CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 43:1 Now the famine was still severe in the land.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/43-1.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/16/01_Gen_43_01.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 43:1 - The Return to Egypt with Benjamin" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now the famine was still severe in the land." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/43-1.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/43-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/43.htm">Chapter 43</a> > Verse 1</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/42-38.htm" title="Genesis 42:38">◄</a> Genesis 43:1 <a href="/genesis/43-2.htm" title="Genesis 43:2">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/43.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/43.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Now the famine was still severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/43.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />But the famine continued to ravage the land of Canaan.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/43.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Now the famine was severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/43.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the famine was still severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/43.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And the famine <i>was</i> sore in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/43.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now the famine <i>was</i> severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/43.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the famine was severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/43.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now the famine was severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/43.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now the famine was severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/43.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now the famine was heavy in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/43.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now the famine was very severe in the land [of Canaan].<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/43.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the famine in the land was severe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/43.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the famine in the land was severe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/43.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And the famine was sore in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/43.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The famine in Canaan got worse, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/43.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And the famine was sore in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/43.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />The famine was severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/43.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The famine in Canaan got worse, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/43.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Meanwhile, the famine remained severe throughout the region. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/43.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now the famine was still severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/43.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Now the famine was severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/43.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now the famine was severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/43.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And the famine was severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/43.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />The famine was severe in the land. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/43.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And the famine [is] severe in the land;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/43.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And the famine is severe in the land;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/43.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And the famine was heavy upon the earth.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/43.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />In the mean time the famine was heavy upon all the land. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/43.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Meanwhile, the famine pressed heavily on all the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/43.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Now the famine in the land grew severe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/43.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Now the famine was severe in the land.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/43.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />THE famine was very severe in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/43.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And the famine was severe in the land.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/43.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And the famine was sore in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/43.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />But the famine prevailed in the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/43-1.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=11095" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/43.htm">The Return to Egypt with Benjamin</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">1</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/7458.htm" title="7458: wə·hā·rā·‘āḇ (Conj-w, Art:: N-ms) -- Famine, hunger. From ra'eb; hunger.">Now the famine</a> <a href="/hebrew/3515.htm" title="3515: kā·ḇêḏ (Adj-ms) -- Heavy. From kabad; heavy; figuratively in a good sense or in a bad sense.">was still severe</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: bā·’ā·reṣ (Prep-b, Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">in the land.</a> </span><span class="reftext">2</span>So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/41-54.htm">Genesis 41:54-57</a></span><br />the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. And although there was famine in every country, there was food throughout the land of Egypt. / When extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” / When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/42-1.htm">Genesis 42:1-2</a></span><br />When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” / “Look,” he added, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/45-6.htm">Genesis 45:6-11</a></span><br />For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. / God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. / Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/47-13.htm">Genesis 47:13-15</a></span><br />There was no food, however, in all that region, because the famine was so severe; the lands of Egypt and Canaan had been exhausted by the famine. / Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were buying, and he brought it into Pharaoh’s palace. / When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our funds have run out!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-11.htm">Acts 7:11-12</a></span><br />Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food. / When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/105-16.htm">Psalm 105:16</a></span><br />He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/12-10.htm">Genesis 12:10</a></span><br />Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/26-1.htm">Genesis 26:1</a></span><br />Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/50-20.htm">Genesis 50:20</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-8.htm">Exodus 1:8-11</a></span><br />Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. / “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/17-1.htm">1 Kings 17:1-7</a></span><br />Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was among the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, “As surely as the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, before whom I stand, there will be neither dew nor rain in these years except at my word!” / Then a revelation from the LORD came to Elijah: / “Leave here, turn eastward, and hide yourself by the Brook of Cherith, east of the Jordan. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/8-1.htm">2 Kings 8:1-2</a></span><br />Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed that a seven-year famine will come to the land.” / So the woman had proceeded to do as the man of God had instructed. And she and her household lived as foreigners for seven years in the land of the Philistines.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/5-3.htm">Nehemiah 5:3</a></span><br />Others were saying, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our homes to get grain during the famine.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/3-1.htm">Isaiah 3:1</a></span><br />For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/14-1.htm">Jeremiah 14:1-6</a></span><br />This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought: / “Judah mourns and her gates languish. Her people wail for the land, and a cry goes up from Jerusalem. / The nobles send their servants for water; they go to the cisterns, but find no water; their jars return empty. They are ashamed and humiliated; they cover their heads. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And the famine was sore in the land.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/18-13.htm">Genesis 18:13</a></b></br> And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/41-54.htm">Genesis 41:54-57</a></b></br> And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/42-5.htm">Genesis 42:5</a></b></br> And the sons of Israel came to buy <i>corn</i> among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/41-31.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/genesis/42-33.htm">Famine</a> <a href="/genesis/42-33.htm">Food</a> <a href="/genesis/41-57.htm">Grievous</a> <a href="/genesis/41-57.htm">Need</a> <a href="/genesis/41-57.htm">Severe</a> <a href="/genesis/41-57.htm">Sore</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/44-13.htm">Bitter</a> <a href="/genesis/45-6.htm">Famine</a> <a href="/genesis/43-2.htm">Food</a> <a href="/genesis/47-13.htm">Grievous</a> <a href="/genesis/45-6.htm">Need</a> <a href="/genesis/47-4.htm">Severe</a> <a href="/genesis/47-4.htm">Sore</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 43</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/43-1.htm">Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/43-15.htm">Joseph entertains his brothers.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">19. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/43-19.htm">They discover their fears to the steward.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">26. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/43-26.htm">Joseph makes them a feast.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/43.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/43.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Now the famine</b><br>The mention of famine is significant in the biblical narrative, as it often serves as a catalyst for God's people to move or act according to His plan. Famines were not uncommon in the ancient Near East due to the region's dependence on seasonal rains. In the context of Genesis, this famine is part of God's providential plan to bring Jacob's family to Egypt, setting the stage for the events leading to the Exodus. Famines are also seen in other parts of the Bible, such as during the time of Elijah (1 Kings 17) and in the New Testament (<a href="/acts/11-28.htm">Acts 11:28</a>).<p><b>was still severe</b><br>The severity of the famine emphasizes the dire circumstances faced by Jacob's family and the surrounding nations. This ongoing hardship underscores the need for Joseph's brothers to return to Egypt for more grain, furthering the narrative of reconciliation and fulfillment of Joseph's dreams. The persistence of the famine also highlights the theme of testing and reliance on God's provision, as seen in other biblical accounts where God's people are tested through prolonged trials.<p><b>in the land</b><br>The "land" refers to Canaan, where Jacob and his family resided. Canaan was a region that relied heavily on agriculture, making it vulnerable to the effects of famine. This geographical context is crucial, as it contrasts with Egypt, where the Nile River provided a more stable water source, allowing for surplus grain storage. The land of Canaan is significant throughout the Bible as the Promised Land, a place of both blessing and testing for God's people. The famine in Canaan serves as a backdrop for the unfolding of God's redemptive plan through Joseph, a type of Christ, who provides salvation and sustenance to his family and the nations.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/f/famine.htm">Famine</a></b><br>A severe shortage of food affecting the land of Canaan and surrounding regions. This famine is a continuation of the one that began in <a href="/bsb/genesis/41.htm">Genesis 41</a>, which Joseph had predicted and prepared for in Egypt.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_land.htm">The Land</a></b><br>Refers to the region of Canaan, where Jacob and his sons reside. This area is experiencing the effects of the widespread famine.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/j/jacob's_family.htm">Jacob's Family</a></b><br>The family of Jacob, including his sons, who are directly impacted by the famine. They are in need of food and must make decisions about how to obtain it.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty_in_trials.htm">God's Sovereignty in Trials</a></b><br>The famine serves as a reminder of God's control over natural events. Believers can trust that God is sovereign even in difficult times.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/preparation_and_wisdom.htm">Preparation and Wisdom</a></b><br>Joseph's foresight and preparation for the famine illustrate the importance of wisdom and planning in the face of potential hardships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/dependence_on_god.htm">Dependence on God</a></b><br>The famine forces Jacob's family to rely on God's provision, teaching us to depend on God for our needs.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/family_and_reconciliation.htm">Family and Reconciliation</a></b><br>The famine sets the stage for the eventual reconciliation of Joseph with his brothers, showing how God can use trials to bring about healing in relationships.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_43.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 43</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/do_genesis_43_details_match_history.htm">(Genesis 43) Do the narrative details and timelines align with any reliable extra-biblical sources or known historical events in Egypt and Canaan?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_a_famine_in_fertile_genesis_26_1.htm">In Genesis 26:1, how could there be a famine severe enough to threaten Isaac in a land often praised for its fertility?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_a_long_famine_credible_without_evidence.htm">(Genesis 43:2) How credible is it that a single famine could last so long without any corroborating historical or archaeological evidence?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_genesis_42_fit_genesis_28_10-15.htm">How does the narrative reconcile with earlier promises of prosperity to Jacob's family (Genesis 28:10-15) when they face such dire circumstances (Genesis 42)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/43.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>XLIII.<p>THE SECOND VISIT TO EGYPT.</span><p>(7) <span class= "bld">The man asked us straitly.</span>--In <a href="/genesis/42-13.htm" title="And they said, Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.">Genesis 42:13</a> they appear rather as volunteering a statement of their family relations than as having it wrung from them by cross-examination. But really this history must be taken as explaining and supplementing the former. Accused of being spies, they would naturally give an account of themselves, and Joseph, anxious to know about his father and brother, would certainly put numerous questions to them concerning their home and family. And they would answer them fully and frankly, little suspecting who was the questioner, and what was his real reason for exacting Benjamin's presence in proof of their trustworthiness:<p><span class= "bld">Of our state and of our kindred.</span>--Heb., <span class= "ital">concerning ourselves and our birthplace </span>(see <a href="/genesis/12-1.htm" title="Now the LORD had said to Abram, Get you out of your country, and from your kindred, and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you:">Genesis 12:1</a>; <a href="/genesis/24-4.htm" title="But you shall go to my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife to my son Isaac.">Genesis 24:4</a>; <a href="/genesis/24-7.htm" title="The LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father's house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spoke to me, and that swore to me, saying, To your seed will I give this land; he shall send his angel before you, and you shall take a wife to my son from there.">Genesis 24:7</a>; <a href="/genesis/31-3.htm" title="And the LORD said to Jacob, Return to the land of your fathers, and to your kindred; and I will be with you.">Genesis 31:3</a>), that is, our home. Questions about ourselves would be such as those given: "Is your father yet alive? Have ye a brother?" And besides these, Joseph would interrogate them closely concerning the place whence they came, and the state of things there. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/43.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verses 1, 2.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">And the famine was sore</span> (literally, <span class="accented">was heavy</span>) <span class="accented"><span class="cmt_word"></span>in the land</span> (<span class="accented">sc</span>. of Canaan). <span class="cmt_word">And it came to pass</span> (how long after the return of Joseph's brethren cannot be determined, as the quantity of grain they brought or the number that partook of it cannot possibly be estimated; but it may be reasonably inferred that several months had elapsed since their arrival at Hebron), when they had eaten up - literally, <span class="accented">had finished to eat up, i.e.</span> not nearly (Mercerus, Bush), but entirely consumed - <span class="cmt_word">the corn which they had brought out of Egypt,</span> - it is probable that only Jacob's family partook of the Egyptian corn, the slaves supporting themselves on roots, vegetables, and milk (Calvin, Rosenmüller, Gerlach) - <span class="cmt_word">their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.</span> What they could buy would be little in proportion to their needs. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/43-1.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Now the famine</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהָרָעָ֖ב</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hā·rā·‘āḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7458.htm">Strong's 7458: </a> </span><span class="str2">Famine, hunger</span><br /><br /><span class="word">was still severe</span><br /><span class="heb">כָּבֵ֥ד</span> <span class="translit">(kā·ḇêḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3515.htm">Strong's 3515: </a> </span><span class="str2">Heavy</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in the land.</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּאָֽרֶץ׃</span> <span class="translit">(bā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/43-1.htm">Genesis 43:1 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/43-1.htm">Genesis 43:1 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/43-1.htm">Genesis 43:1 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/43-1.htm">Genesis 43:1 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/43-1.htm">Genesis 43:1 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/43-1.htm">Genesis 43:1 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/43-1.htm">Genesis 43:1 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/43-1.htm">Genesis 43:1 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/43-1.htm">Genesis 43:1 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/43-1.htm">Genesis 43:1 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/43-1.htm">OT Law: Genesis 43:1 The famine was severe in the land (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/42-38.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 42:38"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 42:38" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/43-2.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 43:2"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 43:2" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>