Genesis 43:20
◄  Genesis 43:20  ►
New International Version (©2011)
"We beg your pardon, our lord," they said, "we came down here the first time to buy food.

New Living Translation (©2007)
"Sir," they said, "we came to Egypt once before to buy food.

English Standard Version (©2001)
and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
and said, "Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food,

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
They said, "Sir, we really did come down here the first time only to buy food.

International Standard Version (©2012)
"Your Excellency," they said, "The first time we came here to buy food,

NET Bible (©2006)
They said, "My lord, we did indeed come down the first time to buy food.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"Please, sir," they said, "we came here to buy food once before.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

American King James Version
And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

American Standard Version
and said, Oh, my lord, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

Douay-Rheims Bible
They said: Sir, we desire thee to hear us: We came down once before to buy food:

Darby Bible Translation
and said, Ah! my lord, we came indeed down at the first to buy food.

English Revised Version
and said, Oh my lord, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food:

Webster's Bible Translation
And said, O sir, we came down indeed at the first time to buy food:

World English Bible
and said, "Oh, my lord, we indeed came down the first time to buy food.

Young's Literal Translation
and say, 'O, my lord, we really come down at the commencement to buy food;

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

43:15-25 Jacob's sons went down the second time into Egypt to buy corn. If we should ever know what a famine of the word means, let us not think it much to travel as far for spiritual food, as they did for bodily food. Joseph's steward had orders from his master to take them to his house. Even this frightened them. Those that are guilty make the worst of every thing. But the steward encouraged them. It appears, from what he said, that by his good master he was brought to the knowledge of the true God, the God of the Hebrews. Religious servants should take all fit occasions to speak of God and his providence, with reverence and seriousness.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And said, O sir,.... Or, "on me, my lord" (a), one said in the name of the rest, perhaps Judah, on me let the blame lie, if guilty of rudeness in making our address to thee; or as the Vulgate Latin version, "we pray, sir, that thou wouldest hear us"; and so Jarchi and Aben Ezra say the phrase is expressive of beseeching, entreating, and supplicating:

we came indeed down at the first time to buy food; not to spy the land but to buy corn, and not to get it by fraud or tricking but by paying for it the price that was required.

(a) "in me Domine mi", Montanus.

Genesis 43:20 Parallel Commentaries

Genesis 43:20 NIV
Genesis 43:20 NLT
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Genesis 43:20 NASB
Genesis 43:20 KJV

Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Joseph's Hospitality to his Brothers
…19And they came near to the steward of Joseph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, 20And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: 21And 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. …

Genesis 43:19 So they went up to Joseph's steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.
Genesis 43:21 But at the place where we stopped for the night we opened our sacks and each of us found his silver--the exact weight--in the mouth of his sack. So we have brought it back with us.