimH430has doneעָשָׂ֥ה'a.SahH6213to us?”

Simeon Is Held Hostage

29When they cameוַיָּבֹ֛אוּvai.ya.Vo.'uH935to their fatherאֲבִיהֶ֖ם'a.vi.HemH1Jacobיַעֲקֹ֥בya.'a.KoH3290in the landאַ֣רְצָה'Ar.tzahH776of Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anH3667,they toldוַיַּגִּ֣ידוּvai.ya.Gi.duH5046him allכָּל־kol-H3605that had happenedהַקֹּרֹ֥תha.ko.RotH7136to them, sayingלֵאמֹֽר׃le.MorH559,

30“The manהָאִ֨ישׁha.'IshH376,the lordאֲדֹנֵ֥י'a.do.NeiH113of the landהָאָ֛רֶץha.'A.retzH776,spokeדִּ֠בֶּרDi.berH1696harshlyקָשׁ֑וֹתka.ShotH7186with us, and tookוַיִּתֵּ֣ןvai.yi.TenH5414us for spiesכִּֽמְרַגְּלִ֖יםkim.ra.ge.LimH7270of the countryהָאָֽרֶץ׃ha.'A.retzH776.

31But we saidוַנֹּ֥אמֶרva.No.merH559to him, ‘We arehonestH3653menH3653;we are not spiesמְרַגְּלִֽים׃me.ra.ge.LimH7270.

32We are twelveשְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֥רshe.neim- 'a.SarH8147 H6240brothersאַחִ֖ים'a.ChimH251,sonsבְּנֵ֣יbe.NeiH1121of our fatherאָבִ֑ינוּ'a.Vi.nuH1;oneהָאֶחָ֣דha.'e.ChadH259is noH369longerH369alive, and the youngestוְהַקָּטֹ֥ןve.ha.ka.TonH6996is with our fatherאָבִ֖ינוּ'a.Vi.nuH1todayהַיּ֛וֹםhai.YomH3117in the landבְּאֶ֥רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנָֽעַן׃ke.Na.'anH3667.’

33The manהָאִישׁ֙ha.'IshH376,the lordאֲדֹנֵ֣י'a.do.NeiH113of the landהָאָ֔רֶץha.'A.retzH776,saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to us, ‘By thisH2088I will knowאֵדַ֔ע'e.Da'H3045that you are honestH3653menH3653:leaveהַנִּ֣יחוּha.Ni.chuH5117oneהָֽאֶחָד֙ha.'e.ChadH259of your brothersאֲחִיכֶ֤ם'a.chi.KhemH251with me and takeקְח֥וּke.ChuH3947grain forthe famineרַעֲב֥וֹןra.'a.VonH7459of your householdsבָּתֵּיכֶ֖םba.tei.KhemH1004,and goוָלֵֽכוּ׃va.Le.khuH1980.

34But bringוְ֠הָבִיאוּVe.ha.vi.'uH935your youngestהַקָּטֹן֮ha.ka.TonH6996brotherאֲחִיכֶ֣ם'a.chi.KhemH251to me that I may knowוְאֵֽדְעָ֗הve.'e.de.'AhH3045that you are not spiesמְרַגְּלִים֙me.ra.ge.LimH7270, buthonestH3653menH3653.I will giveאֶתֵּ֣ן'e.TenH5414your brotherאֲחִיכֶם֙'a.chi.KhemH251to you, and you maytradeתִּסְחָֽרוּ׃tis.Cha.ruH5503in the landהָאָ֖רֶץha.'A.retzH776.’”

35Now it cameוַיְהִ֗יvay.HiH1961about as they were emptyingH7385their sacksשַׂקֵּיהֶ֔םsa.kei.HemH8242,that beholdוְהִנֵּה־ve.hi.neh-H2009,everyH376man’sאִ֥ישׁ'ishH376bundleצְרוֹר־tze.ror-H6872of moneyכַּסְפּ֖וֹkas.PoH3701wasin his sackבְּשַׂקּ֑וֹbe.sa.KoH8242;and when they and their fatherוַאֲבִיהֶ֖םva.'a.vi.HemH1sawוַיִּרְא֞וּvai.yir.'UH7200their bundlesצְרֹר֧וֹתtze.ro.RotH6872of moneyכַּסְפֵּיהֶ֛םkas.pei.HemH3701,they were dismayedוַיִּירָֽאוּ׃vai.yi.Ra.'uH3372.

36Their fatherאֲבִיהֶ֔ם'a.vi.HemH1Jacobיַעֲקֹ֣בya.'a.KoH3290saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to them, “You havebereavedH7921me of my childrenH7921:Josephיוֹסֵ֤ףyo.SefH3130is noH369moreH369,and Simeonוְשִׁמְע֣וֹןve.shim.'onH8095is noH369moreH369,and you would takeתִּקָּ֔חוּti.Ka.chuH3947Benjaminבִּנְיָמִ֣ןbin.ya.MinH1144;allכֻלָּֽנָה׃khu.La.nahH3605these things are againstעָלַ֖י'a.LaiH5921me.”

37Then Reubenרְאוּבֵן֙re.'u.VenH7205spokeוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to his fatherאָבִ֣יו'a.VivH1,sayingלֵאמֹ֔רle.MorH559, “You may putH4191my twoשְׁנֵ֤יshe.NeiH8147sonsבָנַי֙va.NaiH1121to deathH4191ifאִם־'im-H518I do not bringאֲבִיאֶ֖נּוּ'a.vi.'E.nuH935him backto you; putתְּנָ֤הte.NahH5414him in mycareיָדִ֔יya.DiH3027,and I will returnאֲשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּ'a.shi.Ve.nuH7725him to you.”

38ButJacob saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “My sonבְּנִ֖יbe.NiH1121shall not goיֵרֵ֥דye.RedH3381downH3381with you; for hisbrotherאָחִ֨יו'a.ChivH251is deadמֵ֜תmetH4191,and he aloneלְבַדּ֣וֹle.va.DoH905is leftנִשְׁאָ֗רnish.'ArH7604.If harmאָסוֹן֙'a.sOnH611should befallוּקְרָאָ֤הוּu.ke.ra.'A.huH7122him on the journeyבַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ba.De.rekhH1870you are takingתֵּֽלְכוּ־te.le.khu-H1980, then you willbringH3381my grayשֵׂיבָתִ֛יsei.va.TiH7872hairH7872downוְהוֹרַדְתֶּ֧םve.ho.rad.TemH3381to Sheolשְׁאֽוֹלָה׃she.'o.lahH7585in sorrowבְּיָג֖וֹןbe.ya.GonH3015.”

Joseph’s Brothers Sent to Egypt

Simeon Is Held Hostage

Commentaries on Genesis 42