Genesis 43:26 meaning summary explained with word-by-word analysis enriched with context, commentary and Cross References from KJV, NIV, ESV and NLT.
Genesis 43:26 kjv
And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.
Genesis 43:26 nkjv
And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the earth.
Genesis 43:26 niv
When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground.
Genesis 43:26 esv
When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground.
Genesis 43:26 nlt
When Joseph came home, they gave him the gifts they had brought him, then bowed low to the ground before him.
Genesis 43 26 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 37:7 | For behold, we were binding sheaves... my sheaf arose and also stood erect... your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf. | Joseph's first dream fulfilled. |
| Gen 37:9 | Then he had another dream... behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me. | Joseph's second dream fulfilled. |
| Gen 42:6 | Now Joseph was the ruler over the land... his brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground. | First act of bowing. |
| Gen 42:9 | Joseph remembered the dreams which he had about them... | Joseph recalls prophecy. |
| Gen 43:11 | Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products... as a present for the man..." | Jacob instructs gifts. |
| Gen 43:28 | So they said, “Your servant our father is well..." And they bowed down and prostrated themselves. | Reiteration of their bowing. |
| Gen 44:14 | When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house... they fell to the ground before him. | Continued submission. |
| Gen 50:18 | Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” | Brothers' submission after Jacob's death. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | For this reason also God highly exalted Him... that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow... | Ultimate fulfillment, Jesus' exaltation. |
| Isa 45:23 | I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone forth from My mouth... every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance to Me. | Divine sovereignty, universal submission. |
| Rom 14:11 | For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God.” | NT reiteration of bowing to God. |
| Ps 118:22 | The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. | Joseph as a type of rejected and exalted one. |
| Gen 18:2 | When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the ground. | Abraham bowing as a sign of respect/worship. |
| Gen 33:3 | But he himself passed on before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times... before he came near to his brother. | Jacob bowing to Esau for reconciliation. |
| 1 Kgs 1:16 | Then Bathsheba bowed and prostrated herself before the king. | Custom of showing respect to royalty. |
| Ruth 2:10 | Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground and said to him... | Ruth showing gratitude and reverence. |
| Dan 2:46 | Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and prostrated himself before Daniel... | King acknowledging God's servant. |
| Matt 2:11 | After coming into the house... they fell to the ground and worshiped Him... | Magi bowing to Jesus, an act of worship. |
| Rev 4:10 | The twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever... | Heavenly worship, act of reverence. |
| Rev 5:14 | And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. | Heavenly worship. |
| Gen 23:7 | Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. | Abraham showing respect to others. |
| Ezra 9:5 | ...at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I kneeled on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God. | Ezra in a posture of humility and prayer. |
Genesis 43 verses
Genesis 43 26 meaning
Genesis 43:26 describes the arrival of Joseph's brothers at his home in Egypt, where they present the gifts their father had sent and, in an act of deep reverence and submission, bow down completely before Joseph. This scene marks a crucial point in the narrative, illustrating the unfolding fulfillment of Joseph's youthful dreams of his family prostrating before him, an outcome they had once scorned and tried to prevent.
Genesis 43 26 Context
This verse occurs after a period of intense anxiety for Jacob and his sons. A severe famine gripped the land, forcing them to repeatedly seek grain from Egypt. After their initial trip, Joseph, still unrecognized by his brothers, had insisted they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, with them on their return, withholding Simeon as a captive until they complied. Jacob, heartbroken and fearful, resisted for a long time but eventually yielded to the desperate circumstances and Judah’s pledge to protect Benjamin. He sent his sons with a double amount of money and precious gifts, hoping to find favor with the powerful Egyptian ruler (Joseph). Gen 43:26 depicts the very moment they arrive at Joseph’s personal residence for a meal, a private setting for this profoundly significant public act of submission.
Genesis 43 26 Word analysis
- When Joseph came home: The phrasing indicates his return from official duties, emphasizing his established role as a powerful figure within his own domain. This 'home' is a place of authority, not merely domesticity.
- they brought him: Implies a deliberate, active presentation, signifying that their visit was not merely social but an audience with a powerful figure to whom they had specific items to convey.
- the present: Hebrew: minchah (מִנְחָה). While it can denote a grain offering in worship, here it refers to a tribute or a peace offering. It’s a gift meant to secure favor or show deference, especially to a superior (cf. Gen 32:13, Jacob's minchah to Esau). In this context, it is Jacob’s gesture of good will and perhaps a plea for mercy.
- which was in their hand: This detail emphasizes that the gifts were personally held and brought directly, not merely left somewhere for Joseph to find. It highlights their personal involvement and intention.
- into the house: The setting is intimate and private, Joseph's own residence, underscoring his elevated status. This contrasts with their previous encounter in a public market, lending greater weight and personal nature to their actions.
- and bowed down to him: Hebrew: wa-yiš-ta-cha-wū (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲווּ). From the root shachah (שָׁחָה), meaning to prostrate oneself, to bow low, to do homage, or even to worship. This is a profound act of reverence and submission. It signifies a complete yielding to another's authority, typically reserved for rulers, gods, or figures of immense respect. It is not a casual nod.
- to the ground: Hebrew: artza (אָרְצָה). Explicitly describes the extent of their bowing, a full prostration where their faces touched the earth. This is the absolute deepest form of reverence and humility possible, confirming the full and literal fulfillment of Joseph’s dreams in Gen 37.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "brought him the present... and bowed down to him": These two actions are deeply intertwined. The act of bringing the tribute and the act of prostrating are both manifestations of their profound respect and subservience to Joseph. The gifts accompany the gesture of homage.
- "into the house and bowed down": The domestic setting, rather than a public court, makes their submission even more poignant. It shows their reverence and recognition of his intimate authority over them. It also makes the fulfillment of Joseph’s dream profoundly personal.
- "bowed down to him to the ground": This phrase dramatically reinforces the prophetic element. It eliminates any ambiguity about the degree of their obeisance, highlighting the absolute humility and submission that directly contrasted their prior pride and jealousy toward Joseph. Their faces touching the earth speaks of utter humiliation and complete acknowledgement of his supremacy, fulfilling the precise imagery of Joseph's dreams.
Genesis 43 26 Bonus section
The repeated motif of bowing throughout the Joseph narrative (Gen 42:6, 43:26, 43:28, 44:14, 50:18) strongly underscores the unfailing accuracy and detailed fulfillment of God's prophetic word, even years after its initial utterance. Each act of prostration gradually chipped away at the brothers' pride and confirmed the divine reversal of fortune for Joseph. The scene also highlights God's strategic patience, allowing circumstances to ripen until the time for His promises to manifest completely. The deep bow "to the ground" symbolically represents not only their recognition of Joseph's power but also the spiritual transformation required of them before reconciliation could be fully realized. This passage speaks to the absolute certainty of divine plans.
Genesis 43 26 Commentary
Genesis 43:26 encapsulates the dramatic turn of divine providence within the Joseph narrative. This verse depicts the very act that fulfills Joseph’s childhood dreams (Gen 37:7, 9) where his brothers’ sheaves and the celestial bodies bowed to him. The brothers, once arrogant and cruel, are now utterly humbled, prostrating themselves fully before the very brother they had despised and sold into slavery. Their act of presenting a minchah (gift) and bowing "to the ground" is a compelled yet complete acknowledgment of Joseph's formidable authority, whether they consciously understood his identity yet or not. God, through the suffering and elevation of Joseph, orchestrated these events, transforming their past rebellion into present submission. This humbling experience was essential for their purification and transformation, preparing them to be the foundational families of Israel. It serves as a profound testimony to God’s sovereignty, demonstrating His ability to bring about His purposes, even through human sin and in the most unexpected ways, ultimately for the good of His people.