Genesis 45 · Verse 23

Genesis 45:23

And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.

Genesis 45:23, King James Version

Genesis 45:23 in other translations

BSB	And he sent to his father the following: ten donkeys loaded with the best of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provisions for his father’s journey.
WEB	He sent the following to his father: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.
ASV	And to his father he sent after this manner: ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with grain and bread and provision for his father by the way.
YLT	and to his father he hath sent thus: ten asses bearing of the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses bearing corn and bread, even food for his father for the way.
DARBY	And to his father he sent this: ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread, and food for his father by the way.
BBE	And to his father he sent ten asses with good things from Egypt on their backs, and ten she-asses with grain and bread and food for his father on the journey.
Webster	And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread and meat, for his father by the way.

What does Genesis 45:23 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

23. to his father he sent--a supply of everything that could contribute to his support and comfort--the large and liberal scale on which that supply was given being intended, like the five messes of Benjamin, as a token of his filial love [see on Ge 43:34].

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 23 Meat for his father by the way - מזון mazon, from זן zan, to prepare, provide, etc. Hence prepared meat, some made-up dish, delicacies, confectionaries, etc. As the word is used, 2Chr 16:14, for aromatic preparations, it may be restrained in its meaning to something of that kind here. In Asiatic countries they have several curious methods of preserving flesh by potting, by which it may be kept for any reasonable length of time sweet and wholesome. Some delicacy, similar to the savory food which Isaac loved, may be here intended; and this was sent to Jacob in consideration of his age, and to testify the respect of his son. Of other kinds of meat he could need none, as he had large herds, and could kill a lamb, kid, sheep, or goat, whenever he pleased.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 45:16-24

Pharaoh was kind to Joseph, and to his relations for his sake. Egypt would make up the losses of their removal. Thus those for whom Christ intends his heavenly glory, ought not to regard the things of this world. The best of its enjoyments are but lumber; we cannot make sure of them while here, much less can we carry them away with us. Let us not set our eyes or hearts upon the world; there are better things for us…

Read the full comment on Genesis 45:16-24 →

Genesis 45:23 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.

וּלְאָבִ֞יוu.le.'a.Vivand to father hisH1

שָׁלַ֤חsha.Lachhe sentH7971

כְּזֹאת֙ke.zoTaccording to thisH2063

עֲשָׂרָ֣ה'a.sa.RahtenH6235

חֲמֹרִ֔יםcha.mo.RimdonkeysH2543

נֹשְׂאִ֖יםno.se.'ImcarryingH5375

מִטּ֣וּבmi.Tuvsome of [the] good thing[s] ofH2898

מִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimEgyptH4714

וְעֶ֣שֶׂרve.'E.serand tenH6235

אֲתֹנֹ֡ת'a.to.Notfemale donkeysH860

נֹֽ֠שְׂאֹתNo.se.'otcarryingH5375

בָּ֣רbargrainH1250

וָלֶ֧חֶםva.Le.chemand foodH3899

וּמָז֛וֹןu.ma.Zonand foodH4202

לְאָבִ֖יוle.'a.Vivfor father hisH1

לַדָּֽרֶךְ\׃la.Da.rekhfor the journeyH1870

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

Cross references for Genesis 45:23

Genesis 24:10
And the servant took ten camels of the camels of his master, and departed; for all the goods of his master were in his hand: and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia, unto the city of Nahor.
Exodus 16:3
And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.
Genesis 43:11
And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

laden with. Heb. carrying.
17
good things.
24:10; 43:11; Ex 16:3
meat.As {mazon} is derived from {zoon,} to prepare, provide, Dr. A. Clarke thinks it may mean here prepared meat; some made-up dish, delicacies, confectionaries, etc. In Asiatic countries they have several curious methods of preserving flesh by potting, by which it may be kept, for any length of time, sweet and wholesome. Some delicacy, similar to the savoury meat which Isaac loved, may here be intended; sent to Jacob in consideration of his age, and to testify the respect of his son; for of other kinds of meat he could have no need, as he had large flocks and herds, and could kill a lamb, kid, etc. when he pleased.

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

Context

Genesis 45:22
To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
Genesis 45:23
And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.
Genesis 45:24
So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.

Read all of Genesis 45

Genesis 45:23 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y á su padre envió esto: diez asnos cargados de lo mejor de Egipto, y diez asnas cargadas de trigo, y pan y comida, para su padre en el camino.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et à son père il envoya ceci: dix ânes chargés de ce qu’il y avait de meilleur en Égypte, et dix ânesses chargées de blé, et de pain, et de vivres pour son père, pour le chemin.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und seinem Vater sandte er dieses: zehn Esel, beladen mit dem Besten Ägyptens, und zehn Eselinnen, beladen mit Getreide und Brot und Nahrung für seinen Vater auf den Weg.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	tantumdem pecuniæ et vestium mittens patri suo, addens et asinos decem, qui subveherent ex omnibus divitiis Ægypti, et totidem asinas, triticum in itinere, panesque portantes.