Genesis 42:4Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

Whilst Benjamin was kept at home by Jacob, who said to his brethren: Lest perhaps he take any harm in the journey.
Douay-Rheims

וְאֶת־בִּנְיָמִין֙ אֲחִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף לֹא־שָׁלַ֥ח יַעֲקֹ֖ב אֶת־אֶחָ֑יו כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר פֶּן־יִקְרָאֶ֖נּוּ אָסֽוֹן׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

The ten brothers journeyed, it is reported, yet Benjamin, the son of the same mother as Joseph, was not included in their number. This was because their father believed that no danger would come to him. He felt compassion for the young man, considering his age and vulnerability.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

Gen 42:38But he said: My son shall not go down with you: his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if any mischief befall him in the land to which you go, you will bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to hell.
Gen 3:22And he said: Behold Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and evil: now therefore lest perhaps he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.
Gen 44:27Whereunto he answered: You know that my wife bore me two.
Gen 44:34For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I be a witness of the calamity that will oppress my father.
Gen 35:16And going forth from thence, he came in the spring time to the land which leadeth to Ephrata: wherein when Rachel was in travail,
Gen 35:19So Rachel died, and was buried in the highway that leadeth to Ephrata, this is Bethlehem.
Gen 44:20And we answered thee, my lord: We have a father an old man, and a young boy, that was born in his old age; whose brother by the mother is dead; and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him tenderly.
Gen 44:22We suggested to my lord: The boy cannot leave his father: for if he leave him, he will die.