Genesis 43:19
New International Version
So they went up to Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.

New Living Translation
The brothers approached the manager of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the palace.

English Standard Version
So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house,

Berean Standard Bible
So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.

King James Bible
And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

New King James Version
When they drew near to the steward of Joseph’s house, they talked with him at the door of the house,

New American Standard Bible
So they approached Joseph’s house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house,

NASB 1995
So they came near to Joseph’s house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house,

NASB 1977
So they came near to Joseph’s house steward, and spoke to him at the entrance of the house,

Legacy Standard Bible
So they came near to Joseph’s house steward and spoke to him at the entrance of the house,

Amplified Bible
So they approached the steward of Joseph’s house, and talked with him at the entrance of the house,

Christian Standard Bible
So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the doorway of the house.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the doorway of the house.

American Standard Version
And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they spake unto him at the door of the house,

Contemporary English Version
So when they arrived at Joseph's house, they said to the servant in charge,

English Revised Version
And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they spake unto him at the door of the house,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So they came to the man in charge of Joseph's house and spoke to him at the door.

Good News Translation
So at the door of the house, they said to the servant in charge,

International Standard Version
So they approached Joseph's palace manager and talked with him at the palace entrance.

Majority Standard Bible
So they approached Joseph?s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.

NET Bible
So they approached the man who was in charge of Joseph's household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.

New Heart English Bible
So they came near to the man of Joseph?s house and they spoke to him at the entrance of the house,

Webster's Bible Translation
And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house,

World English Bible
They came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they come near to the man who [is] over the house of Joseph, and speak to him at the opening of the house,

Young's Literal Translation
And they come nigh unto the man who is over the house of Joseph, and speak unto him at the opening of the house,

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will come near the man which was over Joseph's house, and they will say to him at the entrance of the house,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Wherefore going up to the steward of the house, at the door,

Catholic Public Domain Version
For this reason, approaching the steward of the house at his door,

New American Bible
So they went up to Joseph’s steward and talked to him at the entrance of the house.

New Revised Standard Version
So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the entrance to the house.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So they came near to the steward of Joseph's house and spoke with him at the door of the house,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they approached the man, the Steward of Yoseph, and they spoke with him in the gate of the house.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they spoke unto him at the door of the house,

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And having approached the man who was over the house of Joseph, they spoke to him in the porch of the house,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph's Hospitality to His Brothers
18But 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.” 19So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house. 20“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food.…

Cross References
Genesis 42:6-7
Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. / And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”

Genesis 44:18-20
Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself. / My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ / And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

Genesis 37:5-8
Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. / He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: / We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to mine.” ...

Genesis 45:1-3
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!” So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. / But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it. / Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.

Genesis 50:15-18
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.” / So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded, / ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. ...

Exodus 32:11-14
But Moses sought the favor of the LORD his God, saying, “O LORD, why does Your anger burn against Your people, whom You brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? / Why should the Egyptians declare, ‘He brought them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and wipe them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce anger and relent from doing harm to Your people. / Remember Your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, to whom You swore by Your very self when You declared, ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky, and I will give your descendants all this land that I have promised, and it shall be their inheritance forever.’” ...

1 Samuel 25:24-31
She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant. / My lord should pay no attention to this scoundrel Nabal, for he lives up to his name: His name means Fool, and folly accompanies him. I, your servant, did not see my lord’s young men whom you sent. / Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, since the LORD has held you back from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, may your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal. ...

2 Samuel 14:12-17
Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?” “Speak,” he replied. / The woman asked, “Why have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, since he has not brought back his own banished son? / For we will surely die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life, but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him. ...

Nehemiah 1:4-11
When I heard these words, I sat down and wept. I mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven. / Then I said: “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of loving devotion with those who love Him and keep His commandments, / let Your eyes be open and Your ears attentive to hear the prayer that I, Your servant, now pray before You day and night for Your servants, the Israelites. I confess the sins that we Israelites have committed against You. Both I and my father’s house have sinned. ...

Esther 4:15-16
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: / “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish!”

Matthew 5:23-24
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, / leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 18:15-17
If your brother sins against you, go and confront him privately. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. / But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ / If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Luke 15:18-21
I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. / I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’ / So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ...

John 4:9-10
“You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) / Jesus answered, “If you knew the gift of God and who is asking you for a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

Acts 7:13
On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh.


Treasury of Scripture

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

no references listed for this verse.

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Genesis 43
1. Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin.
15. Joseph entertains his brothers.
19. They discover their fears to the steward.
26. Joseph makes them a feast.














So they approached
The phrase "So they approached" indicates a deliberate action taken by Joseph's brothers. In the Hebrew text, the verb used here is "נָגַשׁ" (nagash), which means to draw near or approach. This action signifies a moment of humility and respect, as approaching someone of higher status in ancient Near Eastern culture often required a certain level of deference. The brothers, aware of their precarious situation, are taking a step towards reconciliation and resolution, demonstrating their willingness to engage and communicate openly.

Joseph’s steward
The term "steward" refers to the person in charge of managing Joseph's household. In Hebrew, the word used is "אֲשֶׁר עַל־בֵּיתוֹ" (asher al-bayto), meaning "the one over his house." This steward was likely a trusted servant with significant authority, reflecting Joseph's own elevated status in Egypt. The steward acts as an intermediary, a common practice in ancient times, where high-ranking officials would have attendants to manage their affairs. This highlights the structured hierarchy within Joseph's household and the brothers' need to navigate this system to achieve their goals.

and spoke to him
The act of speaking to the steward is significant. In Hebrew, "דִּבְּרוּ" (dibberu) implies a formal conversation or negotiation. The brothers are not merely making a casual inquiry; they are engaging in a dialogue that requires tact and clarity. This moment underscores the importance of communication in resolving conflicts and misunderstandings, a theme that resonates throughout the biblical narrative. It also reflects the brothers' growing maturity and responsibility as they seek to address the issues at hand.

at the entrance to the house
The "entrance to the house" serves as a symbolic threshold. In ancient cultures, the entrance of a house was often a place of transition, where guests were received and initial interactions took place. It represents a point of decision and potential change. The brothers' choice to speak at the entrance suggests a moment of anticipation and uncertainty, as they stand on the brink of a significant encounter with Joseph. This setting emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the hope for a positive outcome as they prepare to enter a space that holds both challenge and opportunity.

(19) At the door of the house.--Alarmed at a thing so unexpected as being taken to the house of the governor, they can see nothing but danger, and will not enter until they receive the assurance of safety from the officer "who was over Joseph's house." (See Note on Genesis 43:25.)

Verses 19-22. - And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house (literally, the man who was over Joseph's house), and they communed (or spake) with him at the door of the house (i.e. before they entered), and said, O sir, - literally, Pray, my lord; δεόμεθαπύριε (LXX.) - we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: and it came to pass, when we came to the inn, - or halting-place (vide Genesis 42:27) - that we opened our sacks, - this was not strictly accurate, as only one sack had been opened at the wayside khan, while the others were not examined till they had reached home; though, as an explanation of the difficulty, it has been suggested (vide Keil's 'Introduction,' vol. 1. p. 109, note by Prof. Douglas) that all the sacks may have been, and probably were, opened at the inn, but that only one man found his money in his sack's mouth, as the next clause explains - and, behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, - literally, a man's money in the mouth of his sack, i.e. one of them found his money there, while the others discovered their money, which was not "in the sack's mouth," but "in the sack" (Genesis 42:35), only on emptying their sacks at home - our money in full weight (literally, according to its weight): and we have brought it again in our hand. And other money (i.e. the second silver of ver. 12) have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So they approached
וַֽיִּגְּשׁוּ֙ (way·yig·gə·šū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

Joseph’s
יוֹסֵ֑ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

steward
הָאִ֔ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

and spoke
וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ (way·ḏab·bə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to him
אֵלָ֖יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

at the entrance
פֶּ֥תַח (pe·ṯaḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6607: An opening, door, entrance way

to the house.
הַבָּֽיִת׃ (hab·bā·yiṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT Law: Genesis 43:19 They came near to the steward (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 43:18
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