Genesis 43:31
in Genesis 43Then he washed his face and came back out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he washed his face, and came out; and he refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
KJV
And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread.
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This verse in Genesis 43
Commentary
4 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Joseph said, Set on bread--equivalent to having dinner served, "bread" being a term inclusive of all victuals. The table was a small stool, most probably the usual round form, "since persons might even then be seated according to their rank or seniority, and the modern Egyptian table is not without its post of honor and a fixed gradation of place" [WILKINSON].
This site's exposition
his own mother's son
on Genesis 43:29-31
The text calls Benjamin his own mother's son, the one man in the room who shares Rachel with Joseph. Rachel died bearing this boy at 35:18, and Joseph has not seen him since. His first words to Benjamin are a blessing, God be gracious to you, my son. Then he hurries out to a private room and weeps.
This site's exposition
Regaining his composure
Regaining his composure translates aphaq, to hold oneself in, the verb used when Joseph can hold back no longer at 45:1. Here he washes his face and gives the order to serve. The restraint lasts two more chapters.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And he washed his face,.... From the tears on it, that it might not be discerned that he had been weeping: and went out; of his chamber into the room again, where his brethren were: and refrained himself; from weeping, or showing any excess of passion, love, joy, &c. and said, set on bread; gave orders to his servants to bring in dinner, and set it upon the table; bread, as before, being put for all kind of food.
The words behind it
7 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּרְחַ֥ץ | vaiyirchatz | and he washed | H7364 → | 72 times |
| פָּנָ֖יו | panav | face his | H6440 → | 2123 times |
| וַיֵּצֵ֑א | vaiyetze' | and he came out | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| וַיִּ֨תְאַפַּ֔ק | vaiyitapak | and he restrained himself | H662 → | |
| וַיֹּ֖אמֶר | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| שִׂ֥ימוּ | simu | set | H7760 → | 584 times |
| לָֽחֶם׃ | lachem | food | H3899 → | 298 times |
וַיִּרְחַ֥ץand he washed
vaiyirchatzH7364 →72 times
פָּנָ֖יוface his
panavH6440 →2123 times
וַיֵּצֵ֑אand he came out
vaiyetze'H3318 →1067 times
וַיִּ֨תְאַפַּ֔קand he restrained himself
vaiyitapakH662 →
וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
שִׂ֥ימוּset
simuH7760 →584 times
לָֽחֶם׃food
lachemH3899 →298 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 3:10For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.
it leads to
- Psalms 34:12–16
Who is the man who delights in life, who desires to see good days?
- James 1:26
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless.
- 1 Peter 2:22
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth.”
- Psalms 34:12–16
Through
Jeremiah 31:16This is what the LORD says: “Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for the reward for your work will come, declares the LORD. Then your children will return from the…
it leads to
- Ruth 2:12
May the LORD repay your work, and may you receive a rich reward from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have taken refuge.”
- Jeremiah 30:3
For behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore from captivity My people Israel and Judah, declares the LORD. I will restore them to the land that I gave to…
- Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
- Jeremiah 33:7
I will restore Judah and Israel from captivity and will rebuild them as in former times.
- Ruth 2:12
About Genesis
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.