Genesis 43:18

Genesis 43:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
• New International Version (NIV)Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house, and they said, "It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now 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.”

Context of Genesis 43:18

16When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the one over his house, “Bring the men into the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me this afternoon. 17So the man did as Joseph said, and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. But the men were afraid, because they had been brought into Joseph’s house. They said, “It’s because of the silver that was returned to our sacks the first time that we are being brought in—to pounce on us and fall on us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.” 19So they approached the man who was over Joseph’s house and spoke to him at the entrance of the house. 20“I beg your pardon, my lord!” they said. “We indeed came down on the previous occasion to buy grain for food.

Genesis 43:18 word by word

וַיִּֽירְא֣וּ הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֗ים כִּ֣י הֽוּבְאוּ֮ בֵּ֣ית יוֹסֵף֒ וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ עַל־דְּבַ֤ר הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ הַשָּׁ֤ב בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙ בַּתְּחִלָּ֔ה אֲנַ֖חְנוּ מֽוּבָאִ֑ים לְהִתְגֹּלֵ֤ל עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ וּלְהִתְנַפֵּ֣ל עָלֵ֔ינוּ וְלָקַ֧חַת אֹתָ֛נוּ לַעֲבָדִ֖ים וְאֶת־חֲמֹרֵֽינוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• were afraidיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• because they were broughtבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): bringH935
• into Joseph’sיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
• houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
• and they saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Becauseדָּבָרdâbâr · word: becauseH1697
• of the moneyכֶּ֫סֶףkeseph · silver: moneyH3701
• that was returnedשׁוּבshûb · to return: returnH7725
• in our sacksאַמְתַּ֫חַת'amtachath · sackH572
• at the first timeתְּחִלָּהtechillâh · beginningH8462
• that he may seek occasionגָּלַלgâlal · to rollH1556
• against us, and fallנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• upon us, and takeלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• us for bondmenעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• and our assesחֲמוֹרchămôr chămôr · donkeyH2543

Cross-references for Genesis 43:18

• Genesis 42:21Then each man said to his brother, “We’re truly guilty for our brother. We saw the distress of his soul when he begged us for mercy, but we didn’t listen. That’s why this distress has come to us.”
• Judges 13:22Manoah said to his wife, “We will surely die, because we have seen God.”
• Job 15:21Terrifying sounds are in his ears; in a time of peace, marauders attack him.
• Psalms 53:5Will the evildoers never learn? They consume My people as they would eat bread, and never call upon God.
• Psalms 73:16But when I tried to make sense of this, it was troubling in my eyes—
• Isaiah 7:2When it was reported to the house of David saying: “Aram is camped in Ephraim,” his heart as well as the heart of his people shook like the trees of the forest shaking with the wind.
• Matthew 14:26But when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It’s a ghost!” And they cried out with fear.
• Matthew 14:27But immediately, Yeshua spoke to them, saying, “Take courage! I am. Don’t be afraid.”
• Mark 6:16But when Herod heard, he said, “John, the one I beheaded, has been raised!”
• Deuteronomy 22:14accuses her of shameful things and gives her a bad reputation by saying, ‘I took this woman, but when I came near her, I didn’t find her virginity.’
• Judges 14:4But his father and mother did not know that it was of Adonai, for He was seeking a pretext against the Philistines. For at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.
• Job 30:14As through a wide breach they come; amid the ruins they come rolling in.
• Romans 7:8But sin, taking an opportunity, worked in me through the commandment all kinds of coveting. For apart from the Torah, sin is dead.

Commentaries on Genesis 43:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18And the men were afraid - A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Every thing alarms them; they now feel that God is exacting retribution, and they know not what the degrees shall be, nor where it shall stop. Fall upon us - עלינו התגלל hithgolel alainu, roll himself upon us. A metaphor taken from wrestlers; when a man has overthrown his antagonist, he rolls himself upon him, in order to keep him down. And our asses - Which they probably had in great number…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. 18the brothers were frightened: Compare 32:6–12. Their guilt stopped them from seeing that something good might happen.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. the men were afraid--Their feelings of awe on entering the stately mansion, unaccustomed as they were to houses at all, their anxiety at the reasons of their being taken there, their solicitude about the restored money, their honest simplicity in communicating their distress to the steward and his assurances of having received their money in "full weight," the offering of their fruit present, which would, as usual, be done with some parade, and the…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 43:18

• Integrity
• Money
• Servant
• Treasure

In the dictionaries

• Blame
• Chamber
• Famine
• Joseph
• Merry
• Yearn
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Bondman
• Genesis
• Jacob (1)

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