King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
Complete Jewish Bible:
We answered my lord, 'We have a father who is an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one whose brother is dead; so that of his mother's children he alone is left; and his father loves him.'
Berean Standard Bible:
And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’
American Standard Version:
And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother; and his father loveth him.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And we said{H559} unto my lord{H113}, We have{H3426} a father{H1}, an old man{H2205}, and a child{H3206} of his old age{H2208}, a little one{H6996}; and his brother{H251} is dead{H4191}, and he alone is left{H3498} of his mother{H517}, and his father{H1} loveth{H157} him.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 37:3
- Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of [many] colours.
Genesis 42:38
- And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
Luke 7:12
- Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
Genesis 42:13
- And they said, Thy servants [are] twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest [is] this day with our father, and one [is] not.
Genesis 42:36
- And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved [of my children]: Joseph [is] not, and Simeon [is] not, and ye will take Benjamin [away]: all these things are against me.
Genesis 37:19
- And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.
Genesis 49:8
- ¶ Judah, thou [art he] whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand [shall be] in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 44:20
Genesis 44:20 is a part of the narrative involving Joseph and his brothers in Egypt. The historical context of this verse is set during the time of famine in Canaan, which leads Jacob to send his sons to Egypt to buy grain. This event is part of a larger story arc that includes Joseph's earlier sale into slavery by his brothers, his rise to power in Egypt, and the eventual reconciliation of the family.
The themes present in this verse include:
1. **Family Dynamics and Loyalty**: The verse reflects the complex relationships within the family of Jacob, particularly the special bond between Jacob and his youngest son, Benjamin, who is the only remaining son of Rachel, Jacob's beloved wife.
2. **Sibling Responsibility**: The brothers, who had previously wronged Joseph, now feel a sense of duty to protect Benjamin and ensure his safe return to their aging father.
3. **Consequences of Past Actions**: The brothers' current predicament is a result of their earlier betrayal of Joseph. Their concern for their father's feelings and the potential loss of another favored son echoes the pain they caused Jacob years before.
4. **Providence and Testing**: This verse is part of a larger narrative where God's providence is evident. Joseph's testing of his brothers to see if they have changed is a central theme, as is the idea of redemption and forgiveness.
5. **The Role of the Eldest**: Judah, who speaks the words in this verse, steps into a role of responsibility, offering himself in place of Benjamin to assure his father's well-being, demonstrating growth and repentance.
In summary, Genesis 44:20 captures the emotional and moral complexities of family relationships, the consequences of past actions, and the possibility of redemption within the historical context of the Joseph narrative, set against the backdrop of a severe famine that brings the family of Jacob to a moment of crisis and potential reconciliation.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H113
There are 337 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָדוֹן
Transliteration: ʼâdôwn
Pronunciation: aw-done'
Description: or (shortened) אָדֹן; from an unused root (meaning to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine); lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with 'Adoni-'. - Strong's Number: H3426
There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יֵשׁ
Transliteration: yêsh
Pronunciation: yaysh
Description: perhaps from an unused root meaning to stand out, or exist; entity; used adverbially or as a copula for the substantive verb (הָיָה); there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection); (there) are, (he, it, shall, there, there may, there shall, there should) be, thou do, had, hast, (which) hath, (I, shalt, that) have, (he, it, there) is, substance, it (there) was, (there) were, ye will, thou wilt, wouldest. - Strong's Number: H1
There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָב
Transliteration: ʼâb
Pronunciation: awb
Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'. - Strong's Number: H2205
There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָקֵן
Transliteration: zâqên
Pronunciation: zaw-kane'
Description: from זָקֵן; old; aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator. - Strong's Number: H3206
There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יֶלֶד
Transliteration: yeled
Pronunciation: yeh'-led
Description: from יָלַד; something born, i.e. a lad or offspring; boy, child, fruit, son, young man (one). - Strong's Number: H2208
There are 4 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָקֻן
Transliteration: zâqun
Pronunciation: zaw-koon'
Description: lemma זָקֻ missing final nun, corrected to זָקֻן; properly, passive participle of זָקֵן (used only in the plural as a noun); old age; old age. - Strong's Number: H6996
There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָטָן
Transliteration: qâṭân
Pronunciation: kaw-tawn'
Description: or קָטֹן; from קוּט; abbreviated, i.e. diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance); least, less(-er), little (one), small(-est, one, quantity, thing), young(-er, -est). - Strong's Number: H251
There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָח
Transliteration: ʼâch
Pronunciation: awkh
Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. - Strong's Number: H3498
There are 101 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָתַר
Transliteration: yâthar
Pronunciation: yaw-thar'
Description: a primitive root; to jut over or exceed; by implication, to excel; (intransitively) to remain or be left; causatively, to leave, cause to abound, preserve; excel, leave (a remnant), left behind, too much, make plenteous, preserve, (be, let) remain(-der, -ing, -nant), reserve, residue, rest. - Strong's Number: H517
There are 387 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֵם
Transliteration: ʼêm
Pronunciation: ame
Description: a primitive word; a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father)); dam, mother, [idiom] parting. - Strong's Number: H157
There are 257 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָהַב
Transliteration: ʼâhab
Pronunciation: aw-hab'
Description: or אָהֵב ; a primitive root; to have affection for (sexually or otherwise); (be-) love(-d, -ly, -r), like, friend.