Genesis 43:14
May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jacob's final words, "And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved," reveal a profound surrender, not of hope, but of personal control. He’s not simply resigned to loss, but actively entrusting the outcome to God’s sovereign will, a radical act of faith amidst overwhelming fear.
Jacob, desperate for food and having already lost one son, Simeon, to the Egyptian ruler's demands, reluctantly agrees to let his youngest, Benjamin, travel back to Egypt with his brothers. He instructs them to take valuable gifts and double the money, sending them off with a heartfelt prayer that God will grant them mercy from the powerful official. Jacob expresses his profound grief and a sense of resignation to whatever fate may befall his children, acknowledging the immense risk of letting Benjamin go.
Jacob is sending his sons back to Egypt, facing the powerful Egyptian ruler. What's his strategy for ensuring their safety and Benjamin's return?
Facing a daunting situation with an unknown, powerful figure, Jacob employs a two-pronged approach: prayer and a gift.
The Power of Prayer
Jacob calls upon 'God Almighty' (El Shaddai), a name associated with God's covenantal promises and His all-sufficiency. This isn't just a casual wish; it's a deep plea for divine intervention. He's asking God to soften the 'man's' (Joseph's) heart and grant his sons favor. This reminds us that even when facing human authority, our ultimate recourse is to the One who controls all hearts.
The Diplomacy of Gifts
Remembering how a gift helped reconcile him with his brother Esau years ago, Jacob also sends a present with his sons. This shows wisdom in understanding how human interactions often work. While God's favor is primary, practical steps like offering a gift can be a wise and humble way to navigate difficult relationships and open doors.
Jacob's final words are striking: 'And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.' Is this pure despair, or something more?
Jacob's statement, 'If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved,' is a profound expression of submission, not utter despair.
Acknowledging the Worst
He had already lost Joseph, and now Simeon is held captive. The thought of losing Benjamin, the last son of his beloved Rachel, is almost unbearable. His words acknowledge the potential for the worst possible outcome – losing all his sons. This raw honesty reflects the depth of his anguish and the overwhelming circumstances he faces.
Trusting God's Sovereignty
However, this isn't the end of the story. The commentaries suggest this is a form of 'pious resignation' or 'patient submission' to God's will. It’s like saying, 'I’ve done all I can, I’ve prayed and sent a gift. Now, whatever happens, I will accept it, because God is in control.' It's a courageous declaration of trust in God's ultimate plan, even when that plan is painful and uncertain. He surrenders the outcome, acknowledging that even in loss, God's purposes stand.
Understand the original words
El Shaddai · Hebrew Noun
A title for God (El Shaddai) that emphasizes His role as the All-Sufficient One, the Almighty who provides for His people and fulfills His covenant promises.
racham · Hebrew Noun
Divine favor and compassionate action toward those who do not deserve it. It is an expression of God's character where He shows kindness, sparing judgment or providing relief.
shakol · Hebrew Verb
The state of having lost a loved one, particularly through death. It carries the weight of deep grief and the emptiness resulting from such a loss.
Jacob's prayer is a desperate plea to God for mercy from the Egyptian ruler, recognizing that human hearts are in God's hands. His resigned statement, 'If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved,' reflects both deep anguish over his past losses and a profound, though sorrowful, submission to God's sovereign will, even as he sends Benjamin into a dangerous situation.
c. 1700 BC
Jacob's Family Migrates to Egypt
Jacob and his large family, fleeing a severe famine in Canaan, settle in the land of Goshen in Egypt.
c. 1700-1680 BC
Joseph is Governor of Egypt
Joseph, sold into slavery years prior by his brothers, has risen to a position of immense power as second-in-command over Egypt.
c. 1680 BC
First Trip to Egypt for Grain
Jacob's sons travel to Egypt to buy food due to the ongoing famine, where they are interrogated by Joseph, whom they do not recognize.
c. 1680 BC
Simeon Held Hostage
Joseph, testing his brothers and seeking to see his youngest brother Benjamin, holds Simeon captive until they return with Benjamin.
This passage echoes Jacob's sentiment of resignation to fate, with Esther saying, 'If I perish, I perish,' when facing a dangerous mission for her people.
Job 1:20-21Job's response to devastating loss, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord,' reflects a similar deep trust in God's sovereignty amidst suffering, much like Jacob's statement.
Romans 8:28This verse offers a theological framework for Jacob's resignation, stating that 'all things work together for good to those who love God,' providing hope that even painful circumstances are part of a divine plan.
Philippians 4:11-13Paul's ability to be content in all circumstances, 'whether in Christ-humbling want or in Christ-exalting abundance,' parallels Jacob's acceptance of potential loss, showcasing a deep inner peace rooted in God that transcends outward circumstances.
calvinGenesis 43:1-34: "And the famine was sore in the land."
And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down?
Et dixerunt, Interrogando interrogavit vir ille de nobis et cognatione nostra, discendo, Num adhuc pater vester vivit? Num est vobis frater? Et nuntiavimus ei secundum verba ista:…
clarkeGenesis 43:14: "And God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved."
This verse may be literally translated thus: - "And God, the all-sufficient, shall give you tender mercies before the man, and send to you your other brother, and Benjamin; and I, as I shall be childless, so I shall be childless." That is, I will submit to this privation, till God shall restore my children. It appears that this…
Jacob's final words, "And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved," reveal a profound surrender, not of hope, but of personal control. He’s not simply resigned to loss, but actively entrusting the outcome to God’s sovereign will, a radical act of faith amidst overwhelming fear.
Jacob, desperate for food and having already lost one son, Simeon, to the Egyptian ruler's demands, reluctantly agrees to let his youngest, Benjamin, travel back to Egypt with his brothers. He instructs them to take valuable gifts and double the money, sending them off with a heartfelt prayer that God will grant them mercy from the powerful official. Jacob expresses his profound grief and a sense of resignation to whatever fate may befall his children, acknowledging the immense risk of letting Benjamin go.
Jacob, desperate for food and having already lost one son, Simeon, to the Egyptian ruler's demands, reluctantly agrees to let his youngest, Benjamin, travel back to Egypt with his brothers. He instructs them to take valuable gifts and double the money, sending them off with a heartfelt prayer that God will grant them mercy from the powerful official. Jacob expresses his profound grief and a sense of resignation to whatever fate may befall his children, acknowledging the immense risk of letting Benjamin go.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Genesis 43:14 is available in the Sola app.
c. 1680 BC— this verse
Jacob's Sons Prepare for Second Trip
With their food supply dwindling and Simeon still held in Egypt, Jacob's sons must convince him to let Benjamin accompany them on their return journey.
"May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, and may he send back your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.”" — Jacob's final words, "And as for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved," reveal a profound surrender, not of hope, but of personal control. He’s not simply resigned to loss, but actively…
