The Meaning of Genesis 42:6 Explained

Genesis 42:6

KJV: And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.

YLT: and Joseph is the ruler over the land, he who is selling to all the people of the land, and Joseph's brethren come and bow themselves to him -- face to the earth.

Darby: And Joseph, he was the governor over the land he it was that sold the corn to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brethren came and bowed down to him, the face to the earth.

ASV: And Joseph was the governor over the land; he it was that sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves to him with their faces to the earth.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Joseph  [was] the governor  over the land,  [and] he [it was] that sold  to all the people  of the land:  and Joseph's  brethren  came,  and bowed down  themselves before him [with] their faces  to the earth. 

What does Genesis 42:6 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 42:6 mean?

And Joseph was the governor over the land [and] it [was] he who sold to all the people of the land And came brothers of Joseph and bowed down before him with [their] faces to the ground
וְיוֹסֵ֗ף ה֚וּא הַשַּׁלִּ֣יט עַל־ הָאָ֔רֶץ ה֥וּא הַמַּשְׁבִּ֖יר לְכָל־ עַ֣ם הָאָ֑רֶץ וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֲחֵ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־ ל֥וֹ אַפַּ֖יִם אָֽרְצָה

וְיוֹסֵ֗ף  And  Joseph 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
הַשַּׁלִּ֣יט  the  governor 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: שַׁלִּיט  
Sense: having mastery, domineering, master.
עַל־  over 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הָאָ֔רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
ה֥וּא  [and]  it  [was] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
הַמַּשְׁבִּ֖יר  he  who  sold 
Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁבַר  
Sense: to buy or purchase grain.
לְכָל־  to  all 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עַ֣ם  the  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
הָאָ֑רֶץ  of  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙  And  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֲחֵ֣י  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
יוֹסֵ֔ף  of  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־  and  bowed  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
ל֥וֹ  before  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
אַפַּ֖יִם  with  [their]  faces 
Parse: Noun, md
Root: אַף 
Sense: nostril, nose, face.
אָֽרְצָה  to  the  ground 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.