Genesis 42 27

Genesis 42:27 kjv

And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.

Genesis 42:27 nkjv

But as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed at the encampment, he saw his money; and there it was, in the mouth of his sack.

Genesis 42:27 niv

At the place where they stopped for the night one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of his sack.

Genesis 42:27 esv

And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder at the lodging place, he saw his money in the mouth of his sack.

Genesis 42:27 nlt

But when they stopped for the night and one of them opened his sack to get grain for his donkey, he found his money in the top of his sack.

Genesis 42 verses

Genesis 42 27 meaning

This verse describes the unexpected and startling discovery made by one of Joseph's brothers during their journey back to Canaan from Egypt. As he paused at a lodging place to feed his donkey, he opened his grain sack and immediately saw the silver coin—the payment they had given for the grain—lying right at the opening of the sack. This revelation brought immediate alarm and fear, signaling an unforeseen complication to their desperate situation.

Genesis 42 27 Context

Genesis chapter 42 opens with Jacob's sons traveling to Egypt to buy grain due to a severe famine gripping Canaan. Upon arrival, they unknowingly encounter Joseph, now the governor of Egypt, who recognizes them but they do not recognize him. Joseph, in a strategic test, treats them harshly, accuses them of being spies, and demands that they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, to him to prove their honesty. He detains Simeon and sends the other nine brothers back with grain. Before they depart, Joseph secretly instructs his steward to return each brother's silver money, paid for the grain, into the mouth of their sacks. This verse describes the moment of discovery of this returned money by one of the brothers on their way home, just as Joseph had planned.

Genesis 42 27 Word analysis

• And as one of them opened his sack (וְהוּא פָּתַח אֶת־שַׂקּוֹ, ve-hu patah et-sakko):
  • וְהוּא (ve-hu): "And he" or "as he," introducing a new, unexpected action in the narrative.
  • פָּתַח (pataḥ): "Opened." A common verb, but here denotes a casual action that yields a significant, unsettling discovery.
  • אֶת־שַׂקּוֹ (et-saqqo): "His sack." Refers to the large bags or sacks used for carrying grain and provisions during travel. It underscores the utilitarian nature of the journey suddenly interrupted by a moral quandary.
• to give his donkey fodder (לָתֵת מִסְפּוֹא לַחֲמוֹרוֹ, latet mispo lechamoro):
  • לָתֵת (latet): "To give," indicating purpose or intention.
  • מִסְפּוֹא (mispô): "Fodder" or "provision." Specifically referring to food for animals, often consisting of coarse grains, straw, or grass. This detail roots the narrative in the realities of ancient travel and livestock care.
  • לַחֲמוֹרוֹ (la-chamoro): "For his donkey." Donkeys were vital for travel and transport, essential for carrying the heavy grain from Egypt back to Canaan. The act is routine, making the discovery all the more sudden and shocking.
• in the lodging place (בַּמָּלוֹן, bam-malon):
  • בַּמָּלוֹן (bam-malon): "In the lodging place" or "inn." A common, often temporary, overnight stopping point along travel routes, usually a simple unroofed enclosure or open ground rather than a structured building, providing space for animals and travelers. Its commonality emphasizes the everyday nature of the setting contrasted with the extraordinary event. This particular word is also seen in Exodus 4:24.
• he saw his money (וַיַּרְא אֶת־כַּסְפּוֹ, vaiyar et-kaspo):
  • וַיַּרְא (vaiyar): "And he saw." A powerful moment of realization, where casual action turns into a crisis of understanding.
  • כַּסְפּוֹ (kaspo): "His silver" or "his money." Silver was the common medium of exchange. The discovery of their own money returned immediately implicates them and fills them with dread.
• for behold (וְהִנֵּה, vehinneh):
  • וְהִנֵּה (vehinneh): "And behold," "and indeed," "and lo." An interjection that dramatically highlights surprise, suddenness, or an unexpected turn of events, drawing the reader's attention to the shock of the discovery. It emphasizes the direct and undeniable presence of the money.
• it was in his sack’s mouth (בְּפִי אַמְתַּחְתּוֹ, be-pi amittachto):
  • בְּפִי (be-pi): "In the mouth of." "Mouth" here refers to the opening or entrance of the sack. This detail is crucial; the money wasn't hidden deep inside, but visible right at the top, suggesting it was placed there intentionally and not simply forgotten or fallen into. This visible placement further enhances the sense of purposeful action by another.
  • אַמְתַּחְתּוֹ (amittachto): "His sack" or "his bundle." Another word for a large sack, specifically one used for carrying provisions, slightly distinct from saq (sack for grain). Its specificity denotes the heavy provision bag.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And as one of them opened his sack to give his donkey fodder in the lodging place": This phrase sets a mundane, everyday scene of travel and rest. It describes a routine act of necessity—feeding an animal—which serves as the backdrop for a jarring, supernatural-feeling discovery. This contrasts the mundane with the mysterious.
• "he saw his money; for behold, it was in his sack’s mouth": This captures the instant of revelation. The direct observation ("he saw his money") is immediately amplified by "for behold," underscoring the astonishing nature of the find. The precise location ("in his sack's mouth") is critical: it indicates the money was not lost or dropped in by accident, but deliberately placed there, hinting at a higher, perhaps sinister, power at work in the minds of the fearful brothers. This precise detail is crucial for establishing Joseph's orchestration and the brothers' growing terror.

Genesis 42 27 Bonus section

The brothers' reaction, particularly the fear of what "God has done to us" (Gen 42:28), highlights their conscience-stricken state. They associated this inexplicable event with divine judgment, connecting it to their past sin against Joseph (Gen 42:21). The "lodging place" (malon) in the ancient Near East often referred to a simple overnight stopping point, possibly an open enclosure or a public resting spot. This informal setting means the discovery happened in a very ordinary, exposed manner, not hidden away, reinforcing the idea that this was an undeniable fact staring them in the face. This event is a crucial plot device, propelling the narrative towards the brothers' second journey to Egypt, involving Benjamin, and their eventual full repentance and reunion with Joseph. It powerfully illustrates the principle that God works through intricate human actions and seemingly coincidental events to accomplish His sovereign purposes.

Genesis 42 27 Commentary

Genesis 42:27 is a pivotal verse in the Joseph narrative, marking the point where the brothers' external troubles are compounded by internal turmoil. Joseph's strategic placement of the money, not hidden deeply but conspicuously at the "sack's mouth," ensured immediate discovery. This detail amplifies their shock and dread, especially in a culture where such a finding, without explanation, would appear as either a magical ill-omen or evidence of guilt from a perceived theft—both potentially inviting divine retribution or severe earthly penalties. This deliberate act by Joseph wasn't simply to return funds but was a calculated step in his plan to bring his brothers to full repentance and recognition of God's hand in their lives. The mundane act of feeding a donkey unexpectedly reveals God's meticulous, though mysterious, providence unfolding through Joseph's elaborate scheme.