Genesis 43:29

29 Joseph looked around. Then he saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son. He asked, "Is this your youngest brother? Is he the one you told me about?" He continued, "May God be gracious to you, my son."

Genesis 43:29 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 43:29

And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin
He had seen him before when his brethren first presented themselves to him, but then took no particular and special notice of him, only gave him a side look as it were, but now he looked wistly at him: his mother's son;
the son of Rachel his mother, and who was his only brother by his mother's side, the rest, though his brethren, yet only by his father's side, not his mother's sons: and said, [is] this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me?
he knew he was the same, but was willing to have it from their mouths, to lead on to what he had further to say: and he said;
after they had answered his question, and told him it was he: God be gracious unto thee, my son;
speaking as a superior, a governor, in which capacity he was a father to his inferiors; and as a man, a relation, a brother, though not as yet discovered; he spoke in the most tender and affectionate manner, and, as a religious good man, he wishes the best thing he could for his brother, the grace and goodness of God; and which may be understood in the largest and most expressive sense, as including all good things, temporal, spiritual, and eternal.

Genesis 43:29 In-Context

27 He asked them how they were. Then he said, "How is your old father you told me about? Is he still living?"
28 They replied, "Your servant our father is still alive and well." And they bowed low to show him honor.
29 Joseph looked around. Then he saw his brother Benjamin, his own mother's son. He asked, "Is this your youngest brother? Is he the one you told me about?" He continued, "May God be gracious to you, my son."
30 It moved him deeply to see his brother. So Joseph hurried out and looked for a place to cry. He went into his own room and cried there.
31 Then he washed his face and came out. He calmed down and said, "Serve the food."
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