The Meaning of Genesis 43:28 Explained

Genesis 43:28

KJV: And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.

YLT: and they say, 'Thy servant our father is well, he is yet alive;' and they bow, and do obeisance.

Darby: And they said, Thy servant our father is well; he is yet alive. And they bowed, and made obeisance.

ASV: And they said, Thy servant our father is well, he is yet alive. And they bowed the head, and made obeisance.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they answered,  Thy servant  our father  [is] in good health,  he [is] yet alive.  And they bowed down their heads,  and made obeisance. 

What does Genesis 43:28 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 43:16-34 - Joseph Feasts His Brothers
Our Savior, of whom Joseph was such a striking emblem, knows all about us. Though we may fear Him with a great fear, He is providing for us with a thoughtful tenderness, which adapts itself to our every need. There is water for traveled feet; the benediction of peace for troubled hearts; a feast for hungry souls; tears of love for Benjamin; and a consideration of our very sitting at His table, which reveals His perfect knowledge of us. He waits to manifest himself as He does not to the world. The only thing that can separate is unconfessed sin. But just so soon as this is put away, the flood gates are opened and heart commingles with heart. Do not His mercies lead us to repentance? [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 43:28 mean?

and they answered in good health your servant our father [is] he [is] still alive And they bowed down their heads - and prostrated themselves
וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ שָׁל֛וֹם לְעַבְדְּךָ֥ לְאָבִ֖ינוּ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ חָ֑י וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ [וישתחו] (וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ‪‬‪‬)

וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ  and  they  answered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שָׁל֛וֹם  in  good  health 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
לְעַבְדְּךָ֥  your  servant 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
לְאָבִ֖ינוּ  our  father  [is] 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ  he  [is]  still 
Parse: Adverb, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
חָ֑י  alive 
Parse: Adjective, masculine singular
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
וַֽיִּקְּד֖וּ  And  they  bowed  down  their  heads 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָדַד  
Sense: (Qal) to bow down.
[וישתחו]  - 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
(וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוּֽוּ‪‬‪‬)  and  prostrated  themselves 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.