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Genesis 43 · a question people ask

What finally made Jacob let Benjamin go?

In the text

Genesis gives the circumstances and the words, not Jacob's inner reasoning. The famine was severe and the grain was gone (43:1-2). Judah pleaded, "so that we may live, and not die, both we, and you, and also our little ones", and offered himself as collateral (43:8-9). Jacob said, "If it must be so, then do this" (43:11), and ended, "If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved" (43:14).

The verses

“The famine was severe in the land. When they had eaten up the grain which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, “Go again, buy us a little more food.””
Genesis 43:1-2 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Genesis 43

Genesis 43: His heart yearned

Judah offered himself as collateral for Benjamin, and Jacob let him go with the prayer, "May God Almighty give you mercy before the man." The steward returned Simeon and told the frightened brothers God had given them treasure. When Joseph saw Benjamin, his heart yearned over him, with the same word as Jacob's prayer for mercy, and he went away to weep.

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Last reviewed September 25, 2026. Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions