Bereshis 43:27

27 And he asked them l’shalom (about their welfare), and said, Is there shalom with avichem, the zaken of whom ye spoke? Is he still alive?

Bereshis 43:27 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 43:27

And he asked them of [their] welfare
Or "peace" ^F2, their prosperity, especially of the health of their bodies, whether they were well and in good health after so long a journey: and said, [is] your father well, the old man of whom ye spake?
when they were with him before, and told him they were all the sons of one man, who dwelt in Canaan: [is] he yet alive?
which he was very desirous of knowing; for, being advanced in years, he might fear he was removed by death in the time between their going and returning.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (Mwlvl) "ad pacem", Montanus, "de pace", Vatablus, Drusius, Piscator, Schmidt.

Bereshis 43:27 In-Context

25 And they made ready the minchah for bo Yosef (coming of Yosef) at tzahorayim; for they heard that they would eat lechem there.

26 And when Yosef came home, they presented him the minchah which was in their yad in the house, and prostrated themselves to the ground before him.

27 And he asked them l’shalom (about their welfare), and said, Is there shalom with avichem, the zaken of whom ye spoke? Is he still alive?

28 And they answered, There is shalom with thy eved avinu; he is still alive. And they bowed their heads, and prostrated themselves.

29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw achiv Binyamin, ben immo, and said, Is this achichem hakaton (your younger brother), of whom ye spoke unto me? And he said, Elohim be gracious unto thee, beni.