Holman Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you keep looking at each other?

1וַיַּ֣רְא יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־ שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ לְבָנָ֔יו לָ֖מָּה תִּתְרָאֽוּ׃

2Listen," he went on, "I have heard there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us so that we will live and not die."

2וַיֹּ֕אמֶר הִנֵּ֣ה שָׁמַ֔עְתִּי כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־ שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם רְדוּ־ שָׁ֙מָּה֙ וְשִׁבְרוּ־ לָ֣נוּ מִשָּׁ֔ם וְנִחְיֶ֖ה וְלֹ֥א נָמֽוּת׃

3So 10 of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

3וַיֵּרְד֥וּ אֲחֵֽי־ יוֹסֵ֖ף עֲשָׂרָ֑ה לִשְׁבֹּ֥ר בָּ֖ר מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃

4But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he thought, "Something might happen to him."

4וְאֶת־ בִּנְיָמִין֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף לֹא־ שָׁלַ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־ אֶחָ֑יו כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר פֶּן־ יִקְרָאֶ֖נּוּ אָסֽוֹן׃

5The sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

5וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִשְׁבֹּ֖ר בְּת֣וֹךְ הַבָּאִ֑ים כִּֽי־ הָיָ֥ה הָרָעָ֖ב בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃

6Joseph was in charge of the country; he sold grain to all its people. His brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.

6וְיוֹסֵ֗ף ה֚וּא הַשַּׁלִּ֣יט עַל־ הָאָ֔רֶץ ה֥וּא הַמַּשְׁבִּ֖יר לְכָל־ עַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֲחֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־ ל֥וֹ אַפַּ֖יִם אָֽרְצָה׃

7When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them." Where do you come from?" he asked." From the land of Canaan to buy food," they replied.

7וַיַּ֥רְא יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶת־ אֶחָ֖יו וַיַּכִּרֵ֑ם וַיִּתְנַכֵּ֨ר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר אִתָּ֣ם קָשׁ֗וֹת וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ מֵאַ֣יִן בָּאתֶ֔ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנַ֖עַן לִשְׁבָּר־ אֹֽכֶל׃

8Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

8וַיַּכֵּ֥ר יוֹסֵ֖ף אֶת־ אֶחָ֑יו וְהֵ֖ם לֹ֥א הִכִּרֻֽהוּ׃

9Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said to them, "You are spies. You have come to see the weakness of the land.""

9וַיִּזְכֹּ֣ר יוֹסֵ֔ף אֵ֚ת הַחֲלֹמ֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָלַ֖ם לָהֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ מְרַגְּלִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם לִרְא֛וֹת אֶת־ עֶרְוַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּאתֶֽם׃

10No, my lord. Your servants have come to buy food," they said. "

10וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ אֵלָ֖יו לֹ֣א אֲדֹנִ֑י וַעֲבָדֶ֥יךָ בָּ֖אוּ לִשְׁבָּר־ אֹֽכֶל׃

11We are all sons of one man. We are honest; your servants are not spies.""

11כֻּלָּ֕נוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־ אֶחָ֖ד נָ֑חְנוּ כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנַ֔חְנוּ לֹא־ הָי֥וּ עֲבָדֶ֖יךָ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃

12No," he said to them. "You have come to see the weakness of the land."

12וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֑ם לֹ֕א כִּֽי־ עֶרְוַ֥ת הָאָ֖רֶץ בָּאתֶ֥ם לִרְאֽוֹת׃

13But they replied, "We, your servants, were 12 brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no longer living."

13וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂר֩ עֲבָדֶ֨יךָ אַחִ֧ים ׀ אֲנַ֛חְנוּ בְּנֵ֥י אִישׁ־ אֶחָ֖ד בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְהִנֵּ֨ה הַקָּטֹ֤ן אֶת־ אָבִ֙ינוּ֙ הַיּ֔וֹם וְהָאֶחָ֖ד אֵינֶֽנּוּ׃

14Then Joseph said to them, "I have spoken: 'You are spies!'

14וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֖ם יוֹסֵ֑ף ה֗וּא אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבַּ֧רְתִּי אֲלֵכֶ֛ם לֵאמֹ֖ר מְרַגְּלִ֥ים אַתֶּֽם׃

15This is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.

15בְּזֹ֖את תִּבָּחֵ֑נוּ חֵ֤י פַרְעֹה֙ אִם־ תֵּצְא֣וּ מִזֶּ֔ה כִּ֧י אִם־ בְּב֛וֹא אֲחִיכֶ֥ם הַקָּטֹ֖ן הֵֽנָּה׃

16Send one from among you to get your brother. The rest of you will be imprisoned so that your words can be tested to see if they are true. If they are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!"

16שִׁלְח֨וּ מִכֶּ֣ם אֶחָד֮ וְיִקַּ֣ח אֶת־ אֲחִיכֶם֒ וְאַתֶּם֙ הֵאָ֣סְר֔וּ וְיִבָּֽחֲנוּ֙ דִּבְרֵיכֶ֔ם הַֽאֱמֶ֖ת אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְאִם־ לֹ֕א חֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה כִּ֥י מְרַגְּלִ֖ים אַתֶּֽם׃

17So Joseph imprisoned them together for three days.

17וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף אֹתָ֛ם אֶל־ מִשְׁמָ֖ר שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃

18On the third day Joseph said to them, "I fear God--do this and you will live.

18וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֤ם יוֹסֵף֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י זֹ֥את עֲשׂ֖וּ וִֽחְי֑וּ אֶת־ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים אֲנִ֥י יָרֵֽא׃

19If you are honest, let one of you be confined to the guardhouse, while the rest of you go and take grain to relieve the hunger of your households.

19אִם־ כֵּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם אֲחִיכֶ֣ם אֶחָ֔ד יֵאָסֵ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם וְאַתֶּם֙ לְכ֣וּ הָבִ֔יאוּ שֶׁ֖בֶר רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶֽם׃

20Bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be confirmed; then you won't die." And they consented to this.

20וְאֶת־ אֲחִיכֶ֤ם הַקָּטֹן֙ תָּבִ֣יאוּ אֵלַ֔י וְיֵאָמְנ֥וּ דִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם וְלֹ֣א תָמ֑וּתוּ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־ כֵֽן׃

21Then they said to each other, "Obviously, we are being punished for what we did to our brother. We saw his deep distress when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this trouble has come to us."

21וַיֹּאמְר֞וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־ אָחִ֗יו אֲבָל֮ אֲשֵׁמִ֣ים ׀ אֲנַחְנוּ֮ עַל־ אָחִינוּ֒ אֲשֶׁ֨ר רָאִ֜ינוּ צָרַ֥ת נַפְשׁ֛וֹ בְּהִתְחַֽנְנ֥וֹ אֵלֵ֖ינוּ וְלֹ֣א שָׁמָ֑עְנוּ עַל־ כֵּן֙ בָּ֣אָה אֵלֵ֔ינוּ הַצָּרָ֖ה הַזֹּֽאת׃

22But Reuben replied: "Didn't I tell you not to harm the boy? But you wouldn't listen. Now we must account for his blood!"

22וַיַּעַן֩ רְאוּבֵ֨ן אֹתָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר הֲלוֹא֩ אָמַ֨רְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶ֧ם ׀ לֵאמֹ֛ר אַל־ תֶּחֶטְא֥וּ בַיֶּ֖לֶד וְלֹ֣א שְׁמַעְתֶּ֑ם וְגַם־ דָּמ֖וֹ הִנֵּ֥ה נִדְרָֽשׁ׃

23They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them.

23וְהֵם֙ לֹ֣א יָֽדְע֔וּ כִּ֥י שֹׁמֵ֖עַ יוֹסֵ֑ף כִּ֥י הַמֵּלִ֖יץ בֵּינֹתָֽם׃

24He turned away from them and wept. Then he turned back and spoke to them. He took Simeon from them and had him bound before their eyes.

24וַיִּסֹּ֥ב מֵֽעֲלֵיהֶ֖ם וַיֵּ֑בְךְּ וַיָּ֤שָׁב אֲלֵהֶם֙ וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם וַיִּקַּ֤ח מֵֽאִתָּם֙ אֶת־ שִׁמְע֔וֹן וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ר אֹת֖וֹ לְעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃

25Joseph then gave orders to fill their containers with grain, return each man's money to his sack, and give them provisions for their journey. This order was carried out.

25וַיְצַ֣ו יוֹסֵ֗ף וַיְמַלְא֣וּ אֶת־ כְּלֵיהֶם֮ בָּר֒ וּלְהָשִׁ֤יב כַּסְפֵּיהֶם֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־ שַׂקּ֔וֹ וְלָתֵ֥ת לָהֶ֛ם צֵדָ֖ה לַדָּ֑רֶךְ וַיַּ֥עַשׂ לָהֶ֖ם כֵּֽן׃

26They loaded the grain on their donkeys and left there.

26וַיִּשְׂא֥וּ אֶת־ שִׁבְרָ֖ם עַל־ חֲמֹרֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ מִשָּֽׁם׃

27At the place where they lodged for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his money there at the top of the bag.

27וַיִּפְתַּ֨ח הָאֶחָ֜ד אֶת־ שַׂקּ֗וֹ לָתֵ֥ת מִסְפּ֛וֹא לַחֲמֹר֖וֹ בַּמָּל֑וֹן וַיַּרְא֙ אֶת־ כַּסְפּ֔וֹ וְהִנֵּה־ ה֖וּא בְּפִ֥י אַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃

28He said to his brothers, "My money has been returned! It's here in my bag." Their hearts sank. Trembling, they turned to one another and said, "What is this that God has done to us?"

28וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֶל־ אֶחָיו֙ הוּשַׁ֣ב כַּסְפִּ֔י וְגַ֖ם הִנֵּ֣ה בְאַמְתַּחְתִּ֑י וַיֵּצֵ֣א לִבָּ֗ם וַיֶּֽחֶרְד֞וּ אִ֤ישׁ אֶל־ אָחִיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה־ זֹּ֛את עָשָׂ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים לָֽנוּ׃

29When they reached their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them: "

29וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ אֶל־ יַעֲקֹ֥ב אֲבִיהֶ֖ם אַ֣רְצָה כְּנָ֑עַן וַיַּגִּ֣ידוּ ל֔וֹ אֵ֛ת כָּל־ הַקֹּרֹ֥ת אֹתָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

30The man who is the lord of the country spoke harshly to us and accused us of spying on the country.

30דִּ֠בֶּר הָאִ֨ישׁ אֲדֹנֵ֥י הָאָ֛רֶץ אִתָּ֖נוּ קָשׁ֑וֹת וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֹתָ֔נוּ כִּֽמְרַגְּלִ֖ים אֶת־ הָאָֽרֶץ׃

31But we told him: We are honest and not spies.

31וַנֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ לֹ֥א הָיִ֖ינוּ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃

32We were 12 brothers, sons of the same father. One is no longer living, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan.

32שְׁנֵים־ עָשָׂ֥ר אֲנַ֛חְנוּ אַחִ֖ים בְּנֵ֣י אָבִ֑ינוּ הָאֶחָ֣ד אֵינֶ֔נּוּ וְהַקָּטֹ֥ן הַיּ֛וֹם אֶת־ אָבִ֖ינוּ בְּאֶ֥רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן׃

33The man who is the lord of the country said to us, 'This is how I will know if you are honest: Leave one brother with me, take food to relieve the hunger of your households, and go.

33וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלֵ֗ינוּ הָאִישׁ֙ אֲדֹנֵ֣י הָאָ֔רֶץ בְּזֹ֣את אֵדַ֔ע כִּ֥י כֵנִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם אֲחִיכֶ֤ם הָֽאֶחָד֙ הַנִּ֣יחוּ אִתִּ֔י וְאֶת־ רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶ֖ם קְח֥וּ וָלֵֽכוּ׃

34Bring back your youngest brother to me, and I will know that you are not spies but honest men. I will then give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the country.'"

34וְ֠הָבִיאוּ אֶת־ אֲחִיכֶ֣ם הַקָּטֹן֮ אֵלַי֒ וְאֵֽדְעָ֗ה כִּ֣י לֹ֤א מְרַגְּלִים֙ אַתֶּ֔ם כִּ֥י כֵנִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם אֶת־ אֲחִיכֶם֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶת־ הָאָ֖רֶץ תִּסְחָֽרוּ׃

35As they began emptying their sacks, there in each man's sack was his bag of money! When they and their father saw their bags of money, they were afraid.

35וַיְהִ֗י הֵ֚ם מְרִיקִ֣ים שַׂקֵּיהֶ֔ם וְהִנֵּה־ אִ֥ישׁ צְרוֹר־ כַּסְפּ֖וֹ בְּשַׂקּ֑וֹ וַיִּרְא֞וּ אֶת־ צְרֹר֧וֹת כַּסְפֵּיהֶ֛ם הֵ֥מָּה וַאֲבִיהֶ֖ם וַיִּירָֽאוּ׃

36Their father Jacob said to them, "You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is gone. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything happens to me!"

36וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ יַעֲקֹ֣ב אֲבִיהֶ֔ם אֹתִ֖י שִׁכַּלְתֶּ֑ם יוֹסֵ֤ף אֵינֶ֙נּוּ֙ וְשִׁמְע֣וֹן אֵינֶ֔נּוּ וְאֶת־ בִּנְיָמִ֣ן תִּקָּ֔חוּ עָלַ֖י הָי֥וּ כֻלָּֽנָה׃

37Then Reuben said to his father, "You can kill my two sons if I don't bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him to you."

37וַיֹּ֤אמֶר רְאוּבֵן֙ אֶל־ אָבִ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר אֶת־ שְׁנֵ֤י בָנַי֙ תָּמִ֔ית אִם־ לֹ֥א אֲבִיאֶ֖נּוּ אֵלֶ֑יךָ תְּנָ֤ה אֹתוֹ֙ עַל־ יָדִ֔י וַאֲנִ֖י אֲשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּ אֵלֶֽיךָ׃

38But Jacob answered, "My son will not go down with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If anything happens to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hairs down to Sheol in sorrow."

38וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹֽא־ יֵרֵ֥ד בְּנִ֖י עִמָּכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־ אָחִ֨יו מֵ֜ת וְה֧וּא לְבַדּ֣וֹ נִשְׁאָ֗ר וּקְרָאָ֤הוּ אָסוֹן֙ בַּדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר תֵּֽלְכוּ־ בָ֔הּ וְהוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם אֶת־ שֵׂיבָתִ֛י בְּיָג֖וֹן שְׁאֽוֹלָה׃

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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