Genesis 43:2
New International Version
So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

New Living Translation
When the grain they had brought from Egypt was almost gone, Jacob said to his sons, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

English Standard Version
And when they had eaten the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.”

King James Bible
And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

New King James Version
And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”

New American Standard Bible
So it came about, when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”

NASB 1995
So it came about when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”

NASB 1977
So it came about when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And it happened when they had finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt, that their father said to them, “Go back, buy us a little food.”

Amplified Bible
And it happened that when the families of Jacob’s sons had finished eating [all of] the grain which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little food.”

Christian Standard Bible
When they had used up the grain they had brought back from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little food.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When they had used up the grain they had brought back from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us some food.”

American Standard Version
And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

Contemporary English Version
until finally, Jacob's family had eaten all the grain they had bought in Egypt. So Jacob said to his sons, "Go back and buy some more grain."

English Revised Version
And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, Israel said to his sons, "Go back and buy us a little more food."

Good News Translation
and when the family of Jacob had eaten all the grain which had been brought from Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Go back and buy a little food for us."

International Standard Version
As a result, when Jacob's family was beginning to eat the last of the grain that they had brought back from Egypt, their father Jacob told his sons, "Go back to Egypt and buy us some food."

Majority Standard Bible
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.?

NET Bible
When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, "Return, buy us a little more food."

New Heart English Bible
So it came about when they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said to them, "Go again, buy us a little more food."

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass, when they had consumed the corn which they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, Go again, buy us a little food.

World English Bible
When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little more food.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and it comes to pass, when they have finished eating the grain which they brought from Egypt, that their father says to them, “Return, buy for us a little food.”

Young's Literal Translation
and it cometh to pass, when they have finished eating the corn which they brought from Egypt, that their father saith unto them, 'Turn back, buy for us a little food.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And it shall be when they finished eating the grain which they brought from Egypt, their father will say to them, Turn back, buy for us a little food.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they had eaten up all the corn, which they had brought out of Egypt, Jacob said to his sons: Go again and buy us a little food.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And having consumed the provisions that they had brought out of Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, “Return and buy us a little food.”

New American Bible
So when they had used up all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

New Revised Standard Version
And when they had eaten up the grain that they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little more food.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when they had finished eating the wheat which they had brought from Egypt, their father Jacob said to them, Go down to Egypt, and buy us a little grain.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when they had finished eating the grain that they had brought from Egypt, Yaquuv their father said to them, “Go down; buy a little grain for us.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said unto them: 'Go again, buy us a little food.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And it came to pass, when they had finished eating the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said to them, Go again; buy us a little food.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Return to Egypt with Benjamin
1Now the famine was still severe in the land. 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.” 3But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’…

Cross References
Genesis 42:1-3
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.” / So ten of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt.

Genesis 41:54-57
the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. And although there was famine in every country, there was food throughout the land of Egypt. / When extreme hunger came to all the land of Egypt and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do whatever he tells you.” / When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. ...

Genesis 45:6-11
For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. / God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. / Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. ...

Genesis 47:13-15
There was no food, however, in all that region, because the famine was so severe; the lands of Egypt and Canaan had been exhausted by the famine. / Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were buying, and he brought it into Pharaoh’s palace. / When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our funds have run out!”

Genesis 12:10
Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe.

Genesis 26:1
Now there was another famine in the land, subsequent to the one that had occurred in Abraham’s time. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines at Gerar.

Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.

Exodus 16:3
“If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!”

2 Kings 8:1-2
Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, you and your household; go and live as a foreigner wherever you can. For the LORD has decreed that a seven-year famine will come to the land.” / So the woman had proceeded to do as the man of God had instructed. And she and her household lived as foreigners for seven years in the land of the Philistines.

Psalm 105:16
He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food.

Acts 7:11-12
Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food. / When Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers on their first visit.

Matthew 6:11
Give us this day our daily bread.

Matthew 25:35
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in,

Luke 15:14
After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.

John 6:35
Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.


Treasury of Scripture

And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, Go again, buy us a little food.

Genesis 43:4,20
If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: …

Genesis 42:1,2
Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? …

Proverbs 15:16
Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

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Buy Consumed Corn Eaten Eating Egypt Finished Food Grain Little Turn Used
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.














And when they had used up the grain
This phrase indicates a period of consumption and necessity. The Hebrew root for "used up" is "kalah," which means to be finished or completed. This suggests a sense of urgency and desperation, as the family had exhausted their resources. Historically, this reflects the severe famine that had spread across the land, emphasizing the dire circumstances that Jacob's family faced. It serves as a reminder of human dependency on God's provision and the natural cycles He controls.

they had brought from Egypt
Egypt, in this context, is a place of provision and sustenance. The Hebrew name for Egypt, "Mitzrayim," often symbolizes a place of both refuge and bondage in the Bible. Here, it is a source of life-sustaining grain during a time of famine. This duality highlights the complexity of Egypt's role in the biblical narrative, serving as a temporary solution to a pressing problem. It also foreshadows the eventual enslavement of the Israelites, reminding readers of the transient nature of earthly solutions.

their father said to them
Jacob, the patriarch, is the speaker here. His role as the head of the family is significant, as he is responsible for the welfare of his household. The Hebrew word for "father" is "ab," which denotes not only a biological relationship but also a position of authority and responsibility. Jacob's directive underscores the patriarchal structure of ancient Israelite society, where the father's word carried weight and direction for the family.

Go back and buy us a little more food
This command reflects both a practical and a spiritual dimension. The act of "going back" suggests a return to a place of previous provision, indicating reliance on God's past mercies. The Hebrew verb "shuv," meaning to return, can also imply repentance or turning back to God. The phrase "buy us a little more food" highlights the humility and dependence of Jacob's family. Despite their status, they are reduced to purchasing sustenance, a humbling reminder of human frailty and the need for divine intervention. This request for "a little more" signifies hope and trust in God's continued provision, even in times of scarcity.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So when
כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

[Jacob’s sons] had eaten all
כִּלּוּ֙ (kil·lū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3615: To be complete, at an end, finished, accomplished, or spent

the grain
הַשֶּׁ֔בֶר (haš·še·ḇer)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7668: Corn, grain

they had brought
הֵבִ֖יאוּ (hê·ḇî·’ū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

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

their father
אֲבִיהֶ֔ם (’ă·ḇî·hem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1: Father

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

to them,
אֲלֵיהֶם֙ (’ă·lê·hem)
Preposition | third person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“Go back
שֻׁ֖בוּ (šu·ḇū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

and buy
שִׁבְרוּ־ (šiḇ·rū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7666: To deal in grain

a little more
מְעַט־ (mə·‘aṭ-)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4592: A little, fewness, a few

food
אֹֽכֶל׃ (’ō·ḵel)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 400: Food

for us.”
לָ֥נוּ (lā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Genesis 43:2 It happened when they had eaten up (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 43:1
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