Bible Strands

Genesis 43:5

But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Judah and the brothers address Jacob, refusing to return to Egypt unless Benjamin travels with them. They cite the Egyptian official’s strict requirement as the reason for their stance.

The words — The Hebrew phrase אֵינְ/ךָ֥ מְשַׁלֵּ֖חַ ('ei.ne./Kha me.sha.Le.ach) translates literally as “you are not sending him.” It anchors the brothers’ conditional refusal on Jacob’s decision to release Benjamin.

The thread — This conditional refusal echoes their earlier report in Genesis 42:38 and is reiterated verbatim in Genesis 44:26. The pattern establishes a recurring narrative constraint on Jacob’s movements and decisions.

Why it lands — The verse demands recognition of human limitation and the necessity of surrendering control. It presents a clear boundary where obedience requires trusting a stated condition over personal fear.

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

וְאִם־ve./'im-and/ ifאֵינְךָ֥'ei.ne./Khanot/ youמְשַׁלֵּ֖חַme.sha.Le.ach[are] sending [him]לֹ֣אlo'notנֵרֵ֑דne.Redwe will go downכִּֽי־ki-forהָאִ֞ישׁha./'Ishthe/ manאָמַ֤ר'a.Marhe saidאֵלֵ֙ינוּ֙'e.Lei./nuto/ usלֹֽא־lo'-notתִרְא֣וּtir.'Uyou will seeפָנַ֔יfa.Na/iface/ myבִּלְתִּ֖יbil.Tiexceptאֲחִיכֶ֥ם'a.chi./Khembrother/ yourאִתְּכֶֽם׃'i.te./Khem[is] with/ you

King James Version

But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.

Cross-references