King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for [if] he should leave his father, [his father] would die.
Complete Jewish Bible:
We answered my lord, 'The boy can't leave his father; if he were to leave his father, his father would die.'
Berean Standard Bible:
So we said to my lord, ‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he were to leave, his father would die.’
American Standard Version:
And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And we said{H559} unto my lord{H113}, The lad{H5288} cannot{H3201} leave{H5800} his father{H1}: for if he should leave{H5800} his father{H1}, his father would die{H4191}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 44:30
- Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad [be] not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life;
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.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 44:22
Genesis 44:22 is part of the narrative involving Joseph, his brothers, and their father Jacob (also known as Israel) in the latter part of the Book of Genesis. This verse is spoken by Judah, one of Joseph's brothers, during their second journey to Egypt to buy grain during a famine. Unbeknownst to them, the powerful Egyptian official they are dealing with is actually their brother Joseph, whom they had sold into slavery years earlier.
In this verse, Judah is pleading with the Egyptian official (Joseph) to allow their youngest brother, Benjamin, to return to their father Jacob. Judah explains the deep emotional bond between Benjamin and Jacob, emphasizing that Jacob's life is so intertwined with Benjamin's that if Benjamin were to remain in Egypt, it would cause Jacob's death due to grief. This statement reflects the themes of family loyalty, the pain of separation, and the depth of a parent's love for a child, especially in a culture where family ties were paramount and the loss of a child was considered a grievous tragedy.
The historical context of this verse is set in the period when the Hebrews were beginning to establish themselves in the land of Canaan. The narrative shows the early dynamics of the Israelite family, which would eventually become the nation of Israel. It also illustrates the providential care of God over the family of Jacob, as Joseph's rise to power in Egypt is part of God's plan to preserve the lineage of Israel during the famine. This verse is part of a larger story that leads to the dramatic revelation of Joseph's identity to his brothers and the family's reconciliation and settlement in Egypt, setting the stage for the events of the Book of Exodus.
*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: H5288
There are 221 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נַעַר
Transliteration: naʻar
Pronunciation: nah'-ar
Description: from נָעַר; (concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age); babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man). - Strong's Number: H3201
There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָכֹל
Transliteration: yâkôl
Pronunciation: yaw-kole'
Description: or (fuller) יָכוֹל; a primitive root; to be able, literally (can, could) or morally (may, might); be able, any at all (ways), attain, can (away with, (-not)), could, endure, might, overcome, have power, prevail, still, suffer. - Strong's Number: H5800
There are 206 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָזַב
Transliteration: ʻâzab
Pronunciation: aw-zab'
Description: a primitive root; to loosen, i.e. relinquish, permit, etc.; commit self, fail, forsake, fortify, help, leave (destitute, off), refuse, [idiom] surely. - 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: 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.