The Meaning of Genesis 43:27 Explained

Genesis 43:27

KJV: And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

YLT: and he asketh of them of peace, and saith, 'Is your father well? the aged man of whom ye have spoken, is he yet alive?'

Darby: And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well the old man of whom ye spoke? Is he yet alive?

ASV: And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he asked  them of [their] welfare,  and said,  [Is] your father  well,  the old man  of whom ye spake?  [Is] he yet alive? 

What does Genesis 43:27 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 43:16-34 - Joseph Feasts His Brothers
Our Savior, of whom Joseph was such a striking emblem, knows all about us. Though we may fear Him with a great fear, He is providing for us with a thoughtful tenderness, which adapts itself to our every need. There is water for traveled feet; the benediction of peace for troubled hearts; a feast for hungry souls; tears of love for Benjamin; and a consideration of our very sitting at His table, which reveals His perfect knowledge of us. He waits to manifest himself as He does not to the world. The only thing that can separate is unconfessed sin. But just so soon as this is put away, the flood gates are opened and heart commingles with heart. Do not His mercies lead us to repentance? [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 43:27 mean?

And he asked them if they were well and said [Is] well your father the old man of whom you spoke [Is] he still alive
וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל לָהֶם֙ לְשָׁל֔וֹם וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֲשָׁל֛וֹם אֲבִיכֶ֥ם הַזָּקֵ֖ן אֲשֶׁ֣ר ؟ אֲמַרְתֶּ֑ם הַעוֹדֶ֖נּוּ ؟ חָֽי

וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל  And  he  asked 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁאַל 
Sense: to ask, enquire, borrow, beg.
לְשָׁל֔וֹם  if  they  were  well 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הֲשָׁל֛וֹם  [Is]  well 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
אֲבִיכֶ֥ם  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
הַזָּקֵ֖ן  the  old  man 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: זָקֵן  
Sense: old.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  of  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
؟ אֲמַרְתֶּ֑ם  you  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַעוֹדֶ֖נּוּ  [Is]  he  still 
Parse: Adverb, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
؟ חָֽי  alive 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.