Genesis 43:28

28 They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.

Genesis 43:28 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.
English Standard Version (ESV)
28 They said, "Your servant our father is well; he is still alive." And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves.
New Living Translation (NLT)
28 “Yes,” they replied. “Our father, your servant, is alive and well.” And they bowed low again.
The Message Bible (MSG)
28 They said, "Yes - your servant our father is quite well, very much alive." And they again bowed respectfully before him.
American Standard Version (ASV)
28 And they said, Thy servant our father is well, he is yet alive. And they bowed the head, and made obeisance.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
28 They answered, "Yes, sir. Our father is alive and well." Then they knelt, bowing down.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
28 They answered, "Your servant our father is well. He is still alive." And they bowed down to honor him.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
28 They replied, "Your servant our father is still alive and well." And they bowed low to show him honor.

Genesis 43:28 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 43:28

And they answered, thy servant our father [is] in good
health, he [is] yet alive
Which is an answer to both his questions; and by calling their father Joseph's servant, he did obeisance to him in them, as well as by sending a present to him, which they delivered as coming from him his servant; and it is not improbable that Jacob sent his salutation to him as his servant, and so that part of the dream of Joseph's was also fulfilled, which represented the sun doing obeisance to him, ( Genesis 37:9 Genesis 37:10 ) : and they bowed their heads, and made obeisance;
a second time, as they did, no doubt, at every time they gave answer to Joseph's questions; and this is again observed, to show the full completion of the above dream.

Genesis 43:28 In-Context

26 When Joseph came home, they presented to him the gifts they had brought into the house, and they bowed down before him to the ground.
27 He asked them how they were, and then he said, “How is your aged father you told me about? Is he still living?”
28 They replied, “Your servant our father is still alive and well.” And they bowed down, prostrating themselves before him.
29 As he looked about and saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother’s son, he asked, “Is this your youngest brother, the one you told me about?” And he said, “God be gracious to you, my son.”
30 Deeply moved at the sight of his brother, Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to weep. He went into his private room and wept there.

Cross References 3

  • 1. Ge 44:24,27,30
  • 2. Genesis 18:2; Exodus 18:7
  • 3. S Genesis 37:7
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