Genesis 44:4

Genesis 44:4 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
• New International Version (NIV)They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, “Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?
• English Standard Version (ESV)They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, "Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good?
• New King James Version (NKJV)When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, “Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good?

Context of Genesis 44:4

2Then take my silver cup and put it in the top of the youngest man's bag. Put it with the money that he brought to pay for his food.’ The servant did what Joseph had told him to do. 3When morning came, the men started their journey with their donkeys. They had travelled only a short way from the city. Then Joseph said to his servant, ‘Go now and follow those men. When you find them, say to them, “My master was kind to you. So why have you done this bad thing against us? 5You have taken my master's own special cup. It is the cup that he drinks from. He also uses it to find out about future things. You have done a very bad thing!” ’ 6So Joseph's servant followed the men and he reached them. He told them Joseph's message.

Genesis 44:4 word by word

הֵ֠ם יָֽצְא֣וּ אֶת־הָעִיר֮ לֹ֣א הִרְחִיקוּ֒ וְיוֹסֵ֤ף אָמַר֙ לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ ק֥וּם רְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לָ֛מָּה שִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥ם רָעָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת טוֹבָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• when they were gone outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• of the cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
• far offרָחַקrâchaq · to removeH7368
• Josephיוֹסֵףyôsêph · JosephH3130
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto his stewardבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004
• Upקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• followרָדַףrâdaph · to pursueH7291
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• and when thou dost overtakeנָשַׂגnâώag · to overtakeH5381
• unto them, Wherefore have ye rewardedשָׁלֵםshâlam · to completeH7999
• evilרָעָהra‛ râ‛âh · distress: evilH7451
• for goodטוֹבָהţôb · welfareH2896

Cross-references for Genesis 44:4

• Deuteronomy 2:16Finally, the last one of these men died and no longer lived among the people.
• 1 Samuel 24:17He said to David, ‘You are a better man than I am. You have been kind to me even when I have tried to hurt you.
• 2 Chronicles 20:11But now those people want to destroy us! They are coming to chase us out of the land that you gave to us as our home.
• Psalms 35:12When I do good things to help them, they pay me back with evil things! That makes me feel very sad and upset.
• Psalms 109:5I have been kind to them, but they do bad things to me in return. I have loved them, but they hate me in return.
• Proverbs 17:13If people are kind to you, do not do evil things in return. Anyone who does that will always have trouble in his home.
• John 10:32Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good things. The Father sent me to do them, and I have shown them to you. Which of those good things make you want to kill me with stones?’

Commentaries on Genesis 44:4

• 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. 1-34The brothers seemed different. They felt sorry for what they did to Joseph. They showed honor by returning the money and by bringing Benjamin. Given a chance to get rid of Rachel’s other son, Benjamin, would they do it?Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 44. When they were gone out of the city ... Joseph said unto his steward--They were brought to a sudden halt by the stunning intelligence that an article of rare value was missing from the governor's house. It was a silver cup; so strong suspicions were entertained against them that a special messenger was despatched to search them.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 44:4

• Evil for Good
• Money

In the dictionaries

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

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