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

32They set a place for him, a separate place for his brothers, and another for the Egyptians who were eating with him. (The Egyptians are not able to eat with Hebrews, for the Egyptians think it is disgusting to do so.) 33They sat before him, arranged by order of birth, beginning with the firstborn and ending with the youngest. The men looked at each other in astonishment. He gave them portions of the food set before him, but the portion for Benjamin was five times greater than the portions for any of the others. They drank with Joseph until they all became drunk.

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 home and relax.” When Uriah left the palace, the king sent a gift to him.
• Genesis 45:22He gave sets of clothes to each one of them, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five sets of clothes.
• 1 Samuel 1:5But he would give a double portion to Hannah, because he especially loved her. Now the Lord had not enabled her to have children.
• 1 Samuel 9:22Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty people present.
• Proverbs 31:6Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those who are bitterly distressed;
• Ecclesiastes 9:7Go, eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, because God has already approved your works.
• Ecclesiastes 10:19Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.
• Habakkuk 1:6Look, I am about to empower the Babylonians, that ruthless and greedy nation. They sweep across the surface of the earth, seizing dwelling places that do not belong to them.
• Matthew 11:19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by her deeds.”
• John 2:10and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the cheaper wine when the guests are drunk. You have kept 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