Genesis 43 · Verse 18

Genesis 43:18

And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
Genesis 43:18, King James Version

Genesis 43:18 in other translations

BSBBut the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”
WEBThe men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, we’re brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”
ASVAnd the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
YLTand the men are afraid because they have been brought into the house of Joseph, and they say, ‘For the matter of the money which was put back in our bags at the commencement are we brought in--to roll himself upon us, and to throw himself on us, and to take us for servants--our asses also.'
DARBYAnd the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house, and said, Because of the money that was returned to us in our sacks at the beginning are we brought in, that he may turn against us, and fall upon us and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
BBENow the men were full of fear because they had been taken into Joseph's house and they said, It is because of the money which was put back in our bags the first time; he is looking for something against us, so that he may come down on us and take us and our asses for his use.
WebsterAnd the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time, are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bond-men, and our asses.

What does Genesis 43:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. the men were afraid--Their feelings of awe on entering the stately mansion, unaccustomed as they were to houses at all, their anxiety at the reasons of their being taken there, their solicitude about the restored money, their honest simplicity in communicating their distress to the steward and his assurances of having received their money in "full weight," the offering of their fruit present, which would, as usual, be done with some parade, and the Oriental salutations that passed between their host and them--are all described in a graphic and animated manner.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 And the men were afraid - A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Every thing alarms them; they now feel that God is exacting retribution, and they know not what the degrees shall be, nor where it shall stop. Fall upon us - התגלל עלינו hithgolel alainu, roll himself upon us. A metaphor taken from wrestlers; when a man has overthrown his antagonist, he rolls himself upon him, in order to keep him down. And our asses - Which they probably had in great number with them; and which, if captured, would have been a great loss to the family of Jacob, as such cattle must have constituted a principal part of its riches.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 43:15-25

Jacob's sons went down the second time into Egypt to buy corn. If we should ever know what a famine of the word means, let us not think it much to travel as far for spiritual food, as they did for bodily food. Joseph's steward had orders from his master to take them to his house. Even this frightened them. Those that are guilty make the worst of every thing. But the steward encouraged them. It appears, from what he…

Read the full comment on Genesis 43:15-25 →

Genesis 43:18 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.

וַיִּֽירְא֣וּvai.yi.re.'Uand they were afraidH3372
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֗יםha.'a.na.Shimthe menH582
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
הֽוּבְאוּ֮hu.ve.'Uthey were broughtH935
בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house ofH1004
יוֹסֵף֒yo.SefJosephH3130
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּvai.yo.me.Ruand they saidH559
עַל\־'al-onH5921
דְּבַ֤רde.Var[the] matter ofH1697
הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ha.Ke.sefthe silverH3701
הַשָּׁ֤בha.Shavwhich returnedH7725
בְּאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֙ינוּ֙be.'am.te.cho.Tei.nuin sacks ourH572
בַּתְּחִלָּ֔הba.te.chi.Lahat the beginningH8462
אֲנַ֖חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuweH587
מֽוּבָאִ֑יםmu.va.'Im[are] being broughtH935
לְהִתְגֹּלֵ֤לle.hit.go.Lelto roll himselfH1556
עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙'a.Lei.nuon usH5921
וּלְהִתְנַפֵּ֣לu.le.hit.na.Peland to throw himselfH5307
עָלֵ֔ינוּ'a.Lei.nuon usH5921
וְלָקַ֧חַתve.la.Ka.chatand to takeH3947
אֹתָ֛נוּ'o.Ta.nu<obj.> usH853
לַעֲבָדִ֖יםla.'a.va.Dimto slavesH5650
וְאֶת\־ve.'Etand <obj.>H853
חֲמֹרֵֽינוּ\׃cha.mo.Rei.nudonkeys ourH2543

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

Cross references for Genesis 43:18

  • Genesis 42:35

    And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man’s bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.

  • Judges 14:4

    But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the Lord, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

  • Psalms 73:16

    When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;

  • Job 15:21

    A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

  • Matthew 14:26-27

    And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

  • Genesis 42:28

    And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?

  • Genesis 42:21

    And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

  • Mark 6:16

    But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

  • Deuteronomy 22:17

    And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daughter’s virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.

  • Deuteronomy 22:14

    And give occasions of speech against her, and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid:

  • Job 30:14

    They came upon me as a wide breaking in of waters: in the desolation they rolled themselves upon me.

  • Isaiah 7:2

    And it was told the house of David, saying, Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the men.
42:21,28,35; Jud 13:22; Job 15:21; Ps 53:5; 73:16; Isa 7:2
Mt 14:26,27; Mr 6:16
seek occasion against us. Heb. Roll himself upon us.
De 22:14,17; Jud 14:4; Job 30:14; Ro 7:8

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

Context

  • Genesis 43:17

    And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house.

  • Genesis 43:18

    And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.

  • Genesis 43:19

    And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

Read all of Genesis 43

Genesis 43:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y aquellos hombres tuvieron temor, cuando fueron metidos en casa de José, y decían: Por el dinero que fué vuelto en nuestros costales la primera vez nos han metido aquí, para revolver contra nosotros, y dar sobre nosotros, y tomarnos por siervos á nosotros, y á nuestros asnos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et les hommes eurent peur de ce qu’on les menait dans la maison de Joseph, et ils dirent: C’est à cause de l’argent qui fut remis dans nos sacs au commencement, que nous sommes emmenés, pour qu’on se jette sur nous, et pour qu’on tombe sur nous, et pour qu’on nous prenne comme serviteurs, avec nos ânes.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Da fürchteten sich die Männer, daß sie in das Haus Josephs geführt wurden, und sprachen: Um des Geldes willen, das im Anfang wieder in unsere Säcke gekommen ist, werden wir hineingeführt, daß man über uns herstürze und über uns herfalle und uns zu Knechten nehme, samt unseren Eseln.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Ibique exterriti, dixerunt mutuo: Propter pecuniam, quam retulimus prius in saccis nostris, introducti sumus: ut devolvat in nos calumniam, et violenter subjiciat servituti et nos, et asinos nostros.