Genesis 43:11

9 I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life.

10 If we had not delayed, we could have come and gone twice by now.”

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.

12 Take double the silver with you so that you may return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.

13 Take your brother as well, and return to the man at once.

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
Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
KJV
And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds:
WEB
Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;
ASV
And their father Israel said unto them, If it be so now, do this: take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and myrrh, nuts, and almonds;
DARBY
And their father Israel said to them, If it is then so, do this: take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a gift: a little balsam and a little honey, tragacanth and ladanum, pistacia-nuts and almonds.
BLB
And Israel their father said to them, “If so, then do this: Take from the best products of the land in your⁺ vessels, and carry down to the man [as] a gift—a little balm, and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
ÅB
og ta dobbelt så mange penger med dere, for de penger som kom igjen og lå øverst i deres sekker, må dere ha med tilbake; kanskje det var en feiltagelse.
OTB
Da sa deres far Israel: «Hvis det må være slik, så gjør dette: ta med noen av de beste produktene fra landet i sekkene deres og bær dem ned til mannen som en gave—litt balsam, litt honning, noen krydder og myrra, pistasjnøtter og mandler.
B1930
og ta dobbelt så mange penger med eder, for de penger som kom igjen og lå øverst i eders sekker, må I ha med tilbake; kanskje det var en feiltagelse.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 37:25

    And as they sat down to eat a meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 8:22

    Is there no balm in Gilead? Is no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 18:16

    A man’s gift opens doors for him, and brings him before great men.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 9:7

    “If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

    Read in context
  • Ezekiel 27:17

    Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged wheat from Minnith, cakes and honey, oil and balm for your merchandise.

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 20:12

    At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard about Hezekiah’s illness.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 32:13–21

    Jacob spent the night there, and from what he had brought with him, he selected a gift for his brother Esau:

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 17:18

    A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.

    Read in context