The Meaning of Genesis 42:1 Explained

Genesis 42:1

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

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

Darby: And Jacob saw that there was grain in Egypt, and Jacob said to his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Genesis 42:1 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 42:1-17 - Joseph Sees His Ten Brothers
The true interpretation of Joseph's treatment of his brethren is to be found in the supposition that he repeated toward them, as nearly as possible, the behavior that they had shown to himself at the pit's mouth, and this with no thought of retaliation, but that their consciences might be awakened, and that he might discover if they would deal differently with Benjamin than they had dealt with him. He needed to be sure of their repentance before he could trust himself to them again. His purpose therefore was in part secured when he heard them saying to each other in the dear old home-tongue, which they never expected him to understand, "We are verily guilty because of our brother." So God deals with us. The east wind blows bitterly in our faces, the famine is behind and the harsh governor before. All these things are hard to bear; but behind them is the tenderest love, which struggles with its tears and is only eager to get us right before entrusting itself to us. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in Genesis 42:1 mean?

And when saw Jacob that there was grain in Egypt then said Jacob to his sons why do you look at one another
וַיַּ֣רְא יַעֲקֹ֔ב כִּ֥י יֶשׁ־ שֶׁ֖בֶר בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ לְבָנָ֔יו לָ֖מָּה ؟ תִּתְרָאֽוּ

וַיַּ֣רְא  And  when  saw 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
יַעֲקֹ֔ב  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
כִּ֥י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יֶשׁ־  there  was 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יֵשׁ  
Sense: being, existence, substance, there is or are.
שֶׁ֖בֶר  grain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: שֶׁבֶר  
Sense: grain, corn (as foodstuff).
בְּמִצְרָ֑יִם  in  Egypt 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: מִצְרַיִם  
Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  then  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
יַעֲקֹב֙  Jacob 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יַעֲקֹב  
Sense: son of Isaac, grandson of Abraham, and father of the 2 patriarchs of the tribes of Israel.
לְבָנָ֔יו  to  his  sons 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
לָ֖מָּה  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
؟ תִּתְרָאֽוּ  do  you  look  at  one  another 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.