Genesis 43:34

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And he took [and sent] messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Each was given his serving there in front of him, but Binyamin's portion was five times as large as any of theirs. So they drank and enjoyed themselves with him.

Berean Standard Bible:

When the portions were served to them from Joseph’s table, Benjamin’s portion was five times larger than any of the others. So they feasted and drank freely with Joseph.

American Standard Version:

And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And he took^{H5375} and sent messes^{H4864} unto them from before him^{H6440}: but Benjamin's^{H1144} mess^{H4864} was five^{H2568} times^{H3027} so much as^{H7235} any of theirs. And they drank^{H8354}, and were merry^{H7937} with him.

Cross-References (KJV):

Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:

BibleHub.com BibleRef.com

Commentary for Genesis 43:34

Genesis 43:34 is a verse from the story of Joseph, which is set in the historical context of the patriarchal narratives in the Bible. This story takes place during the period when the sons of Jacob, the patriarch of the Israelites, travel to Egypt to buy grain during a severe famine. The themes present in this verse include familial favoritism, divine providence, and the testing of character.

**Historical Context:**
The events described in Genesis 43 occur during the second journey of Joseph's brothers to Egypt. Joseph, one of Jacob's sons, had been sold into slavery by his jealous brothers years earlier. He eventually rose to a position of power in Egypt as Pharaoh's right-hand man, interpreting dreams and overseeing the storage of grain in preparation for the famine. Unrecognized by his brothers, Joseph tests them to see if they have changed since their betrayal of him.

**Themes:**
1. **Familial Favoritism:** The verse reflects the special favoritism Joseph shows towards Benjamin, his full brother (both being sons of Rachel), by giving him a portion five times greater than that of his other brothers. This favoritism is reminiscent of Jacob's preference for Joseph in his youth, which contributed to the brothers' jealousy and the subsequent events leading to Joseph's sale into slavery.

2. **Divine Providence:** The story of Joseph is often seen as an example of how God's plan works through human actions, even those that are unjust or harmful. Joseph's elevation in Egypt and the subsequent events are viewed as part of God's providential care for the Israelites, ensuring their survival during the famine.

3. **Testing of Character:** Joseph's actions in this verse are part of a larger test to see if his brothers have repented of their past actions and if they will protect Benjamin, the favored brother, as they did not protect Joseph. The verse shows Joseph's careful orchestration of events to reveal his brothers' true natures and to bring about a moment of truth regarding their capacity for loyalty and love.

In summary, Genesis 43:34 is set within a broader narrative of family dynamics, divine oversight, and moral development. It highlights the themes of favoritism within a family, the unfolding of God's purposes through human history, and the testing and transformation of characters as they face challenges and moral dilemmas.

*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: H5375
   There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: נָשָׂא
   Transliteration: nâsâʼ
   Pronunciation: naw-saw'
   Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield.
   
2. Strong's Number: H4864
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מַשְׂאֵת
   Transliteration: masʼêth
   Pronunciation: mas-ayth'
   Description: from נָשָׂא; properly, (abstractly) a raising (as of the hands in prayer), or rising (of flame); figuratively, an utterance; concretely, a beacon (as raised); a present (as taken), mess, or tribute; figuratively, a reproach (as a burden); burden, collection, sign of fire, (great) flame, gift, lifting up, mess, oblation, reward.
   
3. Strong's Number: H6440
   There are 1890 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּנִים
   Transliteration: pânîym
   Pronunciation: paw-neem'
   Description: plural (but always as singular) of an unused noun פָּנֶה; from פָּנָה); the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.); [phrase] accept, a-(be-) fore(-time), against, anger, [idiom] as (long as), at, [phrase] battle, [phrase] because (of), [phrase] beseech, countenance, edge, [phrase] employ, endure, [phrase] enquire, face, favour, fear of, for, forefront(-part), form(-er time, -ward), from, front, heaviness, [idiom] him(-self), [phrase] honourable, [phrase] impudent, [phrase] in, it, look(-eth) (-s), [idiom] me, [phrase] meet, [idiom] more than, mouth, of, off, (of) old (time), [idiom] on, open, [phrase] out of, over against, the partial, person, [phrase] please, presence, propect, was purposed, by reason of, [phrase] regard, right forth, [phrase] serve, [idiom] shewbread, sight, state, straight, [phrase] street, [idiom] thee, [idiom] them(-selves), through ([phrase] -out), till, time(-s) past, (un-) to(-ward), [phrase] upon, upside ([phrase] down), with(-in, [phrase] -stand), [idiom] ye, [idiom] you.
   
4. Strong's Number: H1144
   There are 156 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בִּנְיָמִין
   Transliteration: Binyâmîyn
   Pronunciation: bin-yaw-mene'
   Description: from בֵּן and יָמִין; son of (the) right hand; Binjamin, youngest son of Jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; Benjamin.
   
5. Strong's Number: H2568
   There are 273 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: חָמֵשׁ
   Transliteration: châmêsh
   Pronunciation: khaw-maysh'
   Description: masculine חֲמִשָּׁה; a primitive numeral; five; fif(-teen), fifth, five ([idiom] apiece).
   
6. 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.
   
7. Strong's Number: H7235
   There are 211 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: רָבָה
   Transliteration: râbâh
   Pronunciation: raw-baw'
   Description: a primitive root; to increase (in whatever respect); (bring in) abundance ([idiom] -antly), [phrase] archer (by mistake for רָבַב), be in authority, bring up, [idiom] continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding(-ly), be full of, (be, make) great(-er, -ly, [idiom] -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty(-eous), [idiom] process (of time), sore, store, thoroughly, very.
   
8. Strong's Number: H8354
   There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁתָה
   Transliteration: shâthâh
   Pronunciation: shaw-thaw'
   Description: a primitive root; to imbibe (literally or figuratively); [idiom] assuredly, banquet, [idiom] certainly, drink(-er, -ing), drunk ([idiom] -ard), surely. (Prop. intensive of שָׁקָה.)
   
9. Strong's Number: H7937
   There are 19 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁכַר
   Transliteration: shâkar
   Pronunciation: shaw-kar'
   Description: a primitive root; to become tipsy; in a qualified sense, to satiate with astimulating drink or (figuratively) influence; (be filled with) drink (abundantly), (be, make) drunk(-en), be merry. (Superlative of שָׁקָה.)