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.
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.
- BSB And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.
- 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.
- 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 18:4Now let a little water be fetched, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree.
- Gen 24:32The man came into the house, and he unloaded the camels. He gave straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.
- Gen 19:2and he said, “See now, my lords, please turn aside into your servant’s house, stay all night, wash your feet, and you can rise up early, and go on your way.” They said, “No, but we will stay in the street all night.”
- Luke 7:44Turning to the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head.
- John 13:4–17arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.