Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, telling the man that you had another brother?”
Parallel translations
- KJV And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother?
- BSB “Why did you bring this trouble upon me?” Israel asked. “Why did you tell the man you had another brother?”
- NKJV And Israel said, “Why did you deal so wrongfully with me as to tell the man whether you had still another brother?”
- NASB Then Israel said, “Why did you treat me so badly, by telling the man whether you still had another brother?”
- NLT “Why were you so cruel to me?” Jacob moaned. “Why did you tell him you had another brother?”
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
Israel blames his sons for revealing they had another brother. His complaint reflects grief and a search for someone to fault.
Overview
Jacob (Israel) reacts with frustration, wishing the brothers had never disclosed Benjamin's existence. His reproach shows a father grasping for control amid loss he cannot prevent. Yet the disclosure was honest and providential, part of the path leading to reconciliation.
Cross-references & the web
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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 43:6 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.