Genesis 43:18

¹⁶ When Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they shall dine with me at noon.”

¹⁷ The man did as Joseph had commanded and took the brothers to Joseph’s house.

But the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”

¹⁹ So they approached Joseph’s steward and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.

²⁰ “Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food.

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: But the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”
KJV: And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
WEB: The men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph’s house; and they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time, we’re brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, attack us, and seize us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”
ASV: And the men were afraid, because they were brought to Joseph`s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
DARBY: And the men were afraid because they were brought into Joseph's house, and said, Because of the money that was returned to us in our sacks at the beginning are we brought in, that he may turn against us, and fall upon us and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
BLB: And the men were afraid because they were brought into the house of Joseph. And they said, “[It is] because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time that we are being brought in, to roll himself upon us, and to fall upon us, and to take us for servants, and our donkeys.”

ÅB: De gikk derfor til bestyreren for Josefs hus, og talte til ham ved inngangen til huset
OTB: Mennene var redde da de ble ført til Josefs hus. De tenkte: «Vi er brakt hit på grunn av pengene som ble returnert i sekkene våre første gang. Han har til hensikt å angripe oss, overmanne oss, og ta oss som slaver, sammen med eslene våre.»
B1930: De gikk derfor til mannen som forestod Josefs hus, og talte til ham ved inngangen til huset

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Genesis 42:35
As they began emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his bag of silver! And when they and their father saw the bags of silver, they were dismayed.
Read in context
Judges 14:4
(Now his father and mother did not know this was from the LORD, who was seeking an occasion to move against the Philistines; for at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.)
Read in context
Psalms 73:16
When I tried to understand all this, it was troublesome in my sight
Read in context
Job 15:21
Sounds of terror fill his ears; in his prosperity the destroyer attacks him.
Read in context
Matthew 14:26–27
When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.
Read in context
Genesis 42:28
“My silver has been returned!” he said to his brothers. “It is here in my sack.” Their hearts sank, and trembling, they turned to one another and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”
Read in context
Genesis 42:21
Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”
Read in context
Mark 6:16
But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!”
Read in context