Genesis 42:4
◄  Genesis 42:4  ►
New International Version (©2011)
But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with the others, because he was afraid that harm might come to him.

New Living Translation (©2007)
But Jacob wouldn't let Joseph's younger brother, Benjamin, go with them, for fear some harm might come to him.

English Standard Version (©2001)
But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, with his brothers, for he feared that harm might happen to him.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, "I am afraid that harm may befall him."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he thought, "Something might happen to him."

International Standard Version (©2012)
Jacob would not send Joseph's brother Benjamin to accompany them, because he was saying, "I'm afraid that he'll come to some kind of harm."

NET Bible (©2006)
But Jacob did not send Joseph's brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, "What if some accident happens to him?"

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Jacob wouldn't send Joseph's brother Benjamin with the other brothers, because he was afraid that something would happen to him.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brothers; for he said, Lest perhaps mischief befall him.

American King James Version
But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brothers; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

American Standard Version
But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest Peradventure harm befall him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Whilst Benjamin was kept at home by Jacob, who said to his brethren: Lest perhaps he take any harm in the journey.

Darby Bible Translation
But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest mischief may befall him.

English Revised Version
But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren: for he said, Lest perhaps mischief shall befall him.

World English Bible
But Jacob didn't send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers; for he said, "Lest perhaps harm happen to him."

Young's Literal Translation
and Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob hath not sent with his brethren, for he said, 'Lest mischief meet him.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

42:1-6 Jacob saw the corn his neighbours had bought in Egypt, and brought home. It is a spur to exertion to see others supplied. Shall others get food for their souls, and shall we starve while it is to be had? Having discovered where help is to be had, we should apply for it without delay, without shrinking from labour, or grudging expense, especially as regards our never-dying souls. There is provision in Christ; but we must come to him, and seek it from him.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 4. - But (literally, and) Benjamin, Joseph's brother (vide Genesis 35:18), Jacob sent not with his brethren. Not because of his youth (Patrick, Lange), since he was now upwards of twenty years of age, but because he was Joseph's brother, and had taken Joseph's place in his father's affections (Lawson, Lange, Murphy, &c.), causing the old man to cherish him with tender solicitude. For he said (to, or within, himself, perhaps recalling the fate of Joseph), Lest peradventure mischief befall him. אָסון, from אָסַה, to hurt (Gesenius, Furst), and occurring only elsewhere in ver. 38, Genesis 44:29, and Exodus 21:22, 23, denotes any sort of personal injury in general, and in particular here such mischance as might happen to a traveler.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren,.... Benjamin is called Joseph's brother, because he was so both by father and mother's side, as the rest were not; him Jacob kept with him, being the youngest and his darling, the only son he had with him of his beloved wife Rachel; and was very probably the more beloved by him since he had been bereft of Joseph; and it was not only to keep him company that he retained him at home, but for the reason following:

for he said, lest peradventure mischief befall him; as had to Joseph his brother, as he imagined; either that the journey would be too much for him, being young, or lest he should be seized with sickness on the road, or rather with death, as Aben Ezra interprets it according to the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan.

Genesis 42:4 Parallel Commentaries

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Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Joseph's Brothers Sent to Egypt
…3And Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brothers; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. 5And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. …

Genesis 35:24 The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin.
Genesis 42:3 Then ten of Joseph's brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.
Genesis 42:38 But Jacob said, "My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in sorrow."