And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.
Parallel translations
- WEB The man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave their donkeys fodder.
- KJV And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.
- NKJV So the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.
- NASB Then the man brought the men into Joseph’s house and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their donkeys feed.
- NLT The manager then led the men into Joseph’s palace. He gave them water to wash their feet and provided food for their donkeys.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The men are welcomed into Joseph's house with water, washed feet, and fodder for their donkeys. The hospitality replaces their fear with comfort.
Overview
Customary courtesies of foot-washing and provision for the animals signal that the brothers are honored guests, not prisoners. The lavish care contradicts their fears of enslavement. Joseph's hospitality foreshadows the reconciliation and abundant provision he will extend to his family.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Gen 18:4Let a little water be brought, that you may wash your feet and rest yourselves under the tree.
- Gen 24:32So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions.
- Gen 19:2and said, “My lords, please turn aside into the house of your servant; wash your feet and spend the night. Then you can rise early and go on your way.” “No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”
- Luke 7:44And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.
- John 13:4–17So He got up from the supper, laid aside His outer garments, and wrapped a towel around His waist.
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 43:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.