The Meaning of Genesis 43:29 Explained

Genesis 43:29

KJV: And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

YLT: And he lifteth up his eyes, and seeth Benjamin his brother, his mother's son, and saith, 'Is this your young brother, of whom ye have spoken unto me?' and he saith, 'God favour thee, my son.'

Darby: And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son, and said, Is this your younger brother of whom ye spoke to me? And he said, God be gracious to thee, my son!

ASV: And he lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin his brother, his mother's son, and said, Is this your youngest brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And he lifted up  his eyes,  and saw  his brother  Benjamin,  his mother's  son,  and said,  [Is] this your younger  brother,  of whom ye spake  unto me? And he said,  God  be gracious  unto thee, my son. 

What does Genesis 43:29 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 43:29 mean?

And he lifted his eyes and saw - Benjamin his brother son of his mother and said [Is] this your brother younger of whom you spoke to me and he said God be gracious to you my son
וַיִּשָּׂ֣א עֵינָ֗יו וַיַּ֞רְא אֶת־ בִּנְיָמִ֣ין אָחִיו֮ בֶּן־ אִמּוֹ֒ וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֲזֶה֙ אֲחִיכֶ֣ם הַקָּטֹ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם ؟ אֵלָ֑י וַיֹּאמַ֕ר אֱלֹהִ֥ים יָחְנְךָ֖ ! בְּנִֽי

וַיִּשָּׂ֣א  And  he  lifted 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָשָׂא  
Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
עֵינָ֗יו  his  eyes 
Parse: Noun, cdc, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
וַיַּ֞רְא  and  saw 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בִּנְיָמִ֣ין  Benjamin 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: בִּנְיָמִין 
Sense: Jacob’s and Rachel’s youngest son, Joseph’s full brother.
אָחִיו֮  his  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
אִמּוֹ֒  of  his  mother 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אֵם  
Sense: mother.
וַיֹּ֗אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הֲזֶה֙  [Is]  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
אֲחִיכֶ֣ם  your  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
הַקָּטֹ֔ן  younger 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָטָן 
Sense: young, small, insignificant, unimportant.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  of  whom 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
אֲמַרְתֶּ֖ם  you  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
؟ אֵלָ֑י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וַיֹּאמַ֕ר  and  he  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֱלֹהִ֥ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
יָחְנְךָ֖  be  gracious  to  you 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: חָנַן 
Sense: to be gracious, show favour, pity.
! בְּנִֽי  my  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.