Bible Strands
Genesis 43:21
But when we came to the place we lodged for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The brothers address the steward of Joseph's household in Egypt, responding to his demand that they return the money found in their sacks. They speak at the threshold of their second journey to Egypt, explaining why they brought extra silver.
The words — The Hebrew וַֽ/נִּפְתְּחָ/ה֙ (va./nif.te.Cha/h) denotes the action of opening the sacks (H6605), while אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔י/נוּ ('am.te.cho.Tei./nu) identifies the specific containers as "our sacks" (H572). These terms anchor the narrative to the physical discovery of the returned silver.
The thread — This event directly fulfills the command in Genesis 43:12 to return the silver and follows the initial discovery recorded in Genesis 42:27. The brothers' explanation bridges the earlier instruction and their current confession before the Egyptian official.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize the precise accounting of the returned funds and the brothers' honest reporting. It demands attention to how divine providence operates through mundane transactions and human testimony.
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
King James Version
And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand.
Cross-references
- Genesis 43:12 Take double the silver with you so that you may return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.
- Genesis 42:27 At the place where they lodged for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of the sack.
- Genesis 43:15 So the men took these gifts, along with double the amount of silver, and Benjamin as well. Then they hurried down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.
- Romans 12:17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.
- Romans 13:8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
- Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
- Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.
- 1 Peter 2:12 Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.
- 1 Peter 3:16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.