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)
Jacob's famous last words here reveal a deep, quiet hope hidden within apparent despair. He's not just saying "if I lose my children, I lose them" as a statement of defeat, but as a testament that even if the worst happens, he will still trust God's ultimate plan.
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)
Jacob, desperate to get Benjamin back from Egypt, instructs his sons to take a generous gift and twice the money back to the governor. He sends them off with a prayer for mercy, a plea for his sons Simeon and Benjamin to be returned, and a profound expression of his willingness to submit to God's will, even if it means further loss.
When facing a difficult situation with a powerful person, Jacob doesn't just rely on hope. He combines two ancient, potent strategies.
Jacob is sending his sons back to Egypt, where they've already had a terrifying encounter with the governor (Joseph, though they don't know it). The famine is still severe, and Simeon is still in custody. What does Jacob do?
Two-Pronged Strategy
This combination shows that faith isn't passive. It involves actively seeking God's favor while also using wise, practical means to navigate difficult circumstances.
Jacob's final words are heart-wrenching, revealing a profound, yet sorrowful, trust in God's ultimate sovereignty.
After sending his sons with instructions for gifts and prayers, Jacob utters a phrase that seems to hold a deep well of pain:
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This isn't a statement of giving up on God, but rather a profound expression of resignation. Jacob has already lost Joseph. Now, Simeon is held captive. The possibility of losing Benjamin, and the remaining sons, is terrifyingly real.
What 'Bereaved' Means Here
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 words reveal the immense pressure of the famine and his deep emotional turmoil. He is sending his most beloved son, Benjamin, into a dangerous situation, praying for divine intervention while bracing himself for the potential loss of all his remaining children.
c. 1700 BC
Joseph sold into slavery
Jacob's son Joseph is betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery in Egypt.
c. 1700-1670 BC
Joseph rises to power in Egypt
Through trials and God's favor, Joseph rises to become the second-in-command of Egypt, saving the land from famine.
c. 1670 BC
Brothers first travel to Egypt for grain
Jacob's sons, facing famine in Canaan, travel to Egypt to buy food, not recognizing Joseph as the powerful governor.
c. 1670 BC
Joseph tests his brothers
Joseph accuses his brothers of spying, imprisons them briefly, and demands they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, to prove their honesty.
c. 1670 BC— this verse
Jacob reluctantly allows Benjamin to go to Egypt
Facing starvation, Jacob finally agrees to let Benjamin travel to Egypt with his brothers, entrusting him to Judah's care.
This passage echoes Jacob's sentiment of resignation, with Esther saying, 'If I perish, I perish,' demonstrating a deep trust in God's providence even in the face of potential disaster.
Romans 8:28Jacob's prayer and surrender reflect the profound truth that God works all things for good for those who love Him, a foundational concept for navigating difficult circumstances with faith.
Job 1:21Like Job, who stated, 'The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord,' Jacob expresses a similar submission to God's sovereignty, acknowledging that all he has comes from God.
Jeremiah 29:11-13Jacob's prayer for mercy and hope for his sons' return aligns with God's promise of a future and a hope, urging His people to seek Him and promising to be found.
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 famous last words here reveal a deep, quiet hope hidden within apparent despair. He's not just saying "if I lose my children, I lose them" as a statement of defeat, but as a testament that even if the worst happens, he will still trust God's ultimate plan.
Jacob, desperate to get Benjamin back from Egypt, instructs his sons to take a generous gift and twice the money back to the governor. He sends them off with a prayer for mercy, a plea for his sons Simeon and Benjamin to be returned, and a profound expression of his willingness to submit to God's will, even if it means further loss.
Jacob, desperate to get Benjamin back from Egypt, instructs his sons to take a generous gift and twice the money back to the governor. He sends them off with a prayer for mercy, a plea for his sons Simeon and Benjamin to be returned, and a profound expression of his willingness to submit to God's will, even if it means further loss.
"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 famous last words here reveal a deep, quiet hope hidden within apparent despair. He's not just saying "if I lose my children, I lose them" as a statement of defeat, but as a testament that ev…
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Last reviewed October 2026