Genesis 43:32

They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joseph, having regained his composure, commands his servants to arrange the banquet during his brothers’ visit to Goshen. The servants execute the order by partitioning the dining arrangements before the brothers and Egyptian officials take their seats.

The words — The Hebrew לְ/בַדּ֖/וֹ and לְ/בַדָּ֑/ם (le./va.D/o, le./va.Da/m) literally mean “to only him” and “to alone them,” marking the enforced separation of the three groups. The verb וַ/יָּשִׂ֥ימוּ (va/i.ya.Si.mu) denotes the act of setting or arranging these partitions.

The thread — This dining boundary repeats the cultural hostility noted in Genesis 46:34 regarding shepherds and Exodus 8:26 regarding Hebrew sacrifices. The pattern establishes a persistent ethnic boundary that Joseph’s household physically enacts.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to observe how prejudice operates through routine social practices rather than explicit commands. It prepares the ground for the revelation in Genesis 43:33 by highlighting the tension between the brothers’ position and their host’s authority.

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

וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּva/i.ya.Si.muand/ they setל֛וֹl/ofor <the>/ himלְבַדּ֖וֹle./va.D/oto/ only/ himוְלָהֶ֣םve./la./Hemand/ to <the>/ themלְבַדָּ֑םle./va.Da/mto/ alone/ them וְלַמִּצְרִ֞יםve./la./mitz.Rimand/ for the/ Egyptians הָאֹכְלִ֤יםha./'o.khe.Limwho/ were eating אִתּוֹ֙'i.T/owith/ him לְבַדָּ֔םle./va.Da/mto/ alone/ them כִּי֩kifor לֹ֨אlo'not יוּכְל֜וּןyu.khe.Lu/nthey were able/ !הַמִּצְרִ֗יםha./mitz.Rimthe/ Egyptians לֶאֱכֹ֤לle./'e.Kholto/ eat אֶת־'et-with הָֽעִבְרִים֙ha./'iv.Rimthe/ Hebrews לֶ֔חֶםLe.chemfood כִּי־ki-for תוֹעֵבָ֥הto.'e.Vah[is] an abomination הִ֖ואhi'it לְמִצְרָֽיִם׃le./mitz.Ra.yimto/ Egypt

King James Version

And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

Cross-references

Genesis 46:34 you are to say, ‘Your servants have raised livestock ever since our youth—both we and our fathers.’ Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians.”
Exodus 8:26 But Moses replied, “It would not be right to do that, because the sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices that are detestable before the Egyptians, will they not stone us?
Genesis 31:54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and invited his relatives to eat a meal. And after they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.
Genesis 43:16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they shall dine with me at noon.”