Genesis 42:1

Genesis 42:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
• New International Version (NIV)When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?”

Context of Genesis 42:1

Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” 2Then he said, “Look, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down there and buy some for us from that place, so that we may live and not die.” 3So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

Genesis 42:1 word by word

וַיַּ֣רְא יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ לְבָנָ֔יו לָ֖מָּה תִּתְרָאֽוּ׃Read the interlinear

• Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: examineH7200
• that thereיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• grainשֶׁ֫בֶרsheber · grainH7668
• in Egyptמִצְרַ֫יִםmitsrayim · EgyptH4714
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to his sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• Whyמָהmâh mah mâ ma meh · what?H4100
• are you staringרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200

Cross-references for Genesis 42:1

• Genesis 41:54and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
• Acts 7:12But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time.
• Exodus 5:19The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble, since they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”
• Exodus 20:18And all the people were watching and hearing the thunder and the lightning flashes, and the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it all, they trembled and stood at a distance.
• 1 Kings 19:3And he was afraid, and got up and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah; and he left his servant there.
• Hosea 5:13When Ephraim saw his sickness, And Judah his sore, Ephraim then went to Assyria And sent word to King Jareb. But he is unable to heal you, Or to cure you of your sore.
• Galatians 2:7But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised
• Joshua 7:10So the Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face?
• 2 Kings 8:3Then at the end of seven years, the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to appeal to the king for her house and for her field.
• Ezra 10:4Arise! For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you; be courageous and act.”
• Jeremiah 8:14Why are we sitting still? Assemble yourselves, and let’s go into the fortified cities And perish there, For the Lord our God has doomed us And given us poisoned water to drink, Because we have sinned against the Lord.

Commentaries on Genesis 42:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Jacob saw that there was corn - That is, Jacob heard from the report of others that there was plenty in Egypt. The operations of one sense, in Hebrew, are often put for those of another. Before agriculture was properly known and practiced, famines were frequent; Canaan seems to have been peculiarly vexed by them. There was one in this land in the time of Abraham, Genesis 12:10; another in the days of Isaac, Genesis 26:1; and now a third in the time of…Read the comment
• 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
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Jacob sends ten sons to buy corn. (1-6) Joseph's treatment of his brethren. (7-20) Their remorse, Simeon detained. (21-24) The rest return with corn. (25-28) Jacob refuses to send Benjamin to Egypt. (29-38) Verses 1-6 Jacob saw the corn his neighbours had bought in Egypt, and brought home. It is a spur to exertion to see others supplied. Shall others get food for their souls, and shall we starve while it is to be had? Having discovered where help is to be…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 42:1

• Jacob

In the dictionaries

• Egypt
• Jacob
• Bereave
• Corn
• Espy
• Famine
• Fear
• Joseph
• Lade
• Lord

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