Genesis 42:1
New International Version
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you just keep looking at each other?”

New Living Translation
When Jacob heard that grain was available in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you standing around looking at one another?

English Standard Version
When Jacob learned that there was grain for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?”

Berean Standard Bible
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

King James Bible
Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

New King James Version
When Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?”

New American Standard Bible
Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

NASB 1995
Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

NASB 1977
Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

Amplified Bible
Now when Jacob (Israel) learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another [in bewilderment and not taking action]?”

Christian Standard Bible
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you keep looking at each other?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you keep looking at each other?

American Standard Version
Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Yaquuv saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Yaquuv said to his sons, “You shall not be afraid.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Jacob having seen that there was a sale of corn in Egypt, said to his sons, Why are ye indolent?

Contemporary English Version
When Jacob found out there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why are you just sitting here, staring at one another?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jacob hearing that food was sold in Egypt, said to his sons: Why are ye careless?

English Revised Version
Now Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, and Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Jacob found out that grain was for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why do you keep looking at each other?

Good News Translation
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why don't you do something?

International Standard Version
Eventually, Jacob observed that there was grain in Egypt, so he asked his sons, "Why do you keep on staring at one another?

JPS Tanakh 1917
Now Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, and Jacob said unto his sons: 'Why do ye look one upon another?'

Literal Standard Version
And Jacob sees that there is grain in Egypt, and Jacob says to his sons, “Why do you look at each other?”

Majority Standard Bible
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?”

New American Bible
When Jacob learned that grain rations were for sale in Egypt, he said to his sons: “Why do you keep looking at one another?”

NET Bible
When Jacob heard there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, "Why are you looking at each other?"

New Revised Standard Version
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why do you keep looking at one another?

New Heart English Bible
Now Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, so Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

World English Bible
Now Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, “Why do you look at one another?”

Young's Literal Translation
And Jacob seeth that there is corn in Egypt, and Jacob saith to his sons, 'Why do you look at each other?'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph's Brothers Sent to Egypt
1When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” 2“Look,” he added, “I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die.”…

Cross References
Acts 7:12
When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.

Genesis 42:2
"Look," he added, "I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy some for us, so that we may live and not die."


Treasury of Scripture

Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, Why do you look one on another?

when Jacob.

Genesis 41:54,57
And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread…

Acts 7:12
But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.

saw.

Exodus 5:19
And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

Exodus 20:18
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

1 Kings 19:3
And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there.

Why do ye.

Joshua 7:10
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?

2 Kings 8:3,4
And it came to pass at the seven years' end, that the woman returned out of the land of the Philistines: and she went forth to cry unto the king for her house and for her land…

Ezra 10:4
Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it.

Jump to Previous
Corn Egypt Grain Hearing Jacob Learned
Jump to Next
Corn Egypt Grain Hearing Jacob Learned
Genesis 42
1. Jacob sends his ten sons to buy grain in Egypt.
16. They are imprisoned by Joseph as spies.
18. They are set at liberty, on condition to bring Benjamin.
21. They have remorse for Joseph.
24. Simeon is kept for a pledge.
25. They return with grain, and their money.
29. Their relation to Jacob.
36. Jacob refuses to send Benjamin.














XLII.

FIRST VISIT OF JOSEPH'S BRETHREN TO EGYPT.

(1) When Jacob saw.--That is, learned, understood, that there was corn in Egypt. As we have seen (Genesis 37:25), there was a large caravan trade between Palestine and Egypt, and the report would gradually get abroad that food might be purchased there.

Why do ye look . . . --In the second rainless season not only would the flocks and herds begin to languish, but the numerous retainers of Jacob and his sons would also become enfeebled from insufficient nourishment, and begin to die of low fever and those other diseases which follow in the train of famine. Jacob's words, therefore, mean, Why are you irresolute, and uncertain what to do? And then he encourages them to take this journey as a possible means of providing for the wants of their households.

Verse 1. - Now when Jacob saw - literally, and Jacob saw, i.e. perceived by the preparations of others for buying corn in Egypt (Lange), but more probably learnt by the report which others brought from. Egypt (ver. 2) - that there was corn - שֶׁבֶר, either that which is broken, e.g. ground as in a mill, from שָׁבַר, to break in pieces, to shiver (Gesenius), or that which breaks forth, hence sprouts or geminates, from an unused root, שָׁבַר, to press out, to break forth (Furst), is here employed to denote not simply grain, but a supply of it, frumenti cumulus, for sale and purchase. The LXX. render by πρᾶσις, and the Vulgate by quod alimenta venderentur - in Egypt (vide Genesis 41:54), Jacob (literally, and Jacob) said unto his sons, - using verba non, ut multi volunt, in. crepantis, sed excitantis (Rosenmüller) - Why do ye look one upon another? - i.e. in such a helpless and undecided manner (Keil), which, however, there is no need to regard as springing from a consciousness of guilt (Lange), the language fittingly depicting the aspect and attitude of those who are simply consiii inopes (Rosenmüller).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When Jacob
יַעֲקֹ֔ב (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

learned
וַיַּ֣רְא (way·yar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

that
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

there was
יֶשׁ־ (yeš-)
Adverb
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

grain
שֶׁ֖בֶר (še·ḇer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7668: Corn, grain

in Egypt,
בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם (bə·miṣ·rā·yim)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

he
יַעֲקֹב֙ (ya·‘ă·qōḇ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3290: Jacob -- a son of Isaac, also his desc

said
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to his sons,
לְבָנָ֔יו (lə·ḇā·nāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

“Why
לָ֖מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

are you staring at one another?”
תִּתְרָאֽוּ׃ (tiṯ·rā·’ū)
Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see


Links
Genesis 42:1 NIV
Genesis 42:1 NLT
Genesis 42:1 ESV
Genesis 42:1 NASB
Genesis 42:1 KJV

Genesis 42:1 BibleApps.com
Genesis 42:1 Biblia Paralela
Genesis 42:1 Chinese Bible
Genesis 42:1 French Bible
Genesis 42:1 Catholic Bible

OT Law: Genesis 42:1 Now Jacob saw that there was grain (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 41:57
Top of Page
Top of Page