Verse

Genesis 42:29

ESV When they came to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them, saying,
NIV When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them. They said,
NASB When they came to their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened to them, saying,
CSB When they reached their father Jacob in the land of Canaan, they told him all that had happened to them:
NLT When the brothers came to their father, Jacob, in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened to them.
KJV And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,
NKJV Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying:

What does Genesis 42:29 mean?

This is a moment Joseph's brothers (Genesis 42:1–5) would have been dreading. They are returning home to their father, Jacob, without one of his sons—again (Genesis 37:28, 31–33). The governor of Egypt has kept Simeon (Genesis 42:19) and sent the other nine back (Genesis 42:20) to return with their youngest brother Benjamin. This news will be doubly painful for their father. One son is in prison in Egypt and the ruler there is demanding the last remaining son of his beloved Rachel.

What the brothers do not know is that the Egyptian governor is the brother, Joseph, himself (Genesis 42:7–8). They've already concluded their suffering is punishment for what they did to their younger brother (Genesis 42:21–22). Now, giving bad news to their aging father, they are acutely reminded of the day they returned to Jacob without Joseph. Their father had mourned for Joseph with great desperation for a long time (Genesis 37:35).
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