Genesis 42:1
Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
Genesis 42:1 in other translations
| BSB | When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” |
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| WEB | Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?” |
| ASV | Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? |
| YLT | And Jacob seeth that there is corn in Egypt, and Jacob saith to his sons, ‘Why do you look at each other?' |
| DARBY | And Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? |
| BBE | Now Jacob, hearing that there was grain in Egypt, said to his sons, Why are you looking at one another? |
| Webster | Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? |
What does Genesis 42:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Ge 42:1-38. Journey into Egypt.
1. Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt--learned from common rumor. It is evident from Jacob's language that his own and his sons' families had suffered greatly from the scarcity; and through the increasing severity of the scourge, those men, who had formerly shown both activity and spirit, were sinking into despondency. God would not interpose miraculously when natural means of preservation were within reach.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
Jacob sends his ten sons to Egypt to buy corn, Gen 42:1-3; but refuses to permit Benjamin to go, Gen 42:4. They arrive in Egypt, and bow themselves before Joseph, Gen 42:5, Gen 42:6. He treats them roughly and calls them spies, Gen 42:7-10. They defend themselves and give an account of their family, Gen 42:11-13. He appears unmoved, and puts them all in prison for three days, Gen 42:14-17. On the third day he releases them on condition of their bringing Benjamin, Gen 42:18-20. Being convicted by their consciences, they reproach themselves with their cruelty to their brother Joseph, and consider themselves under the displeasure of God, Gen 42:21-23. Joseph is greatly affected, detains Simeon as a pledge for Benjamin, orders their sacks to be filled with corn, and the purchase money to be put in each man's sack, Gen 42:24, Gen 42:25. When one of them is going to give his ass provender he discovers his money in the mouth of his sack, at which they are greatly alarmed, Gen 42:26-28. They come to their father in Canaan, and relate what happened to them in their journey, Gen 42:29-34. On emptying their sacks, each man's money is found in his sack's mouth, which causes alarm both to them and their father, Gen 42:35. Jacob deplores the loss of Joseph and Simeon, and refuses to let Benjamin go, though Reuben offers his two sons as pledges for his safety, Gen 42:36-38. Verse 1 Jacob saw that there was corn - That is, Jacob heard from the report of others that there was plenty in Egypt. The operations of one sense, in Hebrew, are often put for those of another. Before agriculture was properly known and practiced, famines were frequent; Canaan seems to have been peculiarly vexed by them. There was one in this land in the time of Abraham, Gen 12:10; another in the days of Isaac, Gen 26:1; and now a third in the time of Jacob. To this St. Stephen alludes, Act 7:11 : there was great affliction, and our fathers found no sustenance.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 42:1-6
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Genesis 42:1 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Genesis 42:1
- Acts 7:12
But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
- Joshua 7:10
And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
- Exodus 20:18
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.
- Genesis 42:2
And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
- Exodus 5:19
And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.
- Galatians 2:7
But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
- Jeremiah 8:14
Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord.
- Ezra 10:4
Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.
- Genesis 41:54
And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
- Genesis 41:57
And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
- Hosea 5:13
When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah saw his wound, then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound.
- 2 Kings 8:3-4
And it came to pass at the seven years’ end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land. And the king talked with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, Tell me, I pray thee, all the great things that Elisha hath done.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
16 They are imprisoned by Joseph for spies.
18 They are set at liberty, on condition to bring Benjamin.
21 They have remorse for Joseph.
24 Simeon is kept for a pledge.
25 They return with corn, and their money.
29 Their relation to Jacob.
36 Jacob refuses to send Benjamin.
when Jacob.
41:54,57; Ac 7:12
saw. i.e, heard, from the report of others, that there wasplenty in Egypt. The operations of one sense are frequently put for those of another in Hebrew; (see the Parallel Passages.)
2; Ex 5:19; 20:18; 1Ki 19:3; Ho 5:13; Ga 2:7
Why do ye.
Jos 7:10; 2Ki 8:3,4; Ezr 10:4; Jer 8:14
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Genesis 42:1
Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
- Genesis 42:2
And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
Genesis 42:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y VIENDO Jacob que en Egipto había alimentos, dijo á sus hijos: ¿Por qué os estáis mirando? |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | *Et Jacob vit qu’il y avait du blé en Égypte; et Jacob dit à ses fils: Pourquoi vous regardez-vous les uns les autres? |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und Jakob sah, daß Getreide in Ägypten war, und Jakob sprach zu seinen Söhnen: Was sehet ihr einander an? |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Audiens autem Jacob quod alimenta venderentur in Ægypto, dixit filiis suis: Quare negligitis? |