Verse

Genesis 42:5

ESV Thus the sons of Israel came to buy among the others who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
NIV So Israel’s sons were among those who went to buy grain, for there was famine in the land of Canaan also.
NASB So the sons of Israel came to buy grain among those who were coming, because the famine was also in the land of Canaan.
CSB The sons of Israel were among those who came to buy grain, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
NLT So Jacob’s sons arrived in Egypt along with others to buy food, for the famine was in Canaan as well.
KJV And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
NKJV And the sons of Israel went to buy grain among those who journeyed, for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

What does Genesis 42:5 mean?

Sent by their father Jacob from the Promised Land of Canaan (Genesis 37:1), the ten oldest "sons of Israel" (Genesis 35:10) arrive in Egypt. They find themselves among the throng of travelers from many lands, all looking to buy food to help their people survive the desperate famine (Genesis 42:1–4). Their younger brother, Benjamin, has not come along. Their father believes he has lost one son to death (Genesis 37:31–34), not knowing Joseph was sold as a slave by the jealous older sons (Genesis 37:28).

One reason for the brothers' hatred of Joseph were his dreams, which predicted they would one day bow to him (Genesis 37:5–11). They don't know that the brother they hated and sold is now the governor of the entire nation of Egypt (Genesis 41:44, 56). The unlikeliest of reunions is about to take place, and each of these ten men will end up bowing in submission, just as the dreams predicted (Genesis 42:6). This will ultimately lead the entire family to come to Egypt, under the leadership of Joseph (Genesis 47:11–12).
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