He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The steward's words reveal a crucial, often overlooked aspect of Joseph's plan: he's intentionally teaching his household about the God of Israel. By calling the returned money a "treasure" given by "your God and the God of your father," he subtly shifts the brothers' fear of being accused of theft to an acknowledgment of divine providence, preparing them for the encounter with Joseph himself.
He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The brothers are back in Egypt, anxiously presenting their gifts and the money for their purchases, while Joseph's steward leads them into Joseph's house, filling them with dread. To ease their fears, the steward reassures them, attributing the returned money to God's providence, and then releases Simeon, whom Joseph had kept as a hostage, proving they are not in trouble and can now proceed with their visit.
The brothers are terrified, convinced they're about to be enslaved. Then, the steward speaks words that completely change the atmosphere.
In Genesis 43:23, the steward, likely instructed by Joseph, addresses the brothers' fear with unexpected reassurance. He uses the phrase, 'Peace to you, do not be afraid.' This isn't just a casual 'it's okay'; it's a divine impartation of calm in the face of overwhelming anxiety.
What's remarkable is how he attributes their 'treasure' – the money returned in their sacks – not to an oversight or trick, but to God's providence. He states, 'Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you.' This acknowledges the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, showing that even in Egypt, the true God was at work.
This reveals a key aspect of God's sovereignty: He can use any circumstance, even one that causes fear, to bring about His purposes. He also demonstrates His care by orchestrating the return of the money, turning what seemed like a potential trap into a sign of favor.
The brothers are terrified the returned money is a setup. But the steward reinterprets it as a divine gift, turning their fear into relief.
The brothers' greatest fear was that the money found in their sacks was a pretext for Joseph to accuse them of theft and enslave them. They had already experienced extreme hardship and felt guilty about their past treatment of Joseph.
The steward’s words in Genesis 43:23, 'I had your money,' directly addresses this fear. He acknowledges receiving their payment, diffusing the immediate anxiety. More importantly, he reframes the entire situation. Instead of a trap, the returned money is presented as a 'treasure' given by their God.
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This shows God’s active involvement in restoring what was wrongly taken. It wasn't just about returning the money; it was about restoring the brothers' sense of security and proving their innocence. This act of unexpected generosity and honesty, orchestrated by God through Joseph, was a crucial step in their reconciliation and healing.
The brothers are still anxious, unsure of their fate and desperate for their father’s full trust. Then, Simeon is brought out, a powerful symbol of hope.
The release of Simeon in Genesis 43:23 is the climax of the steward's reassuring words. He had been held as a hostage, a tangible representation of the brothers' uncertainty and potential punishment. His appearance signifies that the immediate crisis is over and that the brothers are not being held captive.
This moment is critical because it fulfills Joseph’s promise to see Benjamin and, by extension, offers hope for Simeon's complete freedom and their safe return home. It demonstrates that Joseph’s intentions were not malicious, but part of a larger plan to test and ultimately reconcile with his family.
The bringing out of Simeon directly combats their fear and allows them to move forward with the banquet invitation, a sign of acceptance and restored relationship. It's a powerful visual pledge of reunion and the beginning of healing for the broken family.
Understand the original words
shalom · Hebrew Noun
A state of wholeness, completeness, or well-being. Biblically, it often denotes a condition of prosperity, harmony, and friendship with God or others.
yare' · Hebrew Verb
A feeling of anxiety, dread, or terror. Biblically, it is often used in the context of the fear of God (reverence) or the fear of impending judgment or harm from others.
matmon · Hebrew Noun
Refers to wealth, resources, or valuable goods. In a theological sense, it can refer to the richness of God's grace or physical blessings bestowed upon his people.
The steward's words, 'Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks,' reveal that Joseph had not only risen to a high position in Egypt but had also influenced his household with knowledge of the true God, showing how God's providence works even in difficult and deceptive circumstances.
~1805 BC
Joseph is sold into slavery
Joseph, son of Jacob, is betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery, eventually ending up in Egypt.
~1796 BC
Joseph rises to power in Egypt
Through divine guidance and shrewdness, Joseph rises from imprisonment to become the second-in-command of Egypt, overseeing its grain supply.
~1787 BC
Famine grips the land
A severe famine causes widespread hardship, forcing people to seek food from Egypt, the only region with a grain reserve.
~1787 BC
First journey to Egypt for grain
Jacob's sons travel to Egypt to buy grain, where they are confronted by Joseph, whom they do not recognize. Joseph, testing them, takes Simeon as a hostage and demands they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, on their next trip.
~1787 BC— this verse
Sons return to Egypt with Benjamin
Jacob's sons, with great reluctance from Jacob, return to Egypt bringing Benjamin and double the money, including the money returned from their first purchase.
This passage shows God's presence and favor with Joseph even in his distress, mirroring how the steward attributes the 'treasure' in the sacks to God's providence, highlighting God's hand in Joseph's family affairs.
Exodus 3:6The steward's affirmation of 'your God, and the God of your father' echoes the declaration God made to Moses, emphasizing the continuity of God's covenantal relationship with Abraham's descendants through generations.
Psalm 105:16-22This Psalm recounts Joseph's rise to power in Egypt and how God used him to save his family, providing a broader theological context for the steward's words that God orchestrates events for His people's good.
Proverbs 16:7The steward's interpretation that God put the treasure in their sacks aligns with the proverb that 'When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him,' showing God's ability to turn hostile situations into blessings.
Matthew 10:29-30Jesus' words about not a single sparrow falling without the Father's notice parallel the steward's assurance of divine oversight, reminding us that even small details like money in sacks are known and cared for by God.
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 43:23: "And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them."
And he said - The address of the steward in this verse plainly proves that the knowledge of the true God was in Egypt. It is probable that the steward himself was a Hebrew, and that Joseph had given him intimation of the whole affair; and though he was not at liberty to reveal it, yet he gives them assurances…
The steward's words reveal a crucial, often overlooked aspect of Joseph's plan: he's intentionally teaching his household about the God of Israel. By calling the returned money a "treasure" given by "your God and the God of your father," he subtly shifts the brothers' fear of being accused of theft to an acknowledgment of divine providence, preparing them for the encounter with Joseph himself.
The brothers are back in Egypt, anxiously presenting their gifts and the money for their purchases, while Joseph's steward leads them into Joseph's house, filling them with dread. To ease their fears, the steward reassures them, attributing the returned money to God's providence, and then releases Simeon, whom Joseph had kept as a hostage, proving they are not in trouble and can now proceed with their visit.
The brothers are back in Egypt, anxiously presenting their gifts and the money for their purchases, while Joseph's steward leads them into Joseph's house, filling them with dread. To ease their fears, the steward reassures them, attributing the returned money to God's providence, and then releases Simeon, whom Joseph had kept as a hostage, proving they are not in trouble and can now proceed with their visit.
"He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them." — The steward's words reveal a crucial, often overlooked aspect of Joseph's plan: he's intentionally teaching his household about the God of Israel. By calling the returned money a "treasure" given b…
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Last reviewed October 2026