Genesis 43 7

Genesis 43:7 kjv

And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

Genesis 43:7 nkjv

But they said, "The man asked us pointedly about ourselves and our family, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?' And we told him according to these words. Could we possibly have known that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?"

Genesis 43:7 niv

They replied, "The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. 'Is your father still living?' he asked us. 'Do you have another brother?' We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, 'Bring your brother down here'?"

Genesis 43:7 esv

They replied, "The man questioned us carefully about ourselves and our kindred, saying, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' What we told him was in answer to these questions. Could we in any way know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'?"

Genesis 43:7 nlt

"The man kept asking us questions about our family," they replied. "He asked, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' So we answered his questions. How could we know he would say, 'Bring your brother down here'?"

Genesis 43 verses

Genesis 43 7 meaning

Genesis 43:7 recounts the desperate explanation of Joseph's brothers to their father, Jacob, concerning why they had to return to Egypt with Benjamin. They plead their innocence and lack of foreknowledge, stating that the "man" (Joseph) had relentlessly questioned them about their family – specifically about their father's well-being and whether they had another brother. They assert that they simply answered his direct inquiries truthfully, having no way of knowing that his ultimate intent was to demand Benjamin's presence in Egypt. This verse underscores their predicament, their forced transparency under an Egyptian official's interrogation, and their deep-seated fear of Jacob's grief.

Genesis 43 7 Context

Genesis chapter 43 takes place amidst a severe famine that grips Canaan and Egypt. Joseph, who had been sold into slavery by his brothers and then rose to power as Pharaoh's prime minister, is now responsible for distributing grain. In Chapter 42, Joseph's ten older brothers come to Egypt to buy food, unaware of his true identity. Joseph, recognizing them, accuses them of being spies to test them and manipulates the situation by keeping Simeon and demanding they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, to prove their honesty. Upon their return, Jacob adamantly refuses to let Benjamin go, recalling his pain over losing Joseph (Gen 42:36-38). However, as the famine intensifies and their food supply dwindles, they are forced to confront Jacob's decree. Judah then appeals to Jacob in a powerful argument, guaranteeing Benjamin's safety (Gen 43:8-9). Genesis 43:7 is the brothers' immediate explanation and defense to Jacob as to why Benjamin's presence was even demanded in the first place, explaining their past actions and Joseph's insistent questioning. This interaction happens at a critical juncture, highlighting the brothers' desperation, Jacob's deep sorrow and distrust, and the hidden divine hand orchestrating events towards reconciliation.

Historically, this narrative reflects the realities of international trade and interactions between foreign dignitaries and merchants in the ancient Near East during periods of widespread famine. High-ranking officials often questioned visitors about their origins and intentions, especially when resources like food were scarce, making such "background checks" plausible. The value placed on family lineage and the protection of the patriarchal line was also paramount in ancient Hebrew culture.

Genesis 43 7 Word analysis

• And they answered: Standard narrative conjunction. Indicates their response to Jacob's preceding grievance and question (Gen 43:6), signifying a direct and immediate defensive reply.
• 'The man': Refers to Joseph, without naming him. This maintains his intimidating and unknown persona to the brothers and, by extension, to Jacob. It also suggests their attempt to depersonalize the demand, shifting responsibility from themselves to this powerful, mysterious Egyptian official.
• asked us particularly: Hebrew sha'ol sha'al (שָׁאֹל שָׁאַל). This is an infinitive absolute, serving to intensely emphasize the verb "asked." It translates to "kept on asking," "insistently asked," or "questioned repeatedly/diligently." This phrasing conveys that Joseph was meticulous and persistent in his inquiries, making it difficult for them to avoid answering without appearing deceitful or obstructive, thus justifying their disclosure.
• about our family: Literally, "concerning our father" (al-odot avotenu) and "concerning our brother" (al-odot akhinu). This clarifies the intensely personal nature of Joseph's inquiries, making it challenging for them to feign ignorance without consequence. In a society where family lineage and unity were central, these were deeply significant questions.
• saying, "Is your father still alive? Is your brother?": A direct quote of Joseph's earlier questions (Gen 42:13). This exact repetition underlines their adherence to factual reporting and reinforces that they were simply answering specific inquiries, not volunteering information that would lead to this predicament.
• And we answered him according to these words: Hebrew k'fi hadevarim ha'elleh (כְּפִי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה), literally "according to the mouth of these words." It signifies that they replied precisely and honestly, limiting their response only to what was asked. This emphasizes their compliance and truthfulness, implying they offered no more information than strictly necessary under duress.
• We certainly did not know: Hebrew lo yada'nu (לֹא יָדַעְנוּ), "we did not know." This declaration emphasizes their profound ignorance of Joseph's deeper agenda. It serves as their central defense against Jacob's potential accusation of irresponsibility or folly. They assert their lack of prophetic insight into the consequences of their truthful disclosure.
• that he would say, "Bring your brother down.": The critical and feared command that led to their current crisis with Jacob. This phrase highlights the unexpected nature of Joseph's demand and its immense gravity for Jacob, whose life was intrinsically tied to Benjamin's safety (Gen 42:38). It was the pivotal, unanticipated condition that had turned their otherwise truthful interaction into a parental nightmare.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "The man asked us particularly about our family...": This phrase establishes Joseph's authoritative and scrutinizing posture. It sets the scene as a forced disclosure, portraying the brothers as subjects of intense interrogation rather than voluntary informers. The focus on "family" immediately points to Jacob and Benjamin as central to Joseph's scheme.
• "Is your father still alive? Is your brother?": These are not arbitrary questions. From Joseph's perspective, they reveal crucial details about the patriarchal lineage and the survival of his full brother. From the brothers' perspective, these are direct, seemingly innocuous questions about deeply personal and highly valued relationships, which they felt compelled to answer.
• "And we answered him according to these words.": This highlights their perception of innocent compliance. They conveyed information accurately and honestly as requested. Their defense is that they provided a simple, factual account of their family, consistent with what a foreign official might demand.
• "We certainly did not know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down.'": This is the core of their plea and defense to Jacob. It conveys their perceived lack of choice, their shock at the unexpected command, and their profound ignorance of Joseph's ultimate objective. They want Jacob to understand that they never would have shared such information if they had foreseen its disastrous consequence—the demand for Benjamin. This also implies that if they had known, they would have either lied or not approached Joseph.

Genesis 43 7 Bonus section

• The phrasing used by the brothers, particularly "asked us particularly," subtly deflects Jacob's potential blame for their earlier actions onto the "man," Joseph. This indicates their ongoing fear of Jacob's deep sorrow and possible wrath.
• This verse underscores Joseph's carefully planned and subtle testing strategy. He did not directly demand information initially but artfully elicited it through seemingly reasonable questions about their identity and origins. This forced transparency led them down a path entirely unknown to them.
• The brothers' claim of ignorance, "We certainly did not know," highlights the contrast between their limited, earth-bound perspective and Joseph's elevated, divinely informed perspective. They are reacting to visible facts; Joseph is enacting a plan woven with prophetic and spiritual threads (Gen 45:5-8).
• The irony lies in the fact that their truthfulness, under Joseph's test, is what led to the very crisis they desperately wanted to avoid. This illustrates how God can use even straightforward human responses within complex situations to unfold His greater will.

Genesis 43 7 Commentary

Genesis 43:7 is a profound moment in the Joseph narrative, revealing the complex dynamics between human perception, immediate survival, and divine purpose. The brothers, under immense pressure from famine and Joseph's shrewd interrogation, offered what they considered honest answers. Their use of the infinitive absolute "asked us particularly" conveys the feeling of inescapable questioning, asserting that their disclosure was coerced, not volunteered. They frame Joseph as a powerful and mysterious figure whose demands, based on their simple truthfulness, spiraled into their most dreaded predicament: the need to bring Benjamin to Egypt. Their central defense, "We certainly did not know that he would say, 'Bring your brother down'," encapsulates their desperation and lack of foresight.

This verse subtly underscores the deep chasm between human ignorance and God's sovereign plan. While the brothers saw themselves trapped by circumstances and Joseph's cunning, God was intricately working through every detail, including seemingly innocent questions and compelled truthful answers. Their plight reflects a common human experience of facing unexpected consequences from well-intended or coerced actions, often without recognizing a higher, divine orchestration. The ultimate reconciliation and preservation of Israel, though agonizingly achieved, was predicated on these very uncomfortable truths being revealed and acted upon, leading to a profound testing of the brothers' character and their transformation from deceitful siblings to devoted family protectors.