Genesis 44:5

Genesis 44:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
• New International Version (NIV)Isn’t this the cup my master drinks from and also uses for divination? This is a wicked thing you have done.’ ”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.'"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Is not this the one from which my lord drinks, and with which he indeed practices divination? You have done evil in so doing.’ ”

Context of Genesis 44:5

3At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. 4They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil? Is this not the cup my master drinks from and uses for divination? What you have done is wicked!’” 6When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them. 7“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.

Genesis 44:5 word by word

הֲל֣וֹא זֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁתֶּ֤ה אֲדֹנִי֙ בּ֔וֹ וְה֕וּא נַחֵ֥שׁ יְנַחֵ֖שׁ בּ֑וֹ הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶֽם׃Read the interlinear

• Is this notלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• Is this notזֶהzeh · thisH2088
• ·אֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• my masterאָדוֹן'âdôn 'âdôn · lordH113
• ·הוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• drinks fromשָׁתָהshâthâh · to drinkH8354
• and uses for divinationנָחַשׁnâchash · to divineH5172
• you have doneעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• is wickedרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489

Cross-references for Genesis 44:5

• Genesis 44:15“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”
• Genesis 30:27But Laban replied, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you.”
• Leviticus 19:26You must not eat anything with blood still in it. You must not practice divination or sorcery.
• 1 Kings 20:33Now the men were looking for a sign of hope, and they quickly grasped at this word and replied, “Yes, your brother Ben-hadad.” “Go and get him!” said the king. Then Ben-hadad came out, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot.
• 2 Kings 21:6He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Commentaries on Genesis 44:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Whereby - he divineth? - Divination by cups has been from time immemorial prevalent among the Asiatics; and for want of knowing this, commentators have spent a profusion of learned labor upon these words, in order to reduce them to that kind of meaning which would at once be consistent with the scope and design of the history, and save Joseph from the impeachment of sorcery and divination. I take the word נחש nachash here in its general acceptation of to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-34Verses 1-34 - The Ten Brothers Were Tested Joseph has had the satisfaction of seeing his brother Benjamin safe and well. He has heard his brothers acknowledging their guilt concerning himself. He resolves to put their attachment to Benjamin, and the genuineness of their change of disposition, to a test that will at the same time expose Benjamin to no hazard. Genesis 44:1-5 And my cup. - Besides returning each man‘s money as before, a silver cup of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5This description would help the brothers see that the ruler knew things that other people could not know. Hydromancy (trying to learn hidden things by pouring water into oil) and oenomancy (trying to learn hidden things by pouring wine into other liquids) were forms of divination (seeking knowledge through supernatural means) used in the ancient Near East. A special cup was often used for these practices. Joseph was still pretending (see 42:7; compare…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. Is not this it in which my lord drinketh--not only kept for the governor's personal use, but whereby he divines. Divination by cups, to ascertain the course of futurity, was one of the prevalent superstitions of ancient Egypt, as it is of Eastern countries still. It is not likely that Joseph, a pious believer in the true God, would have addicted himself to this superstitious practice. But he might have availed himself of that popular notion to carry…Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 44:5

• Money

In the dictionaries

• Couch
• Cruel
• Cup
• Earing
• Famine
• Joseph
• Magic
• Surety
• Antediluvian Patriarchs
• Augury

Commentaries on Genesis 44

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings