Genesis 42:27

And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it [was] in his sack's mouth.

And as one {H259} of them opened {H6605} his sack {H8242} to give {H5414} his ass {H2543} provender {H4554} in the inn {H4411}, he espied {H7200} his money {H3701}; for, behold, it was in his sack's {H572} mouth {H6310}.

But at camp that night, as one of them opened his pack to give fodder to his donkey, he noticed his money - there it was, just inside his pack.

At the place where they lodged for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of the sack.

And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the lodging-place, he espied his money; and, behold, it was in the mouth of his sack.

Commentary

Genesis 42:27 describes a pivotal moment in the dramatic reunion of Joseph with his brothers. After purchasing grain in Egypt, Joseph's brothers begin their journey home, unaware of the elaborate plan their long-lost brother has set in motion. This verse marks the unsettling discovery of the money returned to their sacks, a development that fills them with dread and confusion.

Context

This verse is part of the unfolding narrative of Joseph, who, after being sold into slavery by his brothers (see Genesis 37:28), rose to power as the governor of Egypt. During a severe famine, his brothers came to Egypt seeking food. Joseph recognized them but did not reveal himself, instead testing them and orchestrating events to bring about repentance and reconciliation. He had their sacks filled with grain and, unbeknownst to them, their money was secretly placed back into their sacks, an act designed to provoke their conscience and deepen their predicament. The discovery in this verse is the first realization that something extraordinary and frightening is happening.

Key Themes

  • Divine Providence: Although Joseph is the orchestrator of these events, the narrative subtly points to a higher hand at work. The mysterious return of the money, while unsettling for the brothers, is part of God's overarching plan to bring about reconciliation and preserve the family through the famine (as Joseph later confirms in Genesis 50:20).
  • Guilt and Fear: The discovery immediately triggers a deep sense of fear and guilt among the brothers. They likely interpret this unexplained event as divine retribution for their past sin against Joseph, believing God is bringing their secret deeds to light. The subsequent verse, Genesis 42:28, confirms their fearful reaction.
  • Suspense and Mystery: For the brothers, the returned money is an inexplicable mystery, adding to the stress of their situation. For the reader, it builds suspense, knowing Joseph's intentions and anticipating the eventual revelation.

Linguistic Insights

The term "provender" refers to food or fodder for livestock, highlighting the practical necessity that led to the discovery. The phrase "sack's mouth" simply refers to the opening of the bag, making the discovery immediate and undeniable for the brother.

Practical Application

This verse reminds us that even when circumstances seem chaotic or inexplicable, there can be a divine purpose unfolding. Like Joseph's brothers, we may not always understand why certain events happen, especially those that bring distress or confusion. However, the larger biblical narrative encourages us to trust in God's sovereign plan, even when it involves challenging situations. It also underscores how past actions, especially those involving injustice, can weigh heavily on the conscience and resurface in unexpected ways, prompting self-examination and a need for reconciliation.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 4:24

    ¶ And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him.

  • Luke 2:7

    And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

  • Genesis 43:21

    And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, [every] man's money [was] in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.

  • Genesis 43:22

    And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

  • Luke 10:34

    And went to [him], and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

  • Genesis 44:11

    Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
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