Genesis 41 · Verse 43

Genesis 41:43

And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
Genesis 41:43, King James Version

Genesis 41:43 in other translations

BSBHe had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt.
WEBHe made him ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, “Bow the knee!” He set him over all the land of Egypt.
ASVand he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he set him over all the land of Egypt.
YLTand causeth him to ride in the second chariot which he hath, and they proclaim before him, ‘Bow the knee!' and--to put him over all the land of Egypt.
DARBYAnd he caused him to ride in the second chariot that he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee! and he set him over all the land of Egypt.
BBEAnd he made him take his seat in the second of his carriages; and they went before him crying, Make way! So he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
WebsterAnd he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had: and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

What does Genesis 41:43 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
43. they cried before him, Bow the knee--abrech, an Egyptian term, not referring to prostration, but signifying, according to some, "father" (compare Ge 45:8); according to others, "native prince"--that is, proclaimed him naturalized, in order to remove all popular dislike to him as a foreigner.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 43 He made him to ride in the second chariot - That which usually followed the king's chariot in public ceremonies. Bow the knee - אברך abrech, which we translate bow the knee, and which we might as well translate any thing else, is probably an Egyptian word, the signification of which is utterly unknown. If we could suppose it to be a Hebrew word, it might be considered as compounded of אב ab, father, and רך rach, tender; for Joseph might be denominated a father, because of his care over the people, and the provision he was making for their preservation; and tender because of his youth. Or it may be compounded of אב ab, father, and ברך barech, blessing, the latter ב beth being easily lost in the preceding one; and Joseph might have this epithet as well as the other, on account of the care he was taking to turn aside the heavy curse of the seven years of famine, by accumulating the blessings of the seven years of plenty. Besides, father seems to have been a name of office, and probably father of the king or father of Pharaoh might signify the same as the king's minister among us; see on Gen 45:8 (note). But if it be an Egyptian word, it is vain to look for its signification in Hebrew.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 41:33-45

Joseph gave good advice to Pharaoh. Fair warning should always be followed by good counsel. God has in his word told us of a day of trial before us, when we shall need all the grace we can have. Now, therefore, provide accordingly. Pharaoh gave Joseph an honourable testimony. He is a man in whom the spirit of God is; and such men ought to be valued. Pharaoh puts upon Joseph marks of honour. He gave him such a name…

Read the full comment on Genesis 41:33-45 →

Genesis 41:43 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיַּרְכֵּ֣בvai.yar.Kevand he made rideH7392
אֹת֗וֹ'o.To<obj.> himH853
בְּמִרְכֶּ֤בֶתbe.mir.Ke.vetin [the] chariot ofH4818
הַמִּשְׁנֶה֙ha.mish.Nehthe secondH4932
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-whichH834
ל֔וֹlo[belonged] to <the> him
וַיִּקְרְא֥וּvai.yik.re.'Uand they called outH7121
לְפָנָ֖יוle.fa.Nav<to> before himH6440
אַבְרֵ֑ךְ'av.Rekhbend [the] kneeH86
וְנָת֣וֹןve.na.Tonand he putH5414
אֹת֔וֹ'o.To<obj.> himH853
עַ֖ל'aloverH5921
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
אֶ֥רֶץ'E.retz[the] land ofH776
מִצְרָֽיִם\׃mitz.Ra.yimEgyptH4714

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 41:43

  • Genesis 45:8

    So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

  • Acts 7:10

    And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

  • Genesis 45:26

    And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.

  • Genesis 42:33

    And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:

  • 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;

  • Genesis 42:30

    The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.

  • 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.

  • Esther 6:8-9

    Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and they.
Es 6:8,9
Bow the knee. or, Tender father.
45:8
Heb. Abrech.
Php 2:10
ruler.
42:6,30,33; 45:8,26; Ac 7:10

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 41:42

    And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

  • Genesis 41:43

    And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

  • Genesis 41:44

    And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

Read all of Genesis 41

Genesis 41:43 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		E hízolo subir en su segundo carro, y pregonaron delante de él: Doblad la rodilla: y púsole sobre toda la tierra de Egipto.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et il le fit monter sur le second char qui était à lui; et on criait devant lui: Abrec! Et il l’établit sur tout le pays d’Égypte.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er ließ ihn auf dem zweiten Wagen fahren, den er hatte, und man rief vor ihm her: Werfet euch nieder! -Und er setzte ihn über das ganze Land Ägypten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Fecitque eum ascendere super currum suum secundum, clamante præcone, ut omnes coram eo genu flecterent, et præpositum esse scirent universæ terræ Ægypti.