Genesis 43:28

43:28 “Your servant our father is well,” they replied. “He is still alive.” They bowed down in humility. ¹ 

Genesis 31:1

Jacob’s Flight from Laban

31:1 Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were complaining, ²  “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father! He has gotten rich ³  at our father’s expense!” ⁴ 

[43:28]  ¹ tn Heb “and they bowed low and they bowed down.” The use of synonyms here emphasizes the brothers’ humility.

[31:1]  ² tn Heb “and he heard the words of the sons of Laban, saying.”

[31:1]  ³ sn The Hebrew word translated “gotten rich” (כָּבוֹד, cavod) has the basic idea of “weight.” If one is heavy with possessions, then that one is wealthy (13:2). Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph all became wealthy when they left the promised land. Jacob’s wealth foreshadows what will happen to Israel when they leave the land of Egypt (Exod 12:35-38).

[31:1]  ⁴ tn Heb “and from that which belonged to our father he has gained all this wealth.”