Back to Genesis 42

Genesis 42:25-35

Then Joseph gave a command to fill their bags with grain, and to restore each man’s money into his sack, and to give them food for the way. So it was done to them.

They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and departed from there. As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey food in the lodging place, he saw his money. Behold, it was in the mouth of his sack. He said to his brothers, “My money is restored! Behold, it is in my sack!” Their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?” They came to Jacob their father, to the land of Canaan, and told him all that had happened to them, saying, “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country. We said to him, ‘We are honest men. We are no spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is today with our father in the land of Canaan.’ The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your houses, and go your way. Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. So I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’ ”

As they emptied their sacks, behold, each man’s bundle of money was in his sack. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid.

World English Bible · Public Domain
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Genesis 42:25-35 sits inside this longer paragraph.

They said to one another, “We are certainly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us, and we wouldn’t listen. Therefore this distress has come upon us.” Reuben answered them, saying, “Didn’t I tell you, saying, ‘Don’t sin against the child,’ and you wouldn’t listen? Therefore also, behold, his blood is required.” They didn’t know that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them. He turned himself away from them, and wept. Then he returned to them, and spoke to them, and took Simeon from among them, and bound him before their eyes. Then Joseph gave a command to fill their bags with grain, and to restore each man’s money into his sack, and to give them food for the way. So it was done to them.

They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and departed from there. As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey food in the lodging place, he saw his money. Behold, it was in the mouth of his sack. He said to his brothers, “My money is restored! Behold, it is in my sack!” Their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?” They came to Jacob their father, to the land of Canaan, and told him all that had happened to them, saying, “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country. We said to him, ‘We are honest men. We are no spies. We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is today with our father in the land of Canaan.’ The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your houses, and go your way. Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. So I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’ ”

As they emptied their sacks, behold, each man’s bundle of money was in his sack. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid. Jacob, their father, said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin away. All these things are against me.”

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Parallel Translations

  • WEB World English Bible

    Then Joseph gave a command to fill their bags with grain, and to restore each man’s money into his sack, and to give them food for the way. So it was done to them.

    They loaded their donkeys with their grain, and departed from there.

    As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey food in the lodging place, he saw his money. Behold, it was in the mouth of his sack.

    He said to his brothers, “My money is restored! Behold, it is in my sack!” Their hearts failed them, and they turned trembling to one another, saying, “What is this that God has done to us?”

    They came to Jacob their father, to the land of Canaan, and told him all that had happened to them, saying,

    “The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.

    We said to him, ‘We are honest men. We are no spies.

    We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is today with our father in the land of Canaan.’

    The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your houses, and go your way.

    Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. So I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’ ”

    As they emptied their sacks, behold, each man’s bundle of money was in his sack. When they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid.

  • KJV King James Version

    Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man’s money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.

    And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.

    And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack’s mouth.

    And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?

    And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,

    The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.

    And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:

    We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.

    And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:

    And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.

    And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.

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  • JPS JPS Tanakh (1917)

    Then Joseph commanded to fill their vessels with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way; and thus was it done unto them.

    And they laded their asses with their corn, and departed thence.

    And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the lodging-place, he espied his money; and, behold, it was in the mouth of his sack.

    And he said unto his brethren: 'My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack.' And their heart failed them, and they turned trembling one to another, saying: 'What is this that God hath done unto us?'

    And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that had befallen them, saying:

    'The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country.

    And we said unto him: We are upright men; we are no spies.

    We are twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.

    And the man, the lord of the land, said unto us: Hereby shall I know that ye are upright men: leave one of your brethren with me, and take corn for the famine of your houses, and go your way.

    And bring your youngest brother unto me; then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are upright men; so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land.'

    And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack; and when they and their father saw their bundles of money, they were afraid.

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Examined in Scripture Analysis

Contradictions (1)

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Cross-references (37)

  • Genesis 34:10 (v34) You shall dwell with us, and the land will be before you. Live and trade in it, and get possessions in it.”
  • Genesis 42:19-20 (v33) If you are honest men, then let one of your brothers be bound in your prison; but you go, carry grain for the famine of your houses. Bring…
  • Genesis 43:21 (v35) When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full…
  • Genesis 34:21 (v34) “These men are peaceful with us. Therefore let them live in the land and trade in it. For behold, the land is large enough for them. Let’s…
  • Genesis 42:7 (v30) Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them. He said to them, “Where…
Show all 37 cross-references
  • Genesis 42:15 (v33) By this you shall be tested. By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go out from here, unless your youngest brother comes here.
  • Exodus 4:24 (v27) On the way at a lodging place, Yahweh met Moses and wanted to kill him.
  • Isaiah 45:7 (v28) I form the light and create darkness. I make peace and create calamity. I am Yahweh, who does all these things.
  • Lamentations 3:37 (v28) Who is he who says, and it comes to pass, when the Lord doesn’t command it?
  • 1 Peter 3:9 (v25) not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a…
  • Genesis 27:33 (v28) Isaac trembled violently, and said, “Who, then, is he who has taken venison, and brought it to me, and I have eaten of all before you came,…
  • Genesis 42:11 (v31) We are all one man’s sons; we are honest men. Your servants are not spies.”
  • Genesis 42:27-28 (v35) As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey food in the lodging place, he saw his money. Behold, it was in the mouth of his sack. He…
  • Genesis 42:36 (v28) Jacob, their father, said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children! Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take…
  • Genesis 43:12 (v35) and take double money in your hand, and take back the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks. Perhaps it was an oversight.
  • Genesis 43:15 (v35) The men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and got up, went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
  • Genesis 43:21-22 (v27) When we came to the lodging place, we opened our sacks, and behold, each man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full…
  • Genesis 43:23 (v28) He said, “Peace be to you. Don’t be afraid. Your God, and the God of your father, has given you treasure in your sacks. I received your…
  • Genesis 44:1-2 (v25) He commanded the steward of his house, saying, “Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man’s money in his…
  • Genesis 44:11 (v27) Then they hurried, and each man took his sack down to the ground, and each man opened his sack.
  • Genesis 45:21 (v25) The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
  • Leviticus 26:36 (v28) “ ‘As for those of you who are left, I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf…
  • Deuteronomy 28:65 (v28) Among these nations you will find no ease, and there will be no rest for the sole of your foot; but Yahweh will give you there a trembling…
  • 1 Kings 10:5 (v28) the food of his table, the sitting of his servants, the attendance of his officials, their clothing, his cup bearers, and his ascent by…
  • 1 Kings 10:15 (v34) in addition to that which the traders brought, and the traffic of the merchants, and of all the kings of the mixed people, and of the…
  • Psalms 61:2 (v28) From the end of the earth, I will call to you when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
  • Song of Solomon 5:6 (v28) I opened to my beloved; but my beloved left, and had gone away. My heart went out when he spoke. I looked for him, but I didn’t find him. I…
  • Isaiah 55:1 (v25) “Hey! Come, everyone who thirsts, to the waters! Come, he who has no money, buy, and eat! Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and…
  • Lamentations 2:17 (v28) Yahweh has done that which he planned. He has fulfilled his word that he commanded in the days of old. He has thrown down, and has not…
  • Ezekiel 17:4 (v34) He cropped off the topmost of its young twigs, and carried it to a land of traffic. He planted it in a city of merchants.
  • Matthew 5:44 (v25) But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and…
  • Matthew 6:33 (v25) But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
  • Luke 2:7 (v27) She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a feeding trough, because there was no room for…
  • Luke 10:34 (v27) came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
  • Romans 12:17-21 (v25) Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace…
  • Amos 3:6 (v28) Does the trumpet alarm sound in a city, without the people being afraid? Does evil happen to a city, and Yahweh hasn’t done it?
  • Luke 21:26 (v28) men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world: for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)

Explain this passage (20 sources)

Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.

John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv27, 28, 29, 35 27. And as one of them opened his sack.…

27. And as one of them opened his sack. With what intention Joseph had commanded the price paid for the corn to be secretly deposited in the sacks of his brethren, may easily be conjectured; for he feared lest his father being already impoverished, would not be able again to buy provisions. The brethren, having found their money, knew not where to seek the cause; except that, being terrified, they perceived that the hand of God was against them. That they were greatly astonished appears from their not voluntarily returning to Joseph, in order to prove their own innocence: for the remedy of the evil was at hand, if they had not been utterly blinded. Wherefore we must ask God to supply us, in doubtful and troubled affairs, not only with fortitude, but also with prudence. We see also how little can be effected even by a great multitude, unless the Lord preside among them. The sons of Jacob ought mutually to have exhorted each other, and to have consulted together what was necessary to be done: but there is an end to all deliberation; no solace nor remedy is suggested. Even while each sees the rest agitated, they mutually increase each other’s trepidation. Therefore, the society and countenance of men will profit us nothing, unless the Lord strengthen us from heaven.

John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.

Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv28, 32 Hebrew, went out.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv25–35 Gen 42:25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks…
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv27, 28, 35 And after him the rest by his example and…
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v29 Here is, 1. The report which Jacob's sons made…
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv25–34 And they came unto Jacob their father, unto the…
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v28 Their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying…
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv25, 26, 27, 28, 35 Verse 25. Commanded to fill their sacks] כליהם keleyhem,…
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On v28 Gen 42:28. Their heart failed them, and they were…
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv25, 34, 35 Simeon. If he had joined himself to Ruben and…
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv25, 27, 35 Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and…
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv25–28 25. Restore every man’s money — He would not…
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv27, 28, 30, 33, 34, 35 27–38. The Return to Canaan
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv25, 27, 28, 33 (25) To fill their sacks.—Heb., their vessels. The word…
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 35 Then (literally, and) Joseph commanded to fill literally, commanded,…
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv25, 29 My money is restored; and lo, it is even…
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On vv25, 29 Gen_42:27. In the Inn.] “A camping place for the…
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On vv25, 35 The Return to Canaan
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv26, 29, 33, 35 As one of them opened his sack to give…
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv25, 28, 29 42:25-28 Joseph cared for his brothers’ needs; he had…
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