What Does Genesis 43:29 Mean in the King James?

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.

Genesis 43:29 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

“Be gracious” is ⁨יָחְנְךָ⁩ (yaḥnekha), from ⁨חנן⁩ (ḥānan, to show favor): the blessing asks that Benjamin receive the favor that belongs to God’s own character.

THE MEANING

The verse speaks a wish for God’s favor over someone who is seen, with the intimate address “my son.” Gracious regard comes into view before any achievement is named.

THE ROOT

יָחְנְךָ

yaḥnekha

GROWS FROM

חנן

To show favor, act graciously.

“be gracious” in this verse is yaḥnekha. The Hebrew verb makes this a wish for God to turn favorably toward Benjamin. Related forms describe graciousness as a quality and a plea for favor, connecting the blessing to both who God is and what is asked of God.

ALSO GROWS

ḥannûn: Gracious; one who shows favor.

חַנּוּן

This form names graciousness as a quality, illuminating the character invoked in the blessing.

taḥănûnîm: Supplications; pleas for favor.

תַּחֲנוּנִים

This word names appeals for favor, showing how the same root can express both graciousness given and graciousness sought.

THE PATTERN

Favor is asked for and received as a gift of God’s gracious regard.

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

Exodus 33:19 · KJVThe Hebrew verb ḥānan, “to show favor,” appears here as God names graciousness as God’s own action.

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

Psalm 67:1 · KJVThe Hebrew verb ḥānan, “to show favor,” turns the personal wish in Genesis into a plea spoken for “us.”

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Ephesians 2:8 · KJVFavor is described as God’s gift, extending the same pattern of gracious regard into the language of deliverance.

THE THREAD

And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

Exodus 33:19 · KJV

Genesis asks that Benjamin receive favor; Exodus uses the same Hebrew root ḥānan, “to show favor,” as God names graciousness as God’s own action. The shared root links the intimate blessing to the character it calls upon.

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