Genesis 42:6

4 But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.

5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

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.

7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.

8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground.
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.
WEB
Joseph was the governor over the land. It was he who sold to all the people of the land. Joseph’s brothers came, and bowed themselves down to him with their faces 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.
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.
BLB
And Joseph—he was the ruler over the land; he was the one selling to all the people of the land. And Joseph’s brothers came, and they bowed themselves before him, noses to the earth.
ÅB
Og Josef var den som rådet i landet; det var han som solgte korn til alt folket i landet; og Josefs brødre kom og bøyde seg med sitt ansikt til jorden for ham.
OTB
Josef var landets guvernør, den som solgte korn til alle folkene. Da Josefs brødre kom, bøyde de seg for ham med ansiktene mot jorden.
B1930
Og Josef var den som rådet i landet; det var han som solgte korn til alt folket i landet; og Josefs brødre kom og bøide sig med sitt ansikt til jorden for ham.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 41:55–56

    And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 45:26

    And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.

    Read in context
  • Acts 7:10

    And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 19:1

    And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

    Read in context
  • Genesis 44:14

    And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 37:7–10

    For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 18:2

    And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

    Read in context
  • Revelation 3:9

    Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

    Read in context