Genesis 43:4
New International Version
If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

New Living Translation
If you send Benjamin with us, we will go down and buy more food.

English Standard Version
If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.

Berean Standard Bible
If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

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

New King James Version
If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.

New American Standard Bible
If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.

NASB 1995
“If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.

NASB 1977
“If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.

Legacy Standard Bible
If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food.

Amplified Bible
If you will send our brother with us, we will go down [to Egypt] and buy you food.

Christian Standard Bible
If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

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

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If you let our brother go with us, we'll go and buy food for you.

Good News Translation
If you are willing to send our brother with us, we will go and buy food for you.

International Standard Version
So if you send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy some food.

Majority Standard Bible
If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.

NET Bible
If you send our brother with us, we'll go down and buy food for you.

New Heart English Bible
If you?ll send our brother with us, we?ll go down and buy you food,

Webster's Bible Translation
If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food:

World English Bible
If you’ll send our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy you food;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
if you are sending our brother with us, we go down, and buy for you food,

Young's Literal Translation
if thou art sending our brother with us, we go down, and buy for thee food,

Smith's Literal Translation
If thou art sending our brother with us we will go down and will buy food for thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If therefore thou wilt send him with us, we will set out together, and will buy necessaries for thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If therefore you are willing to send him with us, we will travel together, and we will buy necessities for you.

New American Bible
If you are willing to let our brother go with us, we will go down to buy food for you.

New Revised Standard Version
If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy grain for ourselves;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
If you send our brother with us, we will go down and we will buy grain for us.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If, then, thou send our brother with us, we will go down, and buy thee food;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Return to Egypt with Benjamin
3But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 4If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ ”…

Cross References
Genesis 42:20
Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.” And to this they consented.

Genesis 42:34
But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’”

Genesis 44:23
But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’

Genesis 42:15-16
And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. / Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be confined so that the truth of your words may be tested. If they are untrue, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”

Genesis 42:38
But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

Genesis 44:26
But we answered, ‘We cannot go down there unless our younger brother goes with us. So if our younger brother is not with us, we cannot see the man.’

Genesis 45:9-11
Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. / You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. / And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’

Genesis 46:3-4
“I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. / I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will surely bring you back. And Joseph’s own hands will close your eyes.”

Genesis 47:29-31
When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, / but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.” / “Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.

Genesis 50:24-25
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” / And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

Exodus 1:8-10
Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. / “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”

Exodus 3:7-10
The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings. / I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. / And now the cry of the Israelites has reached Me, and I have seen how severely the Egyptians are oppressing them. ...

Acts 7:9-14
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him / and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household. / Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food. ...

Acts 7:25-29
He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not. / The next day he came upon two Israelites who were fighting, and he tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers. Why are you mistreating each other?’ / But the man who was abusing his neighbor pushed Moses aside and said, ‘Who made you ruler and judge over us? ...

Acts 7:34
I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’


Treasury of Scripture

If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food:

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.














If you will send our brother with us
This phrase is spoken by Judah to his father Jacob, emphasizing the necessity of Benjamin's presence for their journey to Egypt. The brothers had previously encountered Joseph, who was now a powerful Egyptian official, though they did not recognize him. Joseph had demanded that they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, to prove their honesty. This reflects the cultural importance of family and trust in ancient Near Eastern societies. The insistence on Benjamin's presence also foreshadows the eventual reconciliation and fulfillment of Joseph's dreams, where his family would bow to him (Genesis 37:5-11).

we will go down
The phrase "go down" is geographically accurate, as Canaan is situated at a higher elevation compared to Egypt. This journey was significant, as it involved leaving the Promised Land to seek sustenance in a foreign land. This movement can be seen as a precursor to the Israelites' eventual descent into Egypt, leading to their enslavement and the subsequent Exodus. It also highlights the recurring biblical theme of God's people sojourning in foreign lands, relying on His provision and guidance.

and buy food for you
The act of buying food underscores the severity of the famine affecting the region, which had driven Jacob's family to seek resources in Egypt. This situation sets the stage for God's providential plan to preserve the family of Israel through Joseph's position in Egypt. The need to purchase food also reflects the economic practices of the time, where trade and commerce were essential for survival. This moment is a pivotal step in the unfolding of God's covenant promises to Abraham, as it ensures the survival and growth of his descendants.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Judah
- One of Jacob's sons, who takes a leadership role among his brothers. In this verse, he is speaking to his father, Jacob, about returning to Egypt.

2. Jacob (Israel)
- The patriarch of the family, who is hesitant to send his youngest son, Benjamin, to Egypt after losing Joseph.

3. Benjamin
- The youngest son of Jacob, whose presence is required by the Egyptian ruler (Joseph) for the brothers to buy more grain.

4. Egypt
- The land where Joseph, Jacob's son, has risen to power and where the brothers must go to buy food during the famine.

5. Famine
- A severe shortage of food affecting the region, prompting Jacob's sons to seek provisions in Egypt.
Teaching Points
Leadership and Responsibility
Judah steps up to take responsibility for Benjamin, demonstrating the importance of leadership and accountability in family and community.

Trust in God's Plan
Despite the fear of losing another son, Jacob must trust in God's providence. This teaches us to rely on God's plan even when circumstances seem dire.

Repentance and Change
Judah's actions reflect a transformation from his earlier decisions regarding Joseph. This illustrates the power of repentance and personal growth.

Faith in Action
The brothers' journey to Egypt is an act of faith, trusting that God will provide for their needs. We are called to act in faith, trusting God's provision.

Family Unity and Sacrifice
The willingness to risk personal safety for the well-being of the family highlights the importance of unity and sacrifice in relationships.Verses 4, 5. - If thou wilt send - literally, if thou art sending, i.e. if thou art agreeable to send (cf. Genesis 24:42, 49; Judges 6:36) - our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: but (literally, and) if thou wilt not send him (a similar form of expression to the above, the two words יֵשׁ, being, and אַיִן, not being, including the substantive verb, and being conjoined with a participle for the finite verb), we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. Judah's peremptory language receives sufficient justification from the fact that he believed the Egyptian governor to be in thorough earnest when he declared that without Benjamin they should sue a second time in vain.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you will send
מְשַׁלֵּ֥חַ (mə·šal·lê·aḥ)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

our brother
אָחִ֖ינוּ (’ā·ḥî·nū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

with us,
אִתָּ֑נוּ (’it·tā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

we will go down
נֵרְדָ֕ה (nê·rə·ḏāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

and buy
וְנִשְׁבְּרָ֥ה (wə·niš·bə·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 7666: To deal in grain

food
אֹֽכֶל׃ (’ō·ḵel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 400: Food

for you.
לְךָ֖ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Genesis 43:4 If you'll send our brother with us (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 43:3
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