King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which [was] in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.
Complete Jewish Bible:
When Yosef arrived home, they went in the house and presented him with the gift they had brought with them, then prostrated themselves before him on the ground.
Berean Standard Bible:
When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him.
American Standard Version:
And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed down themselves to him to the earth.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And when Joseph{H3130} came{H935} home{H1004}, they brought{H935} him the present{H4503} which was in their hand{H3027} into the house{H1004}, and bowed{H7812} themselves to him to the earth{H776}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 42:6
- And Joseph [was] the governor over the land, [and] he [it was] that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him [with] their faces to the earth.
Romans 14:11
- For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Genesis 37:19
- And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
Genesis 37:20
- Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
Philippians 2:10
- That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
Philippians 2:11
- And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Genesis 27:29
- Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed [be] every one that curseth thee, and blessed [be] he that blesseth thee.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 43:26
Genesis 43:26 is set within the broader narrative of Joseph and his brothers, which spans Genesis chapters 37-50. This verse specifically captures a moment during the second journey of Joseph's brothers to Egypt to buy grain during a severe famine.
Themes:
1. **Fulfillment of Dreams**: The verse alludes to the fulfillment of Joseph's earlier dreams (Genesis 37:5-9), where his brothers bowed down to him. This act of bowing to the earth is a literal realization of those dreams.
2. **Reconciliation and Forgiveness**: The story of Joseph and his brothers is one of familial betrayal and eventual reconciliation. The brothers' actions here are part of the process that leads to Joseph forgiving them for selling him into slavery.
3. **Providence**: The narrative reflects the theme of divine providence, as God's plan for Joseph's life unfolds, leading him from the pit to the palace, and ultimately to a position where he can save his family.
4. **Testing**: Joseph's treatment of his brothers, including this moment of receiving them and their gifts, is part of a series of tests he orchestrates to see if they have changed since their betrayal of him.
Historical Context:
The story is set in the context of the ancient Near East, likely during the second millennium BCE, a time when Egypt was a dominant power and a source of grain for surrounding regions during times of famine. The customs of gift-giving and bowing were common practices in the context of seeking favor from rulers or those in power.
Joseph, having been sold into slavery by his brothers, rose to become the second-in-command in Egypt under Pharaoh. His position allowed him to manage the country's resources during the famine, which is why his brothers came to Egypt seeking aid.
In summary, Genesis 43:26 is a pivotal verse in the Joseph narrative, highlighting themes of dream fulfillment, reconciliation, divine providence, and testing, set against the backdrop of ancient Near Eastern customs and the historical reality of famine and dependency on Egypt's grain supply.
*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: H3130
There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹסֵף
Transliteration: Yôwçêph
Pronunciation: yo-safe'
Description: future of יָסַף; let him add (or perhaps simply active participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites; Joseph. Compare יְהוֹסֵף. - 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. - Strong's Number: H1004
There are 1718 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּיִת
Transliteration: bayith
Pronunciation: bah'-yith
Description: probably from בָּנָה abbreviated; a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.); court, daughter, door, [phrase] dungeon, family, [phrase] forth of, [idiom] great as would contain, hangings, home(born), (winter) house(-hold), inside(-ward), palace, place, [phrase] prison, [phrase] steward, [phrase] tablet, temple, web, [phrase] within(-out). - 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: H3027
There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָד
Transliteration: yâd
Pronunciation: yawd
Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves. - Strong's Number: H7812
There are 166 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁחָה
Transliteration: shâchâh
Pronunciation: shaw-khaw'
Description: a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God); bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. - 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.