Genesis 43:28 kjv
And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
Genesis 43:28 nkjv
And they answered, "Your servant our father is in good health; he is still alive." And they bowed their heads down and prostrated themselves.
Genesis 43:28 niv
They replied, "Your servant our father is still alive and well." And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.
Genesis 43:28 esv
They said, "Your servant our father is well; he is still alive." And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves.
Genesis 43:28 nlt
"Yes," they replied. "Our father, your servant, is alive and well." And they bowed low again.
Genesis 43 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 37:7 | "For behold, we were binding sheaves... and behold, your sheaf arose... and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf." | Joseph's dream of his brothers' sheaves bowing to his. |
| Gen 37:9 | "Then he had another dream... 'behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.'" | Joseph's dream of his family bowing to him. |
| Gen 42:6 | "Now Joseph was governor... And Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground." | Initial fulfillment of Joseph's dream. |
| Gen 43:26 | "When Joseph came home... they brought him the present... and bowed down to him on the ground." | Initial bowing with the gift in this visit. |
| Gen 44:14 | "When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house... they fell to the ground before him." | Brothers' continued prostration when tested further. |
| Gen 45:1 | "Then Joseph could not control himself... and he wept aloud." | Joseph's emotional release upon knowing Jacob is alive. |
| Gen 45:7 | "God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth..." | God's sovereign plan for preserving the family. |
| Gen 50:18 | "His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, 'Behold, we are your servants.'" | Brothers' continued humility and submission after Jacob's death. |
| Gen 50:20 | "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good..." | Divine sovereignty in overcoming human wickedness. |
| Psa 95:6 | "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!" | Act of bowing as an expression of worship to God. |
| Exod 12:27 | "When your children say to you, 'What does this service mean to you?' you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD’s Passover...'" | Israel's bowing upon hearing the instruction for Passover. |
| 1 Sam 24:8 | "David also arose afterward... and bowed with his face to the ground and prostrated himself." | David's profound respect and deference to Saul. |
| 2 Sam 14:4 | "When the woman of Tekoa came to the king, she fell on her face to the ground and paid homage and said, 'Save, O king!'" | Example of prostration for plea and homage to a king. |
| Isa 45:23 | "By Myself I have sworn; from My mouth has gone out in righteousness a word... that to Me every knee shall bow..." | Prophecy of universal homage to the Lord. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | "Therefore God has highly exalted Him... that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth..." | Universal prostration/homage to Christ's supreme authority. |
| Neh 9:6 | "You alone are the LORD... and the host of heaven worships You." | All creation bowing and worshiping God. |
| Job 1:21 | "Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return... The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." | Job's act of worship and submission even in profound loss. |
| Rom 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." | God's providence in orchestrating all events, including these, for His good purpose. |
| Psa 121:7 | "The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life." | God as the preserver of life, as seen with Jacob. |
| Gen 37:35 | "All his sons and daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted..." | Jacob's initial belief in Joseph's death contrasted with reality. |
| John 14:6 | "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life.'" | Emphasizes the significance of "life" in a broader, spiritual sense through Christ. |
Genesis 43 verses
Genesis 43 28 Meaning
The verse captures the brothers' confirmation to Joseph that their father, Jacob, is well and alive. Their statement of "Your servant our father" reflects deep respect and deference towards Joseph, whom they believe to be an Egyptian ruler. Immediately following their report, they perform a profound act of submission by bowing down and prostrating themselves fully, a gesture indicating extreme homage and recognition of Joseph's superior authority. This scene marks a crucial point in Joseph's ongoing test of his brothers and their spiritual journey.
Genesis 43 28 Context
Genesis 43:28 occurs during Joseph's second encounter with his brothers in Egypt. Due to severe famine in Canaan, Jacob reluctantly sent his remaining sons, including Benjamin, to Egypt to buy grain as demanded by the unknown Egyptian official (Joseph). This verse follows Joseph's initial greetings and his direct question about their aged father (Gen 43:27). The brothers' reply confirming Jacob's health and their subsequent prostration is a pivotal moment, further validating Joseph's dreams and advancing his divinely orchestrated plan to reconcile with his family and provide for them. The historical and cultural context of the ancient Near East dictates that prostration was a common, deeply significant gesture of humility, absolute submission, and reverence shown towards a king, high official, or superior. It also demonstrates their acknowledgement of the official's high status and their own dependent position as petitioners from a foreign land.
Genesis 43 28 Word analysis
- And they said: Indicates the brothers' unanimous, collective response to Joseph's inquiry, underscoring their shared perspective and the unfolding narrative.
- Your servant our father:
- Your servant (עַבְדְּךָ - `avdecha): This Hebrew term is a conventional expression of profound respect and humility towards a superior. It elevates Joseph's status in their address, placing Jacob (and by extension themselves) in a position of humble submission before the perceived Egyptian authority. It indicates an attitude of complete subservience.
- our father (אָבִינוּ - `avinu): Specifies the subject of their respectful reference, maintaining the patriarchal bond while simultaneously submitting their revered father to Joseph's supposed authority.
- is in good health:
- in good health (שָׁלוֹם - shalom): This Hebrew word encompasses more than mere physical well-being. "Shalom" implies wholeness, completeness, peace, prosperity, and a state of general flourishing. It signifies that Jacob is experiencing overall wellness, addressing Joseph's underlying concern.
- he is still alive:
- he is still (עוֹדֶנּוּ - `odennu): The adverb "still" or "yet" emphasizes the continuation of Jacob's life, especially given his advanced age and previous emotional distress concerning Joseph and Simeon.
- alive (חַי - chai): A direct confirmation of Jacob's vital existence. This piece of information is critical for Joseph, serving as a relief and moving his emotional arc and reconciliation plans forward.
- And they bowed down and prostrated themselves:
- bowed down (וַיִּקְּדוּ - vayyiqedu): From the root `qadad`, meaning to bend the head or upper body. It is an act of respectful homage, a deferential bow.
- prostrated themselves (וַיִּשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ - vayyishtahavu): From the root `shachah`, meaning to bow down fully, fall on the face, or prostrate. This is the most profound form of physical homage, demonstrating utter submission, profound reverence, and sometimes even worship. This double act emphasizes the depth of their submission to Joseph, unknowingly fulfilling Joseph's dreams (Gen 37:7, 9) where the sheaves and stars bowed to him.
- Words-group Analysis: "And they bowed down and prostrated themselves." This two-fold action highlights the extreme degree of deference and submission the brothers showed to Joseph. It signifies their complete recognition of his authority and status, fulfilling the repeated prophecy in Joseph's youthful dreams of his brothers paying homage to him. This involuntary, unconscious fulfillment of prophecy by the very individuals who had sought to thwart God's plan through malice serves as a powerful testament to God's unfailing sovereignty. Their deep reverence underscores a remarkable change from their earlier arrogance and cruel actions towards Joseph.
Genesis 43 28 Bonus section
The immediate consequence of the news about Jacob's health in Genesis 43:28 is seen in the very next verses, as Joseph is so overwhelmed that he rushes out to weep in private (Gen 43:30). This highlights the intense emotional impact the confirmation of his father's life had on him, underpinning his deep filial affection that he had to suppress throughout his dealings with his brothers. The brothers' prostration also visually represents a "taming" or "humbling" process. They had initially acted with malice towards Joseph, selling him into slavery. Now, they unwittingly pay him the highest form of respect. This hidden identity of Joseph, who tests and eventually redeems his brothers, foreshadows how God often works behind the scenes, using various means to bring about His perfect will, leading to transformation and redemption for His people.
Genesis 43 28 Commentary
Genesis 43:28 is a climactic moment that simultaneously resolves a key question for Joseph and reiterates the ongoing fulfillment of God's prophetic word through Joseph's dreams. The brothers' verbal assurance that Jacob is well and alive brings immense relief to Joseph, setting the stage for his emotional outpouring shortly after. More significantly, their deep obeisance—bowing and then prostrating themselves—serves as the second explicit, physical fulfillment of Joseph's dreams in the narrative (compare Gen 42:6), further confirming God's faithful orchestration of events. Their posture of utter submission before this perceived foreign dignitary starkly contrasts with their prior pride and malicious actions toward their brother, Joseph. This demonstration of humility, albeit compelled by circumstance, is a step in their long journey towards repentance and reconciliation, providentially guided by God.