Berean Standard Bible
Genesis 44
1Then Joseph instructedוַיְצַ֞וvay.TzavH6680אֶת־'et-H853his stewardאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ בֵּיתוֹ֮ לֵאמֹר֒'a.Sher 'al- bei.To le.MorH834H5921H1004H559: “Fill the men’sהָֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ha.'a.na.ShimH582sacksאַמְתְּחֹ֤ת'am.te.ChotH572withמַלֵּ֞אma.Le'H4390אֶת־'et-H853as much foodאֹ֔כֶל'O.khelH400asכַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka.'a.SherH834they canיוּכְל֖וּןyu.khe.LunH3201carryשְׂאֵ֑תse.'EtH5375,and putוְשִׂ֥יםve.SimH7760each one’sאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376silverכֶּֽסֶף־ke.sef-H3701in the mouthבְּפִ֥יbe.FiH6310of his sackאַמְתַּחְתּֽוֹ׃'am.tach.ToH572.
2וְאֶת־ve.'EtH853Putתָּשִׂים֙ta.SimH7760my cupגְּבִיעִ֞יge.vi.'IH1375,the silverהַכֶּ֗סֶףha.Ke.sefH3701oneגְּבִ֣יעַge.Vi.a'H1375,in the mouthבְּפִי֙be.FiH6310of the youngest one’sהַקָּטֹ֔ןha.ka.TonH6996וְאֵ֖תve.'EtH853sackאַמְתַּ֣חַת'am.Ta.chatH572,along with the silverכֶּ֣סֶףKe.sefH3701for his grainשִׁבְר֑וֹshiv.RoH7668.”So the steward didוַיַּ֕עַשׂ כִּדְבַ֥רvai.Ya.'as kid.VarH6213H1697as Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834had instructedדִּבֵּֽר׃di.BerH1696.
4Theyהֵ֠םhemH1992had notלֹ֣אlo'H3808goneיָֽצְא֣וּya.tze.'UH3318אֶת־'et-H853farהִרְחִיקוּ֒hir.chi.KuH7368from the cityהָעִיר֮ha.'IrH5892when Josephוְיוֹסֵ֤ףve.yo.SefH3130toldאָמַר֙'a.MarH559his stewardלַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ בֵּית֔וֹla.'a.Sher 'al- bei.ToH834H5921H1004, “Pursueרְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣יre.Dof 'a.cha.ReiH7291H310the menהָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑יםha.'a.na.ShimH582at onceק֥וּםkumH6965,and when you overtake themוְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙ve.hi.sag.TamH5381,askוְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔םve.'a.mar.Ta 'a.le.HemH559H413, ‘Whyלָ֛מָּהLa.mahH4100have you repaidשִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥םshi.lam.TemH7999goodתַּ֥חַת טוֹבָֽה׃Ta.chat to.VahH8478H2896with evilרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451?
7“Whyלָ֚מָּהLa.mahH4100does my lordאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113sayיְדַבֵּ֣רye.da.BerH1696theseהָאֵ֑לֶּהha.'E.lehH428thingsכַּדְּבָרִ֖יםka.de.va.RimH1697?”they askedוַיֹּאמְר֣וּ אֵלָ֔יוvai.yo.me.Ru 'e.LavH559H413. “Your servantsלַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָla.'a.va.Dei.khaH5650could not possiblyחָלִ֙ילָה֙cha.Li.lahH2486doמֵעֲשׂ֖וֹתme.'a.SotH6213suchהַזֶּֽה׃ha.ZehH2088a thingכַּדָּבָ֥רka.da.VarH1697.
8We even brought backהֵ֣ן הֱשִׁיבֹ֥נוּhen he.shi.Vo.nuH2005H7725to youאֵלֶ֖יךָ'e.Lei.khaH413from the landמֵאֶ֣רֶץme.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןke.Na.'anH3667the silverכֶּ֗סֶףKe.sefH3701אֲשֶׁ֤ר'a.SherH834we foundמָצָ֙אנוּ֙ma.Tza.nuH4672in the mouthsבְּפִ֣יbe.FiH6310of our sacksאַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ'am.te.cho.Tei.nuH572.Whyוְאֵ֗יךְve.'EikhH349would we stealנִגְנֹב֙nig.NoH1589silverכֶּ֖סֶףKe.sefH3701orא֥וֹ'oH176goldזָהָֽב׃za.HavH2091from your master’sאֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ'a.do.Nei.khaH113houseמִבֵּ֣יתmi.BeitH1004?
9If anyאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834of your servantsמֵעֲבָדֶ֖יךָme.'a.va.Dei.khaH5650is foundיִמָּצֵ֥אyi.ma.Tze'H4672to have itאִתּ֛וֹ'i.ToH854,he must dieוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191,and the restוְגַם־ אֲנַ֕חְנוּve.gam- 'a.Nach.nuH587H1571will becomeנִֽהְיֶ֥הnih.YehH1961slavesלַעֲבָדִֽים׃la.'a.va.DimH5650of my lordלַֽאדֹנִ֖יla.do.NiH113.”
10“As you sayגַּם־ עַתָּ֥ה כְדִבְרֵיכֶ֖םgam- 'a.Tah khe.div.rei.KhemH1571H6258H1697,”replied the stewardוַיֹּ֕אמֶר כֶּן־vai.Yo.mer ken-H559H3651. “But only the oneה֑וּאHu'H1931whoאֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.SherH834is foundיִמָּצֵ֤אyi.ma.Tze'H4672withאִתּוֹ֙'i.ToH854the cupwill beיִהְיֶה־yih.yeh-H1961myslaveעָ֔בֶד'A.vedH5650,and the rest of youוְאַתֶּ֖םve.'a.TemH859shall beתִּהְי֥וּtih.YuH1961free of blameנְקִיִּֽם׃ne.ki.YimH5355.”
12The steward searchedוַיְחַפֵּ֕שׂvay.cha.PesH2664,beginningהֵחֵ֔לhe.ChelH2490with the oldestבַּגָּד֣וֹלba.ga.DolH1419and endingכִּלָּ֑הki.LahH3615with the youngestוּבַקָּטֹ֖ןu.va.ka.TonH6996—and the cupהַגָּבִ֔יעַha.ga.Vi.a'H1375was foundוַיִּמָּצֵא֙vai.yi.ma.Tze'H4672in Benjamin’sבִּנְיָמִֽן׃bin.ya.MinH1144sackבְּאַמְתַּ֖חַתbe.'am.Ta.chatH572.
14When Judahיְהוּדָ֤הye.hu.DahH3063and his brothersוְאֶחָיו֙ve.'e.ChavH251arrived atוַיָּבֹ֨אvai.ya.Vo'H935Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130houseבֵּ֣יתָהBei.tahH1004,heוְה֖וּאve.Hu'H1931was stillעוֹדֶ֣נּוּo.De.nuH5750thereשָׁ֑םShamH8033,and they fellוַיִּפְּל֥וּvai.yi.pe.LuH5307to the groundאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tzahH776before himלְפָנָ֖יוle.fa.NavH6440.
15“Whatמָֽה־mah-H4100is thisהַזֶּ֖הha.ZehH2088deedהַמַּעֲשֶׂ֥הha.ma.'a.SehH4639אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherH834you have doneעֲשִׂיתֶ֑ם'a.si.TemH6213?”Josephיוֹסֵ֔ףyo.SefH3130declaredוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559. “Do you notהֲל֣וֹאha.Lo'H3808knowיְדַעְתֶּ֔םye.da'.TemH3045thatכִּֽי־ki-H3588a manאִ֖ישׁ'ishH376אֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834like meכָּמֹֽנִי׃ka.Mo.niH3644can surely divine the truthH5172?”
16“Whatמַה־mah-H4100can we sayוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to my lordלַֽאדֹנִ֔יla.do.NiH113?”Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063repliedנֹּאמַר֙no.MarH559. “Howמַה־mah-H4100can we pleadנְּדַבֵּ֖רne.da.BerH1696?Howוּמַה־u.mah-H4100can we justify ourselvesנִּצְטַדָּ֑קnitz.ta.DakH6663?Godהָאֱלֹהִ֗יםha.'E.lo.HimH430has exposedמָצָא֙ma.Tza'H4672אֶת־'et-H853the iniquityעֲוֹ֣ן'a.VonH5771of your servantsעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650.We are nowהִנֶּנּ֤וּhi.ne.NuH2005my lord’sלַֽאדֹנִ֔יla.do.NiH113slavesעֲבָדִים֙'a.va.DimH5650—bothגַּם־gam-H1571weאֲנַ֕חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuH587andגַּ֛םgamH1571the oneאֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-H834who was foundנִמְצָ֥אnim.Tza'H4672withבְּיָדֽוֹ׃be.ya.DoH3027the cupהַגָּבִ֖יעַha.ga.Vi.a'H1375.”
17But Joseph repliedוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559, “Far be itחָלִ֣ילָהcha.Li.lahH2486from meto doמֵעֲשׂ֖וֹתme.'a.SotH6213thisזֹ֑אתZotH2063.The manהָאִ֡ישׁha.'IshH376whoאֲשֶׁר֩'a.SherH834was foundנִמְצָ֨אnim.Tza'H4672withבְּיָד֗וֹ ה֚וּאbe.ya.Do hu'H3027H1931the cupהַגָּבִ֜יעַha.ga.Vi.a'H1375will beיִהְיֶה־yih.yeh-H1961myslaveעָ֔בֶד'A.vedH5650.The rest of youוְאַתֶּ֕םve.'a.TemH859may returnעֲל֥וּ'a.LuH5927toאֶל־'el-H413your fatherאֲבִיכֶֽם׃ פ'a.vi.KhemH1in peaceלְשָׁל֖וֹםle.sha.LomH7965.”
Judah Pleads for Benjamin
18Then Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063approachedוַיִּגַּ֨שׁvai.yi.GashH5066Josephאֵלָ֜יו'e.LavH413and saidוַיֹּאמֶר֮vai.yo.MerH559, “Sirבִּ֣י אֲדֹנִי֒bi 'a.do.NiH994H113,pleaseנָ֨אna'H4994let your servantעַבְדְּךָ֤ דָבָר֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י'av.de.Kha da.Var be.'a.ze.NeiH5650H1697H241speakיְדַבֶּר־ye.da.ber-H1696personally to my lordאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113.Do notוְאַל־ve.'al-H408be angryיִ֥חַר אַפְּךָ֖Yi.char 'a.pe.KhaH2734H639with your servantבְּעַבְדֶּ֑ךָbe.'av.De.khaH5650,forכִּ֥יkiH3588you are equal toכָמ֖וֹךָkha.Mo.khaH3644Pharaoh himselfכְּפַרְעֹֽה׃ke.far.'OhH6547.
20And we answeredוַנֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ אֲדֹנִ֔יva.No.mer 'el- 'a.do.NiH559H413H113, ‘We haveיֶשׁ־yesh-H3426an elderlyזָקֵ֔ןza.KenH2205fatherאָ֣ב'avH1and a younger brotherקָטָ֑ןka.TanH6996,the childוְיֶ֥לֶדve.Ye.ledH3206of his old ageזְקֻנִ֖יםze.ku.NimH2208.The boy’s brotherוְאָחִ֨יוve.'a.ChivH251is deadמֵ֜תmetH4191.Heה֧וּאhu'H1931is the onlyלְבַדּ֛וֹle.va.DoH905one of his mother’sלְאִמּ֖וֹle.'i.MoH517sons leftוַיִּוָּתֵ֨רvai.yi.va.TerH3498,and his fatherוְאָבִ֥יוve.'a.VivH1loves himאֲהֵבֽוֹ׃'a.he.VoH157.’
22So we saidוַנֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.No.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413my lordאֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.NiH113, ‘The boyהַנַּ֖עַרha.Na.'arH5288cannotלֹא־ יוּכַ֥לlo'- yu.KhalH3808H3201leaveלַעֲזֹ֣בla.'a.ZoH5800אֶת־'et-H853his fatherאָבִ֑יו'a.VivH1.If he were to leaveוְעָזַ֥בve.'a.ZavH5800אֶת־'et-H853,his fatherאָבִ֖יו'a.VivH1would dieוָמֵֽת׃va.MetH4191.’
23But you saidוַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙va.To.merH559toאֶל־'el-H413your servantsעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650, ‘Unlessאִם־ לֹ֥א'im- lo'H518H3808your youngerהַקָּטֹ֖ןha.ka.TonH6996brotherאֲחִיכֶ֥ם'a.chi.KhemH251comes downיֵרֵ֛דye.RedH3381with youאִתְּכֶ֑ם'i.te.KhemH854,you will notלֹ֥אlo'H3808seeלִרְא֥וֹתlir.'otH7200my faceפָּנָֽי׃pa.NaiH6440againתֹסִפ֖וּןto.si.FunH3254.’
26But we answeredוַנֹּ֕אמֶרva.No.merH559, ‘We cannotלֹ֥א נוּכַ֖לlo' nu.KhalH3808H3201go down thereלָרֶ֑דֶתla.Re.detH3381unlessאִם־ יֵשׁ֩'im- yeshH518H3426our youngerהַקָּטֹ֤ןha.ka.TonH6996brotherאָחִ֨ינוּ'a.Chi.nuH251goesוְיָרַ֔דְנוּ כִּי־ve.ya.Rad.nu ki-H3381H3588with usאִתָּ֙נוּ֙'i.Ta.nuH854.So if our youngerהַקָּטֹ֖ןha.ka.TonH6996brotherוְאָחִ֥ינוּve.'a.Chi.nuH251is notאֵינֶ֥נּוּ'ei.Ne.nuH369with usאִתָּֽנוּ׃'i.Ta.nuH854,we cannotלֹ֣א נוּכַ֗לlo' nu.KhalH3808H3201seeלִרְאוֹת֙ פְּנֵ֣יlir.'Ot pe.NeiH7200H6440the manהָאִ֔ישׁha.'IshH376.’
29אֶת־'et-H853Now if you also takeוּלְקַחְתֶּ֧םu.le.kach.TemH3947גַּם־gam-H1571this oneזֶ֛הzehH2088fromמֵעִ֥םme.'ImH5973meפָּנַ֖יpa.NaiH6440and harmאָס֑וֹן'a.SonH611comes to himוְקָרָ֣הוּve.ka.Ra.huH7136,you will bring my gray hairשֵׂיבָתִ֛יsei.va.TiH7872downוְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֧םve.ho.rad.TemH3381אֶת־'et-H853to Sheolשְׁאֹֽלָה׃she.'O.lahH7585in sorrowבְּרָעָ֖הbe.ra.'AhH7451.’
30Soוְעַתָּ֗הve.'a.TahH6258if the boyוְהַנַּ֖עַרve.ha.Na.'arH5288is notאֵינֶ֣נּוּ'ei.ne.NuH369with usאִתָּ֑נוּ'i.Ta.nuH854when I returnכְּבֹאִי֙ke.vo.'IH935toאֶל־'el-H413your servantעַבְדְּךָ֣'av.de.KhaH5650,and if my fatherאָבִ֔י'a.ViH1,whose lifeוְנַפְשׁ֖וֹve.naf.ShoH5315is wrapped upקְשׁוּרָ֥הke.shu.RahH7194in the boy’s lifeבְנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ve.naf.ShoH5315,
31וְהָיָ֗הve.ha.YahH1961seesכִּרְאוֹת֛וֹkir.'o.ToH7200thatכִּי־ki-H3588the boyהַנַּ֖עַרha.Na.'arH5288isnotאֵ֥ין'einH369with us,he will dieוָמֵ֑תva.MetH4191.Then your servantsעֲבָדֶ֜יךָ'a.va.Dei.khaH5650אֶת־'et-H853will have brought the gray hairשֵׂיבַ֨תsei.VatH7872of your servantעַבְדְּךָ֥'av.de.KhaH5650our fatherאָבִ֛ינוּ'a.Vi.nuH1downוְהוֹרִ֨ידוּve.ho.Ri.duH3381to Sheolשְׁאֹֽלָה׃she.'O.lahH7585in sorrowבְּיָג֖וֹןbe.ya.GonH3015.
32Indeedכִּ֤יkiH3588,your servantעַבְדְּךָ֙'av.de.KhaH5650guaranteedעָרַ֣ב'a.RavH6148the boy’s safetyהַנַּ֔עַרha.Na.'arH5288אֶת־'et-H853toמֵעִ֥םme.'ImH5973my fatherאָבִ֖י'a.ViH1,sayingלֵאמֹ֑רle.MorH559, ‘Ifאִם־'im-H518I do notלֹ֤אlo'H3808return himאֲבִיאֶ֙נּוּ֙'a.vi.'E.nuH935to youאֵלֶ֔יךָ'e.Lei.khaH413,I willכָּל־kol-H3605bear the guiltוְחָטָ֥אתִיve.cha.Ta.tiH2398before you, my fatherלְאָבִ֖יle.'a.ViH1,all my lifeהַיָּמִֽים׃hai.ya.MimH3117.’
33Nowוְעַתָּ֗הve.'a.TahH6258pleaseנָ֤אna'H4994let your servantעַבְדְּךָ֙'av.de.KhaH5650stay hereיֵֽשֶׁב־ye.shev-H3427as my lord’sהַנַּ֔עַר לַֽאדֹנִ֑יha.Na.'ar la.do.NiH113H5288slaveעֶ֖בֶד'E.vedH5650in place ofתַּ֣חַתTa.chatH8478the boyוְהַנַּ֖עַרve.ha.Na.'arH5288.Let him returnיַ֥עַלYa.'alH5927withעִם־'im-H5973his brothersאֶחָֽיו׃'e.ChavH251.
34Forכִּי־ki-H3588howאֵיךְ֙'eiKhH349can I go backאֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה'e.'e.LehH5927toאֶל־'el-H413my fatherאָבִ֔י'a.ViH1withoutאֵינֶ֣נּוּ אִתִּ֑י'ei.ne.Nu 'i.TiH369H854the boyוְהַנַּ֖עַרve.ha.Na.'arH5288?I could not bearפֶּ֚ןpenH6435to seeאֶרְאֶ֣ה'er.'EhH7200the miseryבָרָ֔עva.Ra'H7451thatאֲשֶׁ֥ר'a.SherH834would overwhelmיִמְצָ֖אyim.Tza'H4672אֶת־'et-H853himאָבִֽי׃'a.ViH1.”
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
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Commentaries