Bible Strands
Genesis 44:1
Then Joseph instructed his steward: “Fill the men’s sacks with as much food as they can carry, and put each one’s silver in the mouth of his sack.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Joseph addresses his steward, directing him to load the brothers' sacks with grain and return their silver before their departure. This instruction occurs during the brothers' second trip to Egypt under the pretext of purchasing more food.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיְצַו (va-y-tzav) means "and he commanded," while מַלֵּא (ma-le') translates to "fill." These terms establish Joseph's authoritative order to load the sacks.
The thread — Joseph’s directive echoes his earlier command in Genesis 42:25 to fill bags and return silver, while his delegation of household resources parallels Abraham’s instruction to his chief servant in Genesis 24:2.
Why it lands — The text records a precise administrative order that initiates a test of the brothers' conduct. It requires the reader to track how written instructions directly produce narrative consequences.
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 he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth.
Cross-references
- Genesis 42:25 Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return each man’s silver to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This order was carried out,
- 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.”
- Genesis 24:2 So Abraham instructed the chief servant of his household, who managed all he owned, “Place your hand under my thigh,
- Genesis 43:2 So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”
- Genesis 43:19 So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.
- Isaiah 3:1 For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water,