The Meaning of Genesis 43:30 Explained

Genesis 43:30

KJV: And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

YLT: And Joseph hasteth, for his bowels have been moved for his brother, and he seeketh to weep, and entereth the inner chamber, and weepeth there;

Darby: And Joseph made haste, for his bowels burned for his brother; and he sought a place to weep, and he went into the chamber, and wept there.

ASV: And Joseph made haste; for his heart yearned over his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Joseph  made haste;  for his bowels  did yearn  upon his brother:  and he sought  [where] to weep;  and he entered  into [his] chamber,  and wept  there. 

What does Genesis 43:30 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 43:30 mean?

so made haste Joseph for yearned his heart for his brother and he sought to weep and he went into [his] chamber and wept there
וַיְמַהֵ֣ר יוֹסֵ֗ף כִּֽי־ נִכְמְר֤וּ רַחֲמָיו֙ אֶל־ אָחִ֔יו וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ לִבְכּ֑וֹת וַיָּבֹ֥א הַחַ֖דְרָה וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ שָֽׁמָּה

וַיְמַהֵ֣ר  so  made  haste 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָהַר  
Sense: (Qal) to hasten.
יוֹסֵ֗ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
נִכְמְר֤וּ  yearned 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: כָּמַר  
Sense: to yearn, be kindled, be black (hot), grow warm and tender, be or grow hot, become hot, become emotionally agitated.
רַחֲמָיו֙  his  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רַחַם 
Sense: womb.
אָחִ֔יו  his  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
וַיְבַקֵּ֖שׁ  and  he  sought 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
לִבְכּ֑וֹת  to  weep 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בָּכָה  
Sense: to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears.
וַיָּבֹ֥א  and  he  went 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הַחַ֖דְרָה  into  [his]  chamber 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: חֶדֶר  
Sense: chamber, room, parlour, innermost or inward part, within.
וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ  and  wept 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּכָה  
Sense: to weep, bewail, cry, shed tears.