Genesis 43:10

If we had not delayed, we could have come and gone twice by now.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Judah addresses his brothers after returning from Egypt, stating that their prolonged stay would have allowed a second round trip if they had not delayed. The words — לוּלֵא (lu.Le') translates literally to “if not,” and הִתְמַהְמָהְנוּ (hit.mah.Ma.he.nu) means “we had delayed,” identifying the specific action that cost them time. The thread — The narrative pattern of hesitation appears in Genesis 19:16, where Lot’s delay required divine agents to physically seize him for rescue. Why it lands — The text demands immediate compliance with divine instruction, showing that delay in obedience wastes resources and jeopardizes the assigned mission.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

כִּ֖יkifor לוּלֵ֣אlu.Le'if not הִתְמַהְמָ֑הְנוּhit.mah.Ma.he.nuwe had delayed כִּֽי־ki-for עַתָּ֥ה'a.Tahnow שַׁ֖בְנוּShav.nuwe have returned זֶ֥הzehthis פַעֲמָֽיִם׃fa.'a.Ma.yimtwo times

King James Version

For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

Cross-references

Genesis 19:16 But when Lot hesitated, the men grabbed his hand and the hands of his wife and his two daughters. And they led them safely out of the city, because of the LORD’s compassion for them.