Genesis 42 · Verse 2

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 42:2, King James Version

Genesis 42:2 in other translations

BSB“Look,” he added, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”
WEBHe said, “Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there, and buy for us from there, so that we may live, and not die.”
ASVAnd he said, Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
YLThe saith also, ‘Lo, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt, go down thither, and buy for us from thence, and we live and do not die;'
DARBYAnd he said, Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go down thither and buy grain for us from thence, in order that we may live, and not die.
BBEAnd he said, I have had news that there is grain in Egypt: go down there and get grain for us, so that life and not death may be ours.
WebsterAnd he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: go down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.

What does Genesis 42:2 mean?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 42:1-6

Jacob saw the corn his neighbours had bought in Egypt, and brought home. It is a spur to exertion to see others supplied. Shall others get food for their souls, and shall we starve while it is to be had? Having discovered where help is to be had, we should apply for it without delay, without shrinking from labour, or grudging expense, especially as regards our never-dying souls. There is provision in Christ; but we…

Read the full comment on Genesis 42:1-6 →

Genesis 42:2 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.

וַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
הִנֵּ֣הhi.Nehhere!H2009
שָׁמַ֔עְתִּיsha.Ma'.tiI have heardH8085
כִּ֥יkithatH3588
יֶשׁ\־yesh-thereH3426
שֶׁ֖בֶרShe.ver[is] grainH7668
בְּמִצְרָ֑יִםbe.mitz.Ra.yimin EgyptH4714
רְדוּ\־re.du-go downH3381
שָׁ֙מָּה֙Sha.mahthere towardsH8033
וְשִׁבְרוּ\־ve.shiv.ru-and buy grainH7666
לָ֣נוּLa.nufor <the> us
מִשָּׁ֔םmi.Shamfrom thereH8033
וְנִחְיֶ֖הve.nich.Yehso we may liveH2421
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
נָמֽוּת\׃na.Mutwe will dieH4191

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

Cross references for Genesis 42:2

  • Genesis 43:8

    And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.

  • Matthew 4:4

    But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

  • Psalms 118:17

    I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

  • Genesis 43:2

    And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

  • Genesis 45:9

    Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:

  • Genesis 43:4

    If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

  • Isaiah 38:1

    In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz came unto him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
get you.
43:2,4; 45:9
that we.
43:8; Ps 118:17; Isa 38:1; Mt 4:4

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 42:3

    And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.

Read all of Genesis 42

Genesis 42:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y dijo: He aquí, yo he oído que hay víveres en Egipto; descended allá, y comprad de allí para nosotros, para que podamos vivir, y no nos muramos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il dit: Voici, j’ai appris qu’il y a du blé en Égypte; descendez-y, et achetez-nous-en là, afin que nous vivions, et que nous ne mourions pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er sprach: Siehe, ich habe gehört, daß Getreide in Ägypten ist; ziehet hinab und kaufet uns von dort Getreide, daß wir leben und nicht sterben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		audivi quod triticum venundetur in Ægypto: descendite, et emite nobis necessaria, ut possimus vivere, et non consumamur inopia.