Genesis 42 4

Genesis 42:4 kjv

But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

Genesis 42:4 nkjv

But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, "Lest some calamity befall him."

Genesis 42:4 niv

But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.

Genesis 42:4 esv

But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him.

Genesis 42:4 nlt

But Jacob wouldn't let Joseph's younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, for fear some harm might come to him.

Genesis 42 verses

Genesis 42 4 meaning

Genesis 42:4 reveals Jacob's profound emotional state and continued favoritism. He refused to send his youngest son, Benjamin, to Egypt with his older brothers, driven by an overwhelming fear that Benjamin, his last surviving son from Rachel, would suffer "harm" (death), just as he believed Joseph had. This fear, rooted in past trauma, shaped his actions, highlighting his human vulnerability and reliance on the remaining objects of his affection.

Genesis 42 4 Context

This verse is set during a severe famine affecting Canaan, compelling Jacob to send his ten eldest sons to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph, Jacob's second youngest son and Rachel's first, had been presumed dead by Jacob for over two decades, having been sold into slavery by his envious brothers. Unbeknownst to Jacob, Joseph was now the powerful vizier of Egypt, controlling the grain supply. Benjamin is Rachel's only other son, born just before Rachel died, and thus represents Jacob's sole remaining connection to his beloved wife and, in his mind, his last deeply cherished child. Jacob’s refusal to send Benjamin underscores his enduring grief, fear of repeating perceived loss, and intense favoritism, which paradoxically aligns with God’s hidden plan for his sons to bow before Joseph as prophesied.

Genesis 42 4 Word analysis

• But Benjamin (וּבִנְיָמִ֖ן - ū·vin·yā·mîn): The introductory "But" (waw conjunctive) highlights Benjamin as the exception among his brothers, emphasizing his unique, privileged status in Jacob's eyes. The name "Benjamin" means "son of my right hand," given by Jacob, contrasting with Rachel's dying name for him, Ben-oni ("son of my sorrow"), a profound linguistic contrast reflecting both joy and grief.
• Joseph’s brother: This phrase immediately establishes Benjamin's intimate relationship with the lost Joseph. It's not just "Benjamin," but Benjamin connected to Joseph, reinforcing Jacob's emotional calculus: having "lost" Joseph, he cannot bear to lose his full brother, too. It grounds his favoritism in tragic memory.
• Jacob did not send: This active decision demonstrates Jacob's protective will and control over Benjamin's movements. It highlights his direct intervention, showcasing the depth of his apprehension.
• with his brothers: Signifies the common mission but Benjamin's isolation from it due to Jacob's command. This separation underscores Benjamin's favored treatment compared to his siblings, who are deemed expendable by comparison in this immediate context.
• for he said: This directly attributes Jacob's rationale for his action. It indicates a clear, articulated reason for his refusal, rooted in his past experiences and fears.
• "Lest harm come to him!" (פֶּן־ יִקְרָאֶ֙נּוּ֙ אָסֽוֹן - pen yiqra’ennū ’ā·sôn): This phrase conveys Jacob's deepest fear.
  • Lest: An expression of apprehension or fear of a negative outcome.
  • harm (אָסֽוֹן - ’ā·sôn): This Hebrew term implies calamity, misfortune, or fatal injury, specifically death. It directly echoes Jacob's previous trauma, believed to be Joseph's death (Gen 37:33-35). This demonstrates a deep-seated fear of repetition, reflecting human experience of trauma.
  • The complete phrase signifies Jacob’s preventative measure against Benjamin encountering a similar fate to what he imagined happened to Joseph. It reveals a father haunted by the past, desperately trying to protect the one remaining physical link to his most cherished lost son and wife.

Genesis 42 4 Bonus section

• Echo of Jacob's own life: Jacob himself experienced the trauma of separation and perceived loss, including fleeing Esau, his long service for Rachel, and the supposed death of Joseph. This past shapes his overprotective nature toward Benjamin.
• Divine Providence and Human Limitation: This verse powerfully illustrates the contrast between Jacob’s fearful human plans and God's sovereign, hidden plan. Jacob acted out of grief and fear, but God was orchestrating events through Joseph to preserve his chosen family and fulfill his covenant.
• Symbolism of "Ben-oni" vs. "Benjamin": Rachel named him "son of my sorrow" in death, while Jacob named him "son of my right hand" (strength, honor). Jacob's fear of "harm" returning to Benjamin connects directly to Rachel's dying prophecy.
• Biblical Pattern of Favoritism: This verse continues the long-standing narrative pattern of favoritism within Jacob’s family, a theme deeply explored in Genesis from Abraham (Ishmael vs. Isaac), Isaac (Esau vs. Jacob), and now Jacob (Joseph/Benjamin vs. others). Each instance brings familial strife, yet God works through it.

Genesis 42 4 Commentary

Genesis 42:4 encapsulates Jacob's enduring sorrow, deep-seated fear, and flawed favoritism. His decision to withhold Benjamin from the journey to Egypt stemmed directly from his two-decade-long grief over Joseph, whom he presumed dead. This emotional protection, while understandable from a parental perspective, reveals a lingering pattern of partiality that previously fueled sibling strife. Jacob, blinded by his pain and short-sighted human calculations, could not foresee God's overarching plan at work, even using the famine and his sons' journey to reunite his family. The verse sets the stage for Joseph's "test" of his brothers' transformation, where their willingness to sacrifice for Benjamin will prove their change of heart, highlighting themes of repentance and divine providence overriding human fears and mistakes.