New King James Version
Genesis 43:16
16When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.”
Genesis 43:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.
- New International Version (NIV)When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they are to eat with me at noon.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)When 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."
- New Living Translation (NLT)When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the manager of his household, “These men will eat with me this noon. Take them inside the palace. Then go slaughter an animal, and prepare a big feast.”
Context of Genesis 43:16
14And may God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!” 15So the men took that present and Benjamin, and they took double money in their hand, and arose and went down to Egypt; and they stood before Joseph. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my home, and slaughter an animal and make ready; for these men will dine with me at noon.” 17Then the man did as Joseph ordered, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. 18Now 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.”
Read all of Genesis 43Genesis 43:16 word by word
וַיַּ֨רְא יוֹסֵ֣ף אִתָּם֮ אֶת־בִּנְיָמִין֒ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ הָבֵ֥א אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים הַבָּ֑יְתָה וּטְבֹ֤חַ טֶ֙בַח֙ וְהָכֵ֔ן כִּ֥י אִתִּ֛י יֹאכְל֥וּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֖ים בַּֽצָּהֳרָֽיִם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
- sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
- Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
- withאֵת'êth · withH854
- them, he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- to the ruler of his houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- Bringבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
- menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- and slayטֶ֫בַחţebach · slaughterH2874
- and slayטָבַחţâbach · to slaughterH2873
- and make readyכּוּןkûn · to establish: prepareH3559
- shall dineאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
- with me at noonצֹ֫הַרtsôhar · middayH6672
Cross-references for Genesis 43:16
- Genesis 43:19When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house,
- Genesis 15:2But Abram said, “Lord God, what will You give me, seeing I go childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
- Genesis 24:2So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, “Please, put your hand under my thigh,
- Genesis 39:4So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.
- Genesis 44:1And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in the mouth of his sack.
- Genesis 21:8So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned.
- Genesis 26:30So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank.
- Genesis 31:54Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain.
- 1 Samuel 25:11Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?”
- Proverbs 9:2She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table.
Commentaries on Genesis 43:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16Slay, and make ready - טבח טבח teboach tebach, slay a slaying, or make a great slaughter - let preparations be made for a great feast or entertainment. See a similar form of speech, Proverbs 9:2; (note); 1 Samuel 25:11; (note); and Genesis 31:54; (note).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. 16When Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers: Joseph knew Benjamin was well (see study note on 42:1–44:34). The feast was both a celebration and a test.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. ruler of his house--In the houses of wealthy Egyptians one upper man servant was intrusted with the management of the house (compare Ge 39:5). slay, and make ready--Hebrew, "kill a killing"--implying preparations for a grand entertainment (compare Ge 31:54; 1Sa 25:11; Pr 9:2; Mt 22:4). The animals have to be killed as well as prepared at home. The heat of the climate requires that the cook should take the joints directly from the hands of the flesher…Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 43:16
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries