King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And their father Israel said unto them, If [it must be] so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
Complete Jewish Bible:
Their father Isra'el answered them, "If that's how it is, do this: take in your containers some of the land's best products, and bring the man a gift - some healing resin, a little honey, aromatic gum, opium, pistachio nuts and almonds.
Berean Standard Bible:
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
American Standard Version:
And their father Israel said unto them, If it be so now, do this: take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And their father{H1} Israel{H3478} said{H559} unto them, If it must be so now{H645}, do{H6213} this; take{H3947} of the best fruits{H2173} in the land{H776} in your vessels{H3627}, and carry down{H3381} the man{H376} a present{H4503}, a little{H4592} balm{H6875}, and a little{H4592} honey{H1706}, spices{H5219}, and myrrh{H3910}, nuts{H992}, and almonds{H8247}:
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 37:25
- And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry [it] down to Egypt.
Jeremiah 8:22
- [Is there] no balm in Gilead; [is there] no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?
1 Samuel 9:7
- Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, [if] we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and [there is] not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
Ezekiel 27:17
- Judah, and the land of Israel, they [were] thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.
Proverbs 18:16
- ¶ A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
Ezekiel 27:15
- The men of Dedan [were] thy merchants; many isles [were] the merchandise of thine hand: they brought thee [for] a present horns of ivory and ebony.
Deuteronomy 33:14
- And for the precious fruits [brought forth] by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 43:11
1. **Themes:**
- **Family Obligation and Protection:** Jacob (Israel) is concerned for the welfare of his sons, especially Benjamin, whom he is reluctant to send to Egypt, fearing for his safety. This reflects the theme of familial duty and the desire to protect one's family.
- **Providence and Trust:** Despite the uncertainty of the situation, Jacob is willing to trust in God's providence by sending his sons back to Egypt with gifts, hoping to appease the Egyptian official (who is actually Joseph, but unknown to them).
- **Reconciliation:** The act of sending gifts can also be seen as a step towards reconciliation with the official who has power over them, which is ultimately a foreshadowing of the family's reunion and reconciliation with Joseph.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **Famine in Canaan:** The verse is set during a time of severe famine in the land of Canaan, which has compelled Jacob's sons to travel to Egypt to buy grain.
- **Joseph's Rise in Egypt:** Unbeknownst to Jacob, his son Joseph, whom he believes is dead, is the ruler in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. Joseph had been sold into slavery by his brothers years earlier but has since risen to power.
- **Brothers' Test:** Joseph is testing his brothers to see if they have changed since they sold him into slavery. He withholds Simeon and demands that they bring Benjamin, their youngest brother, to Egypt.
- **Trade and Gifts:** The gifts Jacob sends are not only a means to provide for his family but also a reflection of the trade relations and customs of the time, where gifts were a common way to curry favor and establish goodwill between parties, especially in a foreign land.
In summary, Genesis 43:11 captures the themes of family loyalty, trust in God's plan, and the beginnings of reconciliation, set against the backdrop of a severe famine and the brothers' unknowing reunion with Joseph in Egypt. Jacob's instructions to his sons to bring the best fruits and choice gifts reflect both the cultural practices of the time and his hope to secure the safety and well-being of his family.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - 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. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H645
There are 146 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵפוֹ
Transliteration: ʼêphôw
Pronunciation: ay-fo'
Description: or אֵפוֹא; from פֹּה; strictly a demonstrative particle, here; but used of time, now or then; here, now, where? - Strong's Number: H6213
There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָשָׂה
Transliteration: ʻâsâh
Pronunciation: aw-saw'
Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use. - Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H2173
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זִמְרָה
Transliteration: zimrâh
Pronunciation: zim-raw'
Description: from זָמַר; pruned (i.e. choice) fruit; best fruit. - 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. - Strong's Number: H3627
There are 276 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּלִי
Transliteration: kᵉlîy
Pronunciation: kel-ee'
Description: from כָּלָה; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon); armour(-bearer), artillery, bag, carriage, [phrase] furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, [idiom] one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, [phrase] psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, [phrase] whatsoever. - Strong's Number: H3381
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָרַד
Transliteration: yârad
Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down. - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H4503
There are 194 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מִנְחָה
Transliteration: minchâh
Pronunciation: min-khaw'
Description: from an unused root meaning to apportion, i.e. bestow; a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary); gift, oblation, (meat) offering, present, sacrifice. - Strong's Number: H4592
There are 92 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מְעַט
Transliteration: mᵉʻaṭ
Pronunciation: meh-at'
Description: or מְעָט; from מָעַט; a little or few (often adverbial or compar.); almost (some, very) few(-er, -est), lightly, little (while), (very) small (matter, thing), some, soon, [idiom] very. - Strong's Number: H6875
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צְרִי
Transliteration: tsᵉrîy
Pronunciation: tser-ee'
Description: or צֳרִי; from an unused root meaning to crack (as by pressure), hence, to leak; distillation, i.e. balsam; balm. - Strong's Number: H1706
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דְּבַשׁ
Transliteration: dᵉbash
Pronunciation: deb-ash'
Description: from an unused root meaning to be gummy; honey (from its stickiness); by analogy, syrup; honey(-comb). - Strong's Number: H5219
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נְכֹאת
Transliteration: nᵉkôʼth
Pronunciation: nek-ohth'
Description: from נָכֵא; properly, a smiting, i.e. (concretely) an aromatic gum (perhaps styrax) (as powdered); spicery(-ces). - Strong's Number: H3910
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לֹט
Transliteration: lôṭ
Pronunciation: lote
Description: probably from לוּט; a gum (from its sticky nature), probably ladanum; myrrh. - Strong's Number: H992
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֹּטֶן
Transliteration: bôṭen
Pronunciation: bo'-ten
Description: from בֶּטֶן; (only in plural) a pistachio-nut (from its form); nut. - Strong's Number: H8247
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁקֵד
Transliteration: shâqêd
Pronunciation: shaw-kade'
Description: from שָׁקַד; the almond (tree or nut; as being the earliest in bloom); almond (tree).