Genesis 43:6

6 Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?”

Genesis 43:6 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly as to tell the man that you had another brother?"
New Living Translation (NLT)
6 “Why were you so cruel to me?” Jacob moaned. “Why did you tell him you had another brother?”
The Message Bible (MSG)
6 Israel said, "Why are you making my life so difficult! Why did you ever tell the man you had another brother?"
American Standard Version (ASV)
6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
6 Israel asked, "Why have you made trouble for me by telling the man you had another brother?"
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
6 "Why did you cause me so much trouble?" Israel asked. "Why did you tell the man that you had another brother?"
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
6 Israel asked, "Why did you bring this trouble to me? Why did you tell the man you had another brother?"

Genesis 43:6 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 43:6

And Israel said
In answer to the speech of Judah: wherefore dealt ye [so] ill with me;
had done that which brought so much evil upon him, gave him so much grief and trouble, and threw him into such perplexity and distress, that he knew not what to do, or course to take: [as] to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
which he thought was done imprudently and unadvisedly, and that there was no need of it; which, had it not been done, would have prevented this anxiety of mind he was now in, and the mischief he feared would follow.

Genesis 43:6 In-Context

4 If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you.
5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ ”
6 Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?”
7 They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’ he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”
8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die.

Cross References 2

  • 1. ver 8,11; S Genesis 17:5
  • 2. S Genesis 34:30
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.