What Does Genesis 43:18 Mean in the King James?
And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The Hebrew pictures the feared “occasion” as a force rolling over them, even as they enter the house of a name that means “he adds” while they expect to lose everything.
THE MEANING
When something you thought was gone returns without explanation, it can feel like evidence of a trap. Fear carries that uncertainty forward into accusation, attack, captivity, and loss, even the animals that carry your life. The name in this house means “he adds,” yet the mind inside the fear can only anticipate subtraction.
THE ROOT
לְהִתְגֹּלֵל
lehitgolel
GROWS FROM
גלל
גלל (galal) means to roll.
The KJV’s “seek occasion” sounds like looking for a pretext; the Hebrew verb pictures someone rolling upon them. Paired with “fall upon us,” the fear takes shape as force closing in, not merely a search for a reason.
ALSO GROWS
megillah: scroll
מְגִלָּה
A scroll is something rolled; the same physical image lies beneath the feared “occasion.”
gilgel: roll, roll around
גִּלְגֵּל
This form makes the root’s rolling motion explicit, matching the brothers’ image of force closing in.
יוֹסֵף
Yosef
GROWS FROM
יסף
יסף (yasaf) means to add or increase; Yosef means “he adds” or “may he add.”
The name Yosef carries the meaning “he adds” at the very point where the brothers expect to lose their freedom and possessions. The name does not settle what Joseph intends, but the verse holds addition and their fear of being stripped together.
ALSO GROWS
hosif: to add, increase
הוֹסִיף
This verb shares the source of the name and gives its meaning as an action.
tosefet: addition, extra
תּוֹסֶפֶת
This noun carries the root’s meaning of something added.
וַיִּירְאוּ
vayir'u
GROWS FROM
ירא
ירא (yare) means to fear, dread, or hold in awe.
“afraid” in this verse is vayir'u. Here the men fear a human threat, so ירא carries dread rather than reverent awe. The same root can name awe when God is the one feared; the object and situation determine its shade.
ALSO GROWS
yir'ah: fear, awe
יִרְאָה
This noun preserves the same root as the brothers’ fear while showing its range.
nora: awe-inspiring, dreadful
נוֹרָא
This form shows how the root can describe what evokes awe or dread.
THE PATTERN
Fear can turn an unexplained return, a shift in power, or a sudden appearance into a settled story of danger.
And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.THE THREAD
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.Isaiah uses the same root ירא (yare, “fear”) in direct address to the reader: the word naming the brothers’ dread also names the fear met by “I am with thee.” The surrounding words shift the scene from anticipated force to sustaining presence.
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