New Living Translation
Genesis 44:5
5Why have you stolen my master’s silver cup, which he uses to predict the future? What a wicked thing you have done!’”
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
3The brothers were up at dawn and were sent on their journey with their loaded donkeys. 4But when they had gone only a short distance and were barely out of the city, Joseph said to his palace manager, “Chase after them and stop them. When you catch up with them, ask them, ‘Why have you repaid my kindness with such evil? Why have you stolen my master’s silver cup, which he uses to predict the future? What a wicked thing you have done!’” 6When the palace manager caught up with the men, he spoke to them as he had been instructed. 7“What are you talking about?” the brothers responded. “We are your servants and would never do such a thing!
Read all of Genesis 44Genesis 44:5 word by word
הֲל֣וֹא זֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁתֶּ֤ה אֲדֹנִי֙ בּ֔וֹ וְה֕וּא נַחֵ֥שׁ יְנַחֵ֖שׁ בּ֑וֹ הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 44:5
- Genesis 44:15“What have you done?” Joseph demanded. “Don’t you know that a man like me can predict the future?”
- Genesis 30:27“Please listen to me,” Laban replied. “I have become wealthy, for the Lord has blessed me because of you.
- Leviticus 19:26“Do not eat meat that has not been drained of its blood. “Do not practice fortune-telling or witchcraft.
- 1 Kings 20:33The men took this as a good sign and quickly picked up on his words. “Yes,” they said, “your brother Ben-hadad!” “Go and get him,” the king of Israel told them. And when Ben-hadad arrived, Ahab invited him up into his chariot.
- 2 Kings 21:6Manasseh also sacrificed his own son in the fire. He practiced sorcery and divination, and he consulted with mediums and psychics. He did much that was evil in the Lord’s sight, arousing his 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
In the dictionaries
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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