Israel is concerned over his favored son, Benjamin. He is also confused about the reason the Egyptian official treated them so kindly. This caused him some concern. It is possible he thought his sons were lying to him. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#favor)
The word "Canaan" is understood. This information can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "The famine was severe in the land of Canaan" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This phrase is used here to mark the beginning of a new part of the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)
"when Jacob and his family had eaten"
"Jacob's older sons had brought"
Here "us" refers to Jacob, his sons, and the rest of the family. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)
"Judah told his father Jacob"
This refers to Joseph, but the brothers did not know it was Joseph. They referred to him as "the man" or "the man, the lord of the land" as in Genesis 42:30.
This has a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "warned us that we would not see his face unless we brought our youngest brother with us" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)
"was very serious when he warned us, saying"
Judah uses this phrase twice in 43:3-5 to emphasize to his father that they cannot return to Egypt without Benjamin. The phrase "my face" refers to the man, who is Joseph. Alternate translation: "You will not see me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
Judah is referring to Benjamin, Rachel's last born before she died.
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It was common to use the phrase "go down" when speaking of traveling from Canaan to Egypt.
"Why did you cause me so much trouble"
"The man asked many questions"
Here "us" is exclusive and refers to the brothers who went to Egypt and spoke with "the man." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)
This is a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "He asked us directly if our father was still alive and if we had another brother." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)
"We answered the questions he asked us"
The sons use a question emphasize that the did not know what the man would tell them to do. This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "We did not know he would say ... down!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
This is a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "he would tell us to bring our brother down to Egypt." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)
It was common to use the word "down" when speaking of traveling from Canaan to Egypt.
The phrases "we may live" and "not die" mean the same thing. Judah is emphasizing that they have to buy food in Egypt in order to survive. Alternate translation: "We will go now to Egypt and get grain so our whole family will live" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-parallelism)
Here "We" refers to the brothers who will travel to Egypt. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)
Here "we" refers to the brothers, Israel, and the whole family. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)
Here "we" refers to the brothers. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)
Here "you" is singular and refers to Israel. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-you)
Here "our" refers to the brothers. This refers to the small children who were most likely to die during a famine. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)
The abstract noun "guarantee" can be stated as the verb "promise." Alternate translation: "I will promise to bring him back" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
How Jacob will hold Judah responsible can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "You will make me answer to you about what happens to Benjamin" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This speaks about "blame" as if it were an object that a person has to carry. Alternate translation: "you may blame me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
They delayed because their father waited so long to send his sons to Egypt to get more food. Judah is complaining that they could not go sooner. He wishes that they had not delayed. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-hypo)
"we could have gone and returned twice"
"If this is our only choice, then do it"
It was common to use the word "down" when speaking of traveling from Canaan to Egypt.
an oily substance with a sweet smell used for healing and protecting skin. See how you translated this word in Genesis 37:25. Alternate translation: "medicine"
seasonings. See how you translated these words in Genesis 37:25.
small, green tree nuts (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-unknown)
tree nuts with a sweet flavor (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-unknown)
Here "hand" stands for the whole person. Alternate translation: "Take double the money with you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
Here "hand" stands for the whole person. The phrase "that was returned" can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "take back to Egypt the money someone put in your sacks" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"Take also Benjamin"
"return"
The abstract noun "mercy" can be stated as the adjective "kind." Alternate translation: "May God Almighty cause the man to be kind to you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
"Simeon"
"If I lose my children, then I lose my children." This means that Jacob knows he must accept whatever happens to his sons.
Here "hand" refers to the entire person. Alternate translation: "they took" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
It was common to use the phrase "went down" when speaking of traveling from Canaan to Egypt.
"Benjamin with Joseph's older brothers"
The "steward" was responsible for managing Joseph's household activities.
Here "brought" can be translated as "took." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-go)
"into Joseph's house"
"Joseph's brothers were afraid"
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they were going into Joseph's house" or "the steward was taking them into Joseph's house" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The steward is bringing us into the house because of the money that someone put back in our sacks" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
This can be translated as a new sentence. Alternate translation: "He is waiting for the opportunity to accuse us, so that he might arrest us"
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It is common to use the phrase "came down" when speaking of traveling from Canaan to Egypt.
The brothers continue speaking to the steward of the house.
This phrase is used here to mark an important event in the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
"when we came to the place that we were going to stay for the night"
The word "behold" here shows that the brothers were surprised by what they saw.
"each one of us found the full amount of his money in his sack"
Here "hands" stands for the whole person. Alternate translation: "We have brought the money back with us" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
Here "hand" stands for the whole person. Alternate translation: "We have also brought more money to buy food" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
It common to use the word "down" when speaking of traveling from Canaan to Egypt.
The abstract noun "Peace" can be stated as a verb. Alternate translation: "Relax" or "Calm yourselves" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)
The stewards is not speaking about two different Gods. Alternate translation: "Your God, the God your father worships"
This custom helped tired travelers to refresh themselves after walking long distances. The full meaning of this statement may be made explicit. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"Feed" is dry food that is set aside for animals
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Here "hand" stands for the entire person. Alternate translation: "the brothers brought the gifts they had with them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
This is a way of showing honor and respect. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)
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They refer to their father as "Your servant" to show respect. Alternate translation: "Our father who serves you"
They lay down in front of the man to show him respect.
This means "he looked up." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
This can be translated with a new sentence. Alternate translation: "his mother's son. Joseph said"
Possible meanings are 1) Joseph is truly asking a question to confirm that this man is Benjamin, or 2) it is a rhetorical question. Alternate translation: "So this is your youngest brother ... me." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
This is a friendly way one man speaks to another man of lower rank. Alternate translation: "young man"
"hurried out of the room"
The phrase "deeply moved" refers to having a strong feeling or emotion when something important happens. Alternate translation: "for he had strong feelings of compassion for his brother" or "for he had strong feelings of affection for his brother" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
It can be made explicit to whom Joseph is speaking. Alternate translation: "and said to his servants" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This means to distribute the food so that people may eat.
This means that Joseph, the brothers, and the other Egyptians are eating in three different places within the same room. Alternate translation: "The servants served Joseph by himself and the brothers by themselves and the Egyptians, who were eating with him, by themselves"
These are probably other Egyptian officials who ate with Joseph, but they still sat separately from him and the Hebrew brothers.
This can be translated as a new sentence: "They did this because the Egyptians thought it was shameful to eat with the Hebrews"
Here "bread" stands for food in general. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
It is implied that Joseph had arranged where each brother would sit. You can make clear the implied information. Alternate translation: "The brothers sat across from the man, according to how he arranged their places" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
The "firstborn" and the "youngest" are used together to mean all the brothers were sitting in order according to their age. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-merism)
"The men were very surprised when they realized this"
The phrase "five times" can be stated more generally. Alternate translation: "But Benjamin received a portion that was much bigger than what his brothers received"