Genesis 42:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the sons of Israel came to buy [corn] among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The sons of Isra'el came to buy along with the others that came, since the famine extended to the land of Kena'an.

Berean Standard Bible:

So the sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, since the famine had also spread to the land of Canaan.

American Standard Version:

And the sons of Israel came to buy among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the sons^{H1121} of Israel^{H3478} came^{H935} to buy^{H7666} corn among^{H8432} those that came^{H935}: for the famine^{H7458} was in the land^{H776} of Canaan^{H3667}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Genesis 42:5

1. Themes:
- Providence and Sovereignty of God: The famine that drives the sons of Israel to Egypt is part of a larger divine plan to preserve the family of Jacob (Israel) and ultimately lead to the formation of the Israelite nation.
- Family and Loyalty: The narrative underscores the importance of family bonds, as the brothers are willing to travel to Egypt to secure food for their family during the famine.
- Repentance and Reconciliation: This event sets the stage for the brothers' eventual reconciliation with Joseph, whom they had previously betrayed by selling him into slavery.

2. Historical Context:
- The famine mentioned in Genesis 42:5 is part of a seven-year worldwide famine predicted by Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams (Genesis 41).
- Joseph, having been sold into slavery by his brothers, has risen to a position of power in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, due to his ability to interpret dreams and his wise administration during the years of plenty and the subsequent years of famine.
- The story is set in the context of the ancient Near East, where Egypt was known to have a surplus of grain due to the fertility of the Nile River valley, making it a destination for those seeking relief from famine.
- The verse reflects the broader context of the Joseph narrative, which is part of the Patriarchal narratives in the Book of Genesis, detailing the early history of the Israelites and their ancestors.
- The journey of Joseph's brothers to Egypt is the beginning of a series of events that will lead to the entire family of Jacob relocating to Egypt, where they will eventually grow into a nation. This sets the stage for the events of the Exodus.
- The verse also highlights the economic interdependence among different regions in the ancient world, where trade in essential goods like grain was crucial for survival during times of scarcity.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
2. Strong's Number: H3478
   There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
   Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
   Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
   Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
   
3. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
4. Strong's Number: H7666
   There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁבַר
   Transliteration: shâbar
   Pronunciation: shaw-bar'
   Description: denominative from שֶׁבֶר; to deal in grain; buy, sell.
   
5. Strong's Number: H8432
   There are 390 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: תָּוֶךְ
   Transliteration: tâvek
   Pronunciation: taw'-vek
   Description: from an unused root meaning to sever; a bisection, i.e. (by implication) the centre; among(-st), [idiom] between, half, [idiom] (there-, where-), in(-to), middle, mid(-night), midst (among), [idiom] out (of), [idiom] through, [idiom] with(-in).
   
6. Strong's Number: H7458
   There are 88 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָעָב
   Transliteration: râʻâb
   Pronunciation: raw-awb'
   Description: from רָעֵב; hunger (more or less extensive); dearth, famine, [phrase] famished, hunger.
   
7. Strong's Number: H776
   There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶרֶץ
   Transliteration: ʼerets
   Pronunciation: eh'-rets
   Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.
   
8. Strong's Number: H3667
   There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: כְּנַעַן
   Transliteration: Kᵉnaʻan
   Pronunciation: ken-ah'-an
   Description: from כָּנַע; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him; Canaan, merchant, traffick.