The Meaning of Genesis 43:4 Explained

Genesis 43:4

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

YLT: if thou art sending our brother with us, we go down, and buy for thee food,

Darby: If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food;

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Genesis 43:4 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 43:1-15 - The Brothers Return With Benjamin
Joseph, in giving corn to save his own brethren and the Egyptians from starvation, is a type of our Lord, who gives the bread of life to Jew and Gentile-to all that come to Him in their hopeless need. And in this return of the full money in the sacks we are reminded that salvation is without money and without price. Whatever we bring to enrich Christ He returns to us. His gifts are all of His unmerited grace and favor. Very often we move forward with dread into the unknown; but that dread is the child of ignorance. If only we realized that love is waiting for us there, which does not ask for balm and honey, for spices and myrrh, but just for ourselves, how much happier life would become! Lift up your hearts; a feast awaits you! [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 43:4 mean?

If you send - our brother with us we will go down and buy unto you food
אִם־ יֶשְׁךָ֛ מְשַׁלֵּ֥חַ אֶת־ אָחִ֖ינוּ אִתָּ֑נוּ נֵרְדָ֕ה וְנִשְׁבְּרָ֥ה לְךָ֖ אֹֽכֶל

מְשַׁלֵּ֥חַ  send 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
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.
אָחִ֖ינוּ  our  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
אִתָּ֑נוּ  with  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
נֵרְדָ֕ה  we  will  go  down 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
וְנִשְׁבְּרָ֥ה  and  buy 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural
Root: שָׁבַר  
Sense: to buy or purchase grain.
לְךָ֖  unto  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
אֹֽכֶל  food 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹכֶל  
Sense: food.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 43:4?

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