Genesis 43:7

Jacob’s sons said, “That man asked us lots of questions about ourselves and our family. He said, ‘Is your father still alive? And have you got another brother?’ We just answered his questions. We didn’t know that he was going to say, ‘Bring your brother here.’”

Plain English Version

In The King James Version

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?

In Context

6Then Jacob said, “I don’t want you mob to take Benjamin to Egypt country. Why did you make this problem for me? Why did you tell that man that you have another brother?”

8Then Judah talked to his father Jacob again. He said, “I will look after that young man Benjamin. Let him go with me to Egypt country. We will go there straight away, with the rest of our brothers, so that we can buy food. If we don’t go and buy food, our mob will get so hungry that we will all die. That’s true for us, and you, and our kids. We all need that food, so that we can stay alive.”

Read all of Genesis 43

Cross References

Genesis 42:11You know, we are all brothers, with the same father. We are good men, and we don’t tell lies. We are not your enemies.”

Genesis 43:3But Jacob’s son Judah said, “You know that we can’t go back to Egypt country without our youngest brother Benjamin. That man that is in charge of Egypt, he will not let us do that. Last time we went to Egypt, that man talked strongly to us, and he said, ‘You can only come back here if you bring your youngest brother with you.’”

Genesis 44:19You know, sir, the last time we came here, you asked us, ‘Is your father still alive? And do you have another brother?’

Matthew Henry on Genesis 43:2-11

Jacob Unwilling to Part with Benjamin. ( b. c. 1707.) 1 And the famine was sore in the land. 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. 3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. 4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: 5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down:… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 43:7