Genesis 43:32
New International Version
They served him by himself, the brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, for that is detestable to Egyptians.

New Living Translation
The waiters served Joseph at his own table, and his brothers were served at a separate table. The Egyptians who ate with Joseph sat at their own table, because Egyptians despise Hebrews and refuse to eat with them.

English Standard Version
They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Berean Standard Bible
They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them.

King James Bible
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

New King James Version
So they set him a place by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

New American Standard Bible
Then they served him by himself, and Joseph’s brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

NASB 1995
So they served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is loathsome to the Egyptians.

NASB 1977
So they served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians, who ate with him, by themselves; because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is loathsome to the Egyptians.

Legacy Standard Bible
So they set the meal for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Amplified Bible
So the servants served Joseph by himself [in honor of his rank], and his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because [according to custom] the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is loathsome to the Egyptians.

Christian Standard Bible
They served him by himself, his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who were eating with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, since that is detestable to them.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They served him by himself, his brothers by themselves, and the Egyptians who were eating with him by themselves, because Egyptians could not eat with Hebrews, since that is abhorrent to them.

American Standard Version
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, that did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they set for him alone, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who eat with him by themselves, because that Egyptians cannot eat bread with Hebrews, because that is defilement to Egyptians.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they set on bread for him alone, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians feasting with him by themselves, for the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for it is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Contemporary English Version
Joseph was served at a table by himself, and his brothers were served at another. The Egyptians sat at yet another table, because Egyptians felt it was disgusting to eat with Hebrews.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when it was set on, for Joseph apart, and for his brethren apart, for the Egyptians also that ate with him, apart, (for it is unlawful for the Egyptians to eat with the Hebrews, and they think such a feast profane:)

English Revised Version
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He was served separately from his brothers. The Egyptians who were there with him were also served separately, because they found it offensive to eat with Hebrews.

Good News Translation
Joseph was served at one table and his brothers at another. The Egyptians who were eating there were served separately, because they considered it beneath their dignity to eat with Hebrews.

International Standard Version
Joseph's staff served him by himself, his brothers separately, and the Egyptian staff members by themselves, because the Egyptians wouldn't take their meal with the Hebrews, since doing so was detestable for the Egyptians.

JPS Tanakh 1917
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, that did eat with him, by themselves; because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

Literal Standard Version
And they place for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who are eating with him by themselves: for the Egyptians are unable to eat bread with the Hebrews, for it [is] an abomination to the Egyptians.

Majority Standard Bible
They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them.

New American Bible
It was served separately to him, to the brothers, and to the Egyptians who partook of his board. Egyptians may not eat with Hebrews; that is abhorrent to them.

NET Bible
They set a place for him, a separate place for his brothers, and another for the Egyptians who were eating with him. (The Egyptians are not able to eat with Hebrews, for the Egyptians think it is disgusting to do so.)

New Revised Standard Version
They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

New Heart English Bible
They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat food with the Hebrews, for that is disgraceful to the Egyptians.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who ate with him, by themselves; because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

World English Bible
They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians don’t eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Young's Literal Translation
And they place for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians who are eating with him by themselves: for the Egyptians are unable to eat bread with the Hebrews, for it is an abomination to the Egyptians.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph's Hospitality to His Brothers
31Then he washed his face and came back out. Regaining his composure, he said, “Serve the meal.” 32They separately served Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptians. They ate separately because the Egyptians would not eat with the Hebrews, since that was detestable to them. 33They were seated before Joseph in order by age, from the firstborn to the youngest, and the men looked at one another in astonishment.…

Cross References
Genesis 46:34
you are to say, 'Your servants have raised livestock ever since our youth--both we and our fathers.' Then you will be allowed to settle in the land of Goshen, since all shepherds are detestable to the Egyptians."

Exodus 8:26
But Moses replied, "It would not be right to do that, because the sacrifices we offer to the LORD our God would be detestable to the Egyptians. If we offer sacrifices that are detestable before the Egyptians, will they not stone us?


Treasury of Scripture

And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination to the Egyptians.

eat bread.

Genesis 43:16
And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

Genesis 31:54
Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.

for that is an abomination.

Genesis 43:16
And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.

Genesis 46:34
That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

Exodus 8:26
And Moses said, It is not meet so to do; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians to the LORD our God: lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us?

Jump to Previous
Abomination Ate Bread Detestable Eat Eating Egyptians Food Hebrews Loathsome Meal Ready Served Themselves Unable Unclean
Jump to Next
Abomination Ate Bread Detestable Eat Eating Egyptians Food Hebrews Loathsome Meal Ready Served Themselves Unable Unclean
Genesis 43
1. Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin.
15. Joseph entertains his brothers.
19. They discover their fears to the steward.
26. Joseph makes them a feast.














(32) By himself . . . by themselves.--These caste distinctions were common in ancient times, and still exist in India. Joseph probably had his food served separately because of his high rank; but the word "abomination" shows that eating with foreigners was shunned by the Egyptians for religious considerations. Herodotus (ii. 41) says that the Greeks were equally the objects of their dislike, and that the use even of a Greek knife would render food, otherwise clean, polluted in the eyes of the Egyptians.

Verse 32. - And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves. "Joseph eats apart from his brethren, keeping strictly to the Egyptian mode; and the history does not omit to remark that in this point he adhered to the custom of the country" (Havernick, 21). Because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews. Herodotus (2:41) affirms that the Egyptians would neither use the knife, spit, or basin of a Grecian, nor taste the flesh of a clean cow if it happened to be cut with a Grecian knife. For that is an abomination unto the Egyptians. The reason for this separation from foreigners being that they dreaded being polluted by such as killed and ate cows, which animals were held in high veneration in Egypt.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
They served
וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ (way·yā·śî·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

[Joseph’s] brothers
לְבַדָּ֑ם (lə·ḇad·dām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of

separately from
לְבַדָּ֔ם (lə·ḇad·dām)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of

him
לְבַדּ֖וֹ (lə·ḇad·dōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 905: Separation, a part of the body, branch of a, tree, bar for, carrying, chief of

and the Egyptians
וְלַמִּצְרִ֞ים (wə·lam·miṣ·rîm)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 4713: Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt

who ate
הָאֹכְלִ֤ים (hā·’ō·ḵə·lîm)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 398: To eat

with him,
אִתּוֹ֙ (’it·tōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

because
כִּי֩ (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

Egyptians
הַמִּצְרִ֗ים (ham·miṣ·rîm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 4713: Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt

would
יוּכְל֜וּן (yū·ḵə·lūn)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 3201: To be able, have power

not
לֹ֨א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

eat
לֶאֱכֹ֤ל (le·’ĕ·ḵōl)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 398: To eat

with Hebrews,
הָֽעִבְרִים֙ (hā·‘iḇ·rîm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 5680: Hebrews -- perhaps descendant of Eber, also another name for an Israelite

since
כִּי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

that
הִ֖וא (hî)
Pronoun - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was detestable
תוֹעֵבָ֥ה (ṯō·w·‘ê·ḇāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8441: Something disgusting, an abhorrence, idolatry, an idol

to them.
לְמִצְרָֽיִם׃ (lə·miṣ·rā·yim)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4713: Egyptian -- inhabitant of Egypt


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OT Law: Genesis 43:32 They served him by himself and them (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 43:31
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