The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, we’re brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”
Parallel Translations
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The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, we’re brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”
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And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
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And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said: 'Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.'
Cross-references (15)
Passages linked to Genesis 43:18 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Genesis 42:35 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.
- Genesis 42:21 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.”
- Genesis 42:28 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?”
- Deuteronomy 22:14 accuses her of shameful things, gives her a bad name, and says, “I took this woman, and when I came near to her, I didn’t find in her the tokens of virginity;”
- Deuteronomy 22:17 Behold, he has accused her of shameful things, saying, ‘I didn’t find in your daughter the tokens of virginity;’ and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity.” They shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.
- Judges 13:22 Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, because we have seen God.”
- Judges 14:4 But his father and his mother didn’t know that it was of Yahweh; for he sought an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.
- Job 15:21 A sound of terrors is in his ears. In prosperity the destroyer will come on him.
- Job 30:14 As through a wide breach they come. They roll themselves in amid the ruin.
- Psalms 73:16 When I tried to understand this, it was too painful for me,
- Isaiah 7:2 David’s house was told, “Syria is allied with Ephraim.” His heart trembled, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest tremble with the wind.
- Matthew 14:26-27 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
- Mark 6:16 But Herod, when he heard this, said, “This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead.”
- Romans 7:8 But sin, finding occasion through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of coveting. For apart from the law, sin is dead.
- Psalms 53:5 There they were in great fear, where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. You have put them to shame, because God has rejected them.
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this verse (11 sources)
Historical commentary, presented as a primary source — not an endorsement.
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain Hebrew, roll himself upon us.
Hebrew, roll himself upon us.
Hebrew, cast himself upon us.
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So the judgment of God pressed their conscience.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain Gen 43:18 And the men were afraid, because they…
Gen 43:18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
Ver. 18. And the men were afraid.] Where no fear was; but that an ill conscience haunted them, and so "the sound of a shaken leaf" {Lev 26:36} put them into a fright. As every body hath its shadow, so hath every sin its fear; and fear torment. {1Jn 4:18}
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain Take us for bondmen, the proper punishment for thieves.
Take us for bondmen, the proper punishment for thieves.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And they came near to the steward of Joseph's…
And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house,.... The same person before called the ruler of his house, under whose direction they were; just before they came to the house, as it seems by what follows, they made up to him as having something to say to him:
and they communed with him at the door of the house; before they went into it, being uneasy and eager to know what should be the meaning of their being brought thither, which was unusual.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain Verse 18. And the men were afraid] A guilty…
Verse 18. And the men were afraid] A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Every thing alarms them; they now feel that God is exacting retribution, and they know not what the degrees shall be, nor where it shall stop.
Fall upon us] התגלל עלינו hithgolel alainu, roll himself upon us. A metaphor taken from wrestlers; when a man has overthrown his antagonist, he rolls himself upon him, in order to keep him down.
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And our asses.] Which they probably had in great number with them; and which, if captured, would have been a great loss to the family of Jacob, as such cattle must have constituted a principal part of its riches.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain the men were afraid--Their feelings of awe on entering…
the men were afraid--Their feelings of awe on entering the stately mansion, unaccustomed as they were to houses at all, their anxiety at the reasons of their being taken there, their solicitude about the restored money, their honest simplicity in communicating their distress to the steward and his assurances of having received their money in "full weight," the offering of their fruit present, which would, as usual, be done with some parade, and the Oriental salutations that passed between their host and them--are all described in a graphic and animated manner.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain 18. The men were afraid — Their cold and…
18. The men were afraid — Their cold and severe treatment on the former occasion filled them with a dread of Joseph, and they were predisposed to construe every thing that looked like danger into a plot against them and their property.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 18. seek occasion] Heb. roll himself upon us. Cf.…
18. seek occasion] Heb. roll himself upon us. Cf. Job_30:14. Joseph’s brethren suspect that this act of favour is part of a trap to put them off their guard, and then suddenly seize them on a false charge. Cf. LXX τοῦ συκοφαντῆσαι ἡμᾶς = “to bring false charges against us”; Lat. ut devolvat in nos calumniam. The special mention of the “asses” is a lifelike touch.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain HOMILIES BY J.F. MONTGOMERY Ver. 18.
HOMILIES BY J.F. MONTGOMERY Ver. 18.
Distrust the fruit of sin.
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Why should they be afraid? The invitation was an honor not unusual. Abraham was received at Pharaoh"s court. (Gen_12:15) And the brethren were evidently people of large possessions with a considerable retinue, as they were to carry food for so many; and they had brought the proof required that they were true men. Had Joseph intended to do them harm he might have done it before. It was conscious guilt that made them fear. What they had done to their brother suggested similar treatment being meted to them. Perhaps they had almost forgotten it. But God left not himself without witness to bring their sin to remembrance. The stain of sin on the conscience is indelible. Time cannot remove it. Occupation may turn the thoughts from it, but it returns again and again. The act of wrong may be little thought of at the time. Only afterwards is it felt that it cannot be undone (cf. 1Co_15:9) This explains the attitude of so many toward God. Why is there such slowness to receive the gospel just as it is offered? When men are bidden to their brother"s table; when his will is declared they shall sup with me, (cf. Rev_3:20) why is there such shrinking as if they were being led into danger; as if God were laying some obligation on them which they cannot fulfill, to bring them into bondage for ever? It is because of sin in the heart; perhaps unfelt, unthought of; but it is there, the fact of a self-chosen life. And if these are invited to closer communion with God, straightway they are afraid; suspicious of God. And hence, when the gospel invitation is pressed, and the Lamb of God held up, and the power of the blood of Christ and the welcome for all proclaimed, and they are bidden to trust, to accept salvation, men try to fortify their position: "O sir, we have done this or that, (cf. Mat_18:26) clinging to distrust instead of striving against it.
I THIS DISTRUST AND SUSPICION OF GOD ARISES FROM.THE PRESENCE OF SIN NOT FULLY RECOGNIZED AS SIN; while the man is still trying to set good deeds against bad ones, or to find. excuses for faults. It is the effect of sin before conviction by the Holy Spirit. Real conviction brings to God. (Psa_51:4; Luk_18:13) It is unacknowledged sin that separates.
II DISTRUST IS REMOVED BY A REAL BELIEF IN THE ATONEMENT, (Heb_9:25) God"s plan for reconciling the sinful to himself. (Rom_3:26) Hence this is the turning point of the spiritual life; (Joh_3:18) the great work (Joh_6:29) out of which, as from a germ, the whole Christian life must grow. M.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 The men were afraid
The men were afraid
"Joseph's brothers were afraid"
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they were brought to Joseph's house
This can be stated in active form. AT: "they were going into Joseph's house" or "the steward was taking them into Joseph's house" (See: Active or Passive)
It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time we were brought in
This can be stated in active form. AT: "The steward is bringing us into the house because of the money that someone put back in our sacks" (See: Active or Passive)
that he may seek an opportunity against us. He might arrest us
This can be translated as a new sentence. AT: "He is waiting for the opportunity to accuse us, so that he might arrest us"
we came down
It is common to use the phrase "came down" when speaking of traveling from Canaan to Egypt.
translationWords
fear
Joseph (OT)
servant
donkey
manager
lord
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 43:18 The brothers were terrified: Cp. 32:6-12. Their guilt…
43:18 The brothers were terrified: Cp. 32:6-12. Their guilt would not let them see that something good might happen.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.