New International VersionNow Joseph was the governor of the land, the person who sold grain to all its people. So when Joseph’s brothers arrived, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
New Living TranslationSince Joseph was governor of all Egypt and in charge of selling grain to all the people, it was to him that his brothers came. When they arrived, they bowed before him with their faces to the ground.
English Standard VersionNow Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.
Berean Standard BibleNow Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
King James BibleAnd Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
New King James VersionNow Joseph was governor over the land; and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the earth.
New American Standard BibleNow Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold grain to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
NASB 1995Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
NASB 1977Now Joseph was the ruler over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
Legacy Standard BibleNow Joseph was the one in power over the land; he was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
Amplified BibleNow Joseph was the ruler over the land, and he was the one who sold [grain] to all the people of the land; and Joseph’s [half] brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
Christian Standard BibleJoseph 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.
Holman Christian Standard BibleJoseph 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.
American Standard VersionAnd Joseph was the governor over the land; he it was that sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves to him with their faces to the earth.
Contemporary English VersionSince Joseph was governor of Egypt and in charge of selling grain, his brothers came to him and bowed with their faces to the ground.
English Revised VersionAnd Joseph was the governor over the land; he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves to him with their faces to the earth.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationAs governor of the country, Joseph was selling grain to everyone. So when Joseph's brothers arrived, they bowed in front of him with their faces touching the ground.
Good News TranslationJoseph, as governor of the land of Egypt, was selling grain to people from all over the world. So Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
International Standard VersionMeanwhile, Joseph continued to be ruler over the land, in charge of selling to everyone in the land. Joseph's brothers appeared and bowed down to him, face down.
NET BibleNow Joseph was the ruler of the country, the one who sold grain to all the people of the country. Joseph's brothers came and bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
New Heart English BibleNow Joseph was the ruler over the country, and it was he who sold to all the people of the land. Joseph?s brothers came and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the ground.
Webster's Bible TranslationAnd Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the earth. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleNow Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
World English BibleJoseph was the governor over the land. It was he who sold to all the people of the land. Joseph’s brothers came, and bowed themselves down to him with their faces to the earth. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand Joseph is the ruler over the land, he who is selling to all the people of the land, and Joseph’s brothers come and bow themselves to him—face to the earth.
Young's Literal Translation and Joseph is the ruler over the land, he who is selling to all the people of the land, and Joseph's brethren come and bow themselves to him -- face to the earth.
Smith's Literal TranslationAnd Joseph, he the ruler over the land, and he selling grain to all the people of the earth; and Joseph's brethren will come, and will worship before him the face to the earth. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Joseph was governor in the land of Egypt, and corn was sold by his direction to the people. And when his brethren had bowed down to him,
Catholic Public Domain VersionAnd Joseph was governor in the land of Egypt, and grain was sold under his direction to the people. And when his brothers had reverenced him
New American BibleJoseph, as governor of the country, was the one who sold grain to all the people of the land. When Joseph’s brothers came, they bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.
New Revised Standard VersionNow Joseph was governor over the land; it was he who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleNow Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was who sold the grain to all the people of the land; and Joseph's brothers came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the ground.
Peshitta Holy Bible TranslatedAnd Yoseph was authorized over the land, and he sold to all the people of the land and the brothers of Yoseph came and bowed down to him on their faces on the ground. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Joseph was the governor over the land; he it was that sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down to him with their faces to the earth.
Brenton Septuagint TranslationAnd Joseph was ruler of the land; he sold to all the people of the land. And the brethren of Joseph, having come, did reverence to him, bowing with the face to the ground.
Additional Translations ... Audio Bible
Context Joseph's Brothers Sent to Egypt… 5So the sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, since the famine had also spread to the land of Canaan. 6Now Josephwasthe rulerofthe land;he was the one whosold grainto allitspeople.So when hisbrothersarrived,they bowed downbefore himwith their facesto the ground.7And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”…
Cross References Genesis 37:7-10We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to mine.” / “Do you intend to reign over us?” his brothers asked. “Will you actually rule us?” So they hated him even more because of his dream and his statements. / Then Joseph had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” ...
Genesis 41:41-44Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.” / Then Pharaoh removed the signet ring from his finger, put it on Joseph’s finger, clothed him in garments of fine linen, and placed a gold chain around his neck. / He had Joseph ride in his second chariot, with men calling out before him, “Bow the knee!” So he placed him over all the land of Egypt. ...
Genesis 43:26-28When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him. / He asked if they were well, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father you told me about? Is he still alive?” / “Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.
Genesis 45:3-8Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence. / Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! / And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. ...
Genesis 50:18-21His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!” / But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? / As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. ...
Acts 7:9-14Because 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. ...
Psalm 105:16-22He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food. / He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. / They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons, ...
1 Kings 18:7Now as Obadiah went on his way, Elijah suddenly met him. When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”
Nehemiah 5:15The governors before me had heavily burdened the people, taking from them bread and wine plus forty shekels of silver. Their servants also oppressed the people. But I did not do this, because of my fear of God.
Isaiah 60:14The sons of your oppressors will come and bow down to you; all who reviled you will fall facedown at your feet and call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Matthew 27:29And they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand, knelt down before Him, and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
John 4:9“You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
John 18:36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world; if it were, My servants would fight to prevent My arrest by the Jews. But now My kingdom is not of this realm.”
Romans 11:28-29Regarding the gospel, they are enemies on your account; but regarding election, they are loved on account of the patriarchs. / For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.
Philippians 2:10-11that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Treasury of Scripture And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brothers came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. governor. Genesis 41:40,41
Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou… Genesis 45:8,26
So nowit was not youthat sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt… Psalm 105:16-21
Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread… he it was. Genesis 41:55,56
And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do… bowed. Genesis 18:2
And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he sawthem, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground, Genesis 19:1
And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeingthem rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground; Genesis 37:7,9
For, behold, wewere binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf… Jump to Previous ArrivedBowBowedCornEarthFacesGovernorGrainGroundJosephJoseph'sRulerSellingSoldThemselvesJump to Next ArrivedBowBowedCornEarthFacesGovernorGrainGroundJosephJoseph'sRulerSellingSoldThemselvesGenesis 42 1.Jacob sends his ten sons to buy grain in Egypt.16.They are imprisoned by Joseph as spies.18.They are set at liberty, on condition to bring Benjamin.21.They have remorse for Joseph.24.Simeon is kept for a pledge.25.They return with grain, and their money.29.Their relation to Jacob.36.Jacob refuses to send Benjamin.Now Joseph was the ruler of the land;Joseph's rise to power in Egypt is a significant part of his story, demonstrating God's providence and fulfillment of dreams. After being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph's journey from a prisoner to the second most powerful man in Egypt highlights themes of redemption and divine purpose. His position as ruler is a fulfillment of the dreams he had as a young man, where his family would bow to him, indicating God's sovereign plan. he was the one who sold grain to all its people.
During the severe famine, Joseph's role was crucial in managing the distribution of grain. This not only saved Egypt but also surrounding nations, including his own family. Joseph's wisdom and administrative skills, given by God, were instrumental in this process. This act of providing sustenance can be seen as a type of Christ, who provides spiritual nourishment and salvation to all who come to Him. So when his brothers arrived,
The arrival of Joseph's brothers in Egypt is a pivotal moment in the narrative. It sets the stage for reconciliation and the fulfillment of Joseph's earlier dreams. This journey from Canaan to Egypt was likely arduous, reflecting the desperation caused by the famine. The brothers' arrival also signifies the beginning of God's plan to bring the family of Israel into Egypt, setting the stage for future events in biblical history. they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
This act of bowing fulfills the prophetic dreams Joseph had in his youth, where his brothers' sheaves bowed to his sheaf. It symbolizes the realization of God's promises and the unfolding of His divine plan. The brothers' bowing is also a cultural expression of respect and submission to authority, common in ancient Near Eastern societies. This moment foreshadows the eventual reconciliation and restoration of relationships within Jacob's family, illustrating themes of forgiveness and divine orchestration. Persons / Places / Events 1. JosephOnce sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph has risen to become the ruler of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. His position allows him to control the distribution of grain during a severe famine. 2. Joseph's BrothersThey come to Egypt seeking grain due to the famine in Canaan. Unbeknownst to them, the brother they sold into slavery is now the powerful ruler they must approach. 3. EgyptThe land where Joseph has risen to power. It is a place of refuge and provision during the famine, drawing people from surrounding regions. 4. FamineA severe famine affects the entire region, prompting Joseph's brothers to travel to Egypt for food, setting the stage for their reunion with Joseph. 5. Bowing DownThis act fulfills Joseph's earlier dreams ( Genesis 37:5-9) where his brothers' sheaves bowed to his sheaf, symbolizing their submission and his rise to prominence. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty and TimingGod's plans often unfold over time, and His purposes are fulfilled in His perfect timing, as seen in Joseph's journey from slavery to rulership. Forgiveness and ReconciliationJoseph's account is a powerful example of forgiveness. Despite his brothers' betrayal, Joseph eventually forgives them, pointing to the importance of reconciliation in our relationships. Providence in AdversityJoseph's rise to power during a time of famine shows how God can use difficult circumstances for His glory and our good, encouraging us to trust Him in our trials. Fulfillment of God's PromisesThe fulfillment of Joseph's dreams reminds us that God's promises are sure, even if they take time to come to fruition. Humility and ExaltationJoseph's journey from a pit to a palace mirrors the biblical principle that humility precedes exaltation, encouraging us to remain humble and faithful. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 42
How does the resolution in Job 42 align with other passages that emphasize a just God, when Job's suffering is never fully justified or explained?
How do the events in Genesis 44 fit coherently with earlier chapters in Genesis, given the discrepancies in character motivations and the sudden moral tension introduced by Joseph’s actions?
(Genesis 37:5–10) Do these dreams realistically align with ancient cultural beliefs, or do they suggest later embellishments inserted into the text?
If Joseph’s intention in Genesis 44:18–34 was to test his brothers’ repentance, why does the narrative omit any mention of divine guidance or command for this potentially manipulative plan?(6) Joseph's brethren came and bowed down themselves before him.--Throughout the land of Egypt Joseph would sell by deputy, and only give general directions; but the arrival of so large a party as Joseph's ten brethren, each probably with several attendants, would be reported to the governor in person, as certainly was the case with Abraham when he went into Egypt ( Genesis 12:14-15). Such visits would happen only occasionally, and the arrival of foreigners was always a matter looked upon with suspicion, especially upon the Arabian frontier. Verse 6. - And Joseph was the governor over the land. The word שָׁלִּיט from שָׁלַט, to rule, describes one invested with despotic authority, or a sultan (Gesenius), in which character the early Shemites appear to have regarded Joseph (Keil). It is probably the same idea which recurs in the name Salatis, which, according to Manetho, belonged to the first of the shepherd kings (Josephus, 'Contra Apionem,' 1:14). Occurring nowhere else in the Pentateuch, it reappears in the later writings of Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 7:10; 10:5), Ezra (Ezra 4:20; 7:24), Daniel (Daniel 2:15; 5:29), which, however, need not suggest an exilian or post-exilian authorship, but may be explained by the fact that the root is found equally in the Arabic and Aramaean dialects (Keil). And he it was that sold to all the people of the land. Not conducted the retail corn trade (Tuch, Oort, Kuenen), which was assigned to subordinates (ver. 25; Genesis 44:1), but presided over the general market of the kingdom (Murphy), probably fixing the price at which the grain should be sold, determining the quantities to be allowed to purchasers, and examining the companies of foreigners who came to buy (Rosenmüller, Havernick, Lange, Gerlach). And Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And so fulfilled his early dream in Shechem ( Genesis 37:7, 8).
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew Now Josephוְיוֹסֵ֗ף(wə·yō·w·sêp̄)Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130:Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israeliteswas the rulerהַשַּׁלִּ֣יט(haš·šal·lîṭ)Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7989:Having mastery, domineeringofעַל־(‘al-)Preposition
Strong's 5921:Above, over, upon, againstthe land,הָאָ֔רֶץ(hā·’ā·reṣ)Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, landwhoה֥וּא(hū)Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931:He, self, the same, this, that, as, aresold grainהַמַּשְׁבִּ֖יר(ham·maš·bîr)Article | Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 7666:To deal in grainto allלְכָל־(lə·ḵāl)Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605:The whole, all, any, everyitsהָאָ֑רֶץ(hā·’ā·reṣ)Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, landpeople.עַ֣ם(‘am)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5971:A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flockSo when [his]יוֹסֵ֔ף(yō·w·sêp̄)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130:Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelitesbrothersאֲחֵ֣י(’ă·ḥê)Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 251:A brother, )arrived,וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙(way·yā·ḇō·’ū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, gothey bowed downוַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־(way·yiš·ta·ḥă·wū-)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7812:To depress, prostratebefore himל֥וֹ(lōw)Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrewwith their facesאַפַּ֖יִם(’ap·pa·yim)Noun - md
Strong's 639:The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ireto the ground.אָֽרְצָה׃(’ā·rə·ṣāh)Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, land
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OT Law: Genesis 42:6 Joseph was the governor over the land (Gen. Ge Gn) |
