Genesis 43 · Verse 20

Genesis 43:20

And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:
Genesis 43:20, King James Version

Genesis 43:20 in other translations

BSB“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food.
WEBand said, “Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food.
ASVand said, Oh, my lord, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:
YLTand say, ‘O, my lord, we really come down at the commencement to buy food;
DARBYand said, Ah! my lord, we came indeed down at the first to buy food.
BBEAnd said, O my lord, we only came down the first time to get food;
WebsterAnd said, O sir, we came down indeed at the first time to buy food:

What does Genesis 43:20 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 20 O sir, we came indeed - to buy food - There is a frankness now in the conduct of Joseph's brethren that did not exist before; they simply and honestly relate the whole circumstance of the money being found in their sacks on their return from their last journey. Afflictions from the hand of God, and under his direction, have a wonderful tendency to humble the soul. Did men know how gracious his designs are in sending such, no murmur would ever be heard against the dispensations of Divine Providence.

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 43:20 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.

וַיֹּאמְר֖וּvai.yo.me.Ruand they saidH559
בִּ֣יbipardon usH994
אֲדֹנִ֑י'a.do.NiO lord myH113
יָרֹ֥דya.Rodcertainly <to come down>H3381
יָרַ֛דְנוּya.Rad.nuwe came downH3381
בַּתְּחִלָּ֖הba.te.chi.Lahat the beginningH8462
לִשְׁבָּר\־lish.bor-to buyH7666
אֹֽכֶל\׃'O.khelfoodH400

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

Cross references for Genesis 43:20

  • Genesis 42:3

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

  • Genesis 42:10

    And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.

  • Genesis 43:3

    And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

  • 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.

  • Genesis 43:7

    And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?

  • 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.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
we came indeed down. Heb. coming down we came down.
3,7; 42:3,10,27,35

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

Context

  • 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,

  • Genesis 43:20

    And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

  • 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.

Read all of Genesis 43

Genesis 43:20 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y dijeron: Ay, señor mío, nosotros en realidad de verdad descendimos al principio á comprar alimentos:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et dirent: Ah, mon seigneur! nous sommes descendus au commencement pour acheter des vivres;
German
Elberfelder 1871		und sprachen: Bitte, mein Herr! Wir sind im Anfang herabgezogen, um Speise zu kaufen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		locuti sunt: Oramus, domine, ut audias nos. Jam ante descendimus ut emeremus escas: