Genesis 43:10
New International Version
As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.”

New Living Translation
If we hadn’t wasted all this time, we could have gone and returned twice by now.”

English Standard Version
If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”

Berean Standard Bible
If we had not delayed, we could have come and gone twice by now.”

King James Bible
For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

New King James Version
For if we had not lingered, surely by now we would have returned this second time.”

New American Standard Bible
For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.”

NASB 1995
“For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.”

NASB 1977
“For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.”

Legacy Standard Bible
For if we had not delayed, surely by now we could have returned twice.”

Amplified Bible
For if we had not delayed like this, surely by now we would have returned the second time.”

Christian Standard Bible
If we had not delayed, we could have come back twice by now.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If we had not wasted time, we could have come back twice by now.”

American Standard Version
for except we had lingered, surely we had now returned a second time.

Contemporary English Version
If we had not wasted all this time, we could already have been there and back twice."

English Revised Version
for except we had lingered, surely we had now returned a second time.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If we hadn't waited so long, we could have made this trip twice by now."

Good News Translation
If we had not waited so long, we could have been there and back twice by now."

International Standard Version
After all, if we hadn't delayed, we could have been there and back twice by now!"

Majority Standard Bible
If we had not delayed, we could have come and gone twice by now.?

NET Bible
But if we had not delayed, we could have traveled there and back twice by now!"

New Heart English Bible
for if we hadn?t delayed, surely we would have returned a second time by now."

Webster's Bible Translation
For except we had delayed, surely now we had returned this second time.

World English Bible
for if we hadn’t delayed, surely we would have returned a second time by now.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for if we had not lingered, surely now we had returned these two times.”

Young's Literal Translation
for if we had not lingered, surely now we had returned these two times.'

Smith's Literal Translation
For unless we lingered we had turned back this twice.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
If delay had not been made, we had been here again the second time.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If a delay had not intervened, by now we would have returned here a second time.”

New American Bible
Had we not delayed, we could have been there and back twice by now!”

New Revised Standard Version
If we had not delayed, we would now have returned twice.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For if we had not delayed, perhaps we would have now returned a second time.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Also, if we had not delayed, doubtless we would have returned a second time.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
For except we had lingered, surely we had now returned a second time.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
For if we had not tarried, we should now have returned twice.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Return to Egypt with Benjamin
9I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life. 10If we had not delayed, we could have come and gone twice by now.” 11Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.…

Cross References
Genesis 42:1-2
When Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, “Why are you staring at one another?” / “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.”

Genesis 44:1-2
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. / Put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” So the steward did as Joseph had instructed.

Genesis 45:9-11
Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. / You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. / And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’

Genesis 46:1-4
So Israel set out with all that he had, and when he came to Beersheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. / And that night God spoke to Israel in a vision: “Jacob, Jacob!” He said. “Here I am,” replied Jacob. / “I am God,” He said, “the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. ...

Genesis 47:29-31
When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, / but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.” / “Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.

Exodus 12:31-33
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Get up, leave my people, both you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. / Take your flocks and herds as well, just as you have said, and depart! And bless me also.” / And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!”

Numbers 14:40-45
Early the next morning they got up and went up toward the ridge of the hill country. “We have indeed sinned,” they said, “but we will go to the place the LORD has promised.” / But Moses said, “Why are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD? This will not succeed! / Do not go up, lest you be struck down by your enemies, because the LORD is not among you. ...

Deuteronomy 1:41-45
“We have sinned against the LORD,” you replied. “We will go up and fight, as the LORD our God has commanded us.” Then each of you put on his weapons of war, thinking it easy to go up into the hill country. / But the LORD said to me, “Tell them not to go up and fight, for I am not with you to keep you from defeat by your enemies.” / So I spoke to you, but you would not listen. You rebelled against the command of the LORD and presumptuously went up into the hill country. ...

1 Samuel 20:6
If your father misses me at all, tell him, ‘David urgently requested my permission to hurry to Bethlehem, his hometown, because there is an annual sacrifice for his whole clan.’

2 Kings 7:3-4
Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate, and they said to one another, “Why just sit here until we die? / If we say, ‘Let us go into the city,’ we will die there from the famine in the city; but if we sit here, we will also die. So come now, let us go over to the camp of the Arameans. If they let us live, we will live; if they kill us, we will die.”

Nehemiah 2:2-5
so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear / and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” / “What is your request?” replied the king. So I prayed to the God of heaven ...

Esther 4:13-16
he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews. / For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” / Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ...

Proverbs 6:6-8
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. / Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, / it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. / Let the wicked man forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion, and to our God, for He will freely pardon.

Jeremiah 8:20
“The harvest has passed, the summer has ended, but we have not been saved.”


Treasury of Scripture

For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second time.

Genesis 19:16
And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

this second time.

Jump to Previous
Already Delayed Except Hadn't Lingered Second Surely Time Times Twice
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Already Delayed Except Hadn't Lingered Second Surely Time Times Twice
Genesis 43
1. Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin.
15. Joseph entertains his brothers.
19. They discover their fears to the steward.
26. Joseph makes them a feast.














If we had not delayed
This phrase reflects a sense of urgency and regret. The Hebrew root for "delayed" is "מָהַהּ" (mahah), which conveys hesitation or lingering. In the context of the narrative, Judah is speaking to his father Jacob, emphasizing the missed opportunities due to their hesitation. Historically, this moment underscores the tension and desperation in Jacob's family as they face famine. The delay represents a lack of trust and fear of the unknown, which is a recurring theme in the journey of faith. Spiritually, it challenges believers to consider the cost of hesitation in obeying God's direction.

we could have come and gone
This phrase suggests the potential for action and resolution. The Hebrew verbs "בּוֹא" (bo) for "come" and "יָצָא" (yatsa) for "gone" are often used in the context of entering and exiting, symbolizing movement and progress. In the narrative, it highlights the practical consequences of their delay—missing the opportunity to secure food for their survival. Theologically, it serves as a reminder of the importance of seizing God-given opportunities and the blessings that come with obedience and timely action.

twice by now
The phrase "twice by now" emphasizes the extent of the delay. It indicates that sufficient time has passed for them to have made the journey to Egypt and back two times. This repetition underscores the urgency of their situation and the pressing need for action. In a broader scriptural context, it reflects the biblical principle of redeeming the time (Ephesians 5:16). Historically, it also points to the logistical realities of ancient travel, where journeys were long and arduous, requiring careful planning and prompt execution. Spiritually, it challenges believers to reflect on the stewardship of time and the importance of aligning one's actions with God's timing.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
If we had not
כִּ֖י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

delayed,
הִתְמַהְמָ֑הְנוּ (hiṯ·mah·mā·hə·nū)
Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 4102: To question, hesitate, to be reluctant

we could have come and gone
שַׁ֖בְנוּ (šaḇ·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

twice
פַעֲמָֽיִם׃ (p̄a·‘ă·mā·yim)
Noun - fd
Strong's 6471: A beat, foot, anvil, occurrence

by now.”
עַתָּ֥ה (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time


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OT Law: Genesis 43:10 For if we hadn't delayed surely we (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 43:9
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