Genesis 43 20

Genesis 43:20 kjv

And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

Genesis 43:20 nkjv

and said, "O sir, we indeed came down the first time to buy food;

Genesis 43:20 niv

"We beg your pardon, our lord," they said, "we came down here the first time to buy food.

Genesis 43:20 esv

and said, "Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food.

Genesis 43:20 nlt

"Sir," they said, "we came to Egypt once before to buy food.

Genesis 43 verses

Genesis 43 20 meaning

This verse conveys the Sons of Jacob's urgent and humble explanation to Joseph's steward. Fearing accusation for the money found in their sacks from their previous trip, they emphatically state that their sole purpose in their initial visit to Egypt was legitimate: to purchase provisions due to the widespread famine. It reflects their anxiety, their desire to clear their name, and their acknowledgment of the steward's authority.

Genesis 43 20 Context

Genesis chapter 43 describes the return of Joseph's brothers to Egypt with Benjamin, as demanded by Joseph to prove their honesty. After a fearful supper invitation from Joseph's steward, they anticipate trouble. This verse (43:20) is their immediate and proactive defense, spoken directly to the steward before he can voice any accusations regarding the money returned in their sacks during their first trip. Their desperate tone and insistence highlight their fear of being accused of theft, a serious offense in ancient Egypt, especially against royal officials. They seek to establish their integrity by reiterating the legitimate, life-sustaining purpose of their initial journey—purchasing food—a common practice during the severe regional famine, which made Egypt the granary of the ancient world.

Genesis 43 20 Word analysis

• And they said (וַיֹּאמְרוּ - vayyo'meru): This simple connective indicates an immediate verbal response, reflecting their urgency to explain.

• O my lord (בִּי אֲדֹנִי - bi adoni): A polite and deferential form of address. Bi is an intensive particle expressing a plea or polite emphasis, meaning "Please, my lord" or "With your kind permission, my lord." Adoni means "my lord," acknowledging the steward's authority and, by extension, Joseph's. It conveys respect and humility born of their fearful situation.

• we indeed came down (יָרוֹד יָרַדְנוּ - yarod yaradnu): This uses a Hebrew grammatical construct called the infinitive absolute, where the verb ("came down") is repeated with its infinitive form (yarod). This construct emphatically confirms or stresses the action. Here, it strongly emphasizes the certainty and truth of their initial purpose. It’s like saying, "We most assuredly came down," or "We truly and absolutely came down."

• at the first time (בָּרִאשֹׁנָה - barishonah): Literally "in the first" or "firstly." This precisely specifies the timing of their journey, clearly differentiating it from their current visit and indicating the prior transaction in question. It underscores that the money mystery pertains to a past, not current, offense.

• to buy food (לִשְׁבֹּר אֹכֶל - lishbor okhel): Lishbor means "to buy grain/provision" (from the root shavar, "to buy"). Okhel means "food" or "provision." This phrase clearly states their primary and innocent purpose for visiting Egypt. They were not there for any nefarious reason but out of sheer necessity due to the famine that affected the region of Canaan.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "O my lord, we indeed came down": This combination highlights their desperate need to pre-empt accusation with a respectful yet firm assertion of their honesty. Their posture is one of fearful humility seeking to appease.
  • "at the first time to buy food": This concise statement explains the sole legitimate reason for their prior visit, aiming to establish their character and clear themselves of any implied wrongdoing regarding the found money. It serves as their main point of defense.

Genesis 43 20 Bonus section

• The brothers' pro-active explanation (vv. 19-22) before being accused is a key indicator of their changed character and increased sensitivity, compared to their earlier callousness towards Joseph (Gen 37). It reflects a conscience at work, even if driven by fear.
• The Hebrew idiom bi adoni ("O my lord" or "Pardon me, my lord") indicates great respect and often precedes an urgent petition or explanation. It appears similarly in other contexts, for instance, in the story of Gideon (Judg 6:13).
• The detail "at the first time" indicates that the incident of the returned money was a significant event that had lingered in their minds, creating enduring anxiety across the separation between their first and second journeys.
• The divine sovereignty is implicitly at play, guiding every step of the famine's progression, the brothers' journeys, and Joseph's strategic actions to bring about the preservation and relocation of Jacob's family to Egypt, fulfilling earlier covenantal promises (Gen 15).

Genesis 43 20 Commentary

Genesis 43:20 captures the intense apprehension felt by Jacob's sons as they navigated Joseph's intricate test. Upon being brought to Joseph's own house, an act both honoring and alarming, their pre-existing anxiety about the mysteriously returned money escalated. This verse records their immediate, unsolicited explanation to Joseph's steward, delivered with a pleading reverence ("O my lord") and emphatic certainty ("we indeed came down"). They are not reacting to an accusation, but pro-actively offering their defense, underscoring their profound fear of being perceived as thieves by the powerful Egyptians. Their assertion that their initial visit was simply "to buy food" reinforces the dire reality of the famine in Canaan and their innocent commercial intent. This pivotal moment underscores the brothers' moral growth (in contrast to their past treatment of Joseph) and the subtle, divine hand orchestrating circumstances, compelling them to self-humiliation and setting the stage for Joseph's eventual revelation. Their sincere efforts to prove their integrity ultimately serve God's larger purpose in preserving His chosen family.