Genesis 44:15

And Joseph said unto them, What deed [is] this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?

And Joseph {H3130} said {H559} unto them, What deed {H4639} is this that ye have done {H6213}? wot ye {H3045} not that such a man {H376} as I can certainly {H5172} divine {H5172}?

Yosef said to them, "How could you do such a thing? Don't you know that a man such as myself can learn the truth by divination?"

β€œWhat is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. β€œDo you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”

And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? know ye not that such a man as I can indeed divine?

Commentary

Genesis 44:15 is a pivotal moment in the dramatic unfolding of Joseph's plan to test his brothers and prepare for his grand revelation. After his silver cup was "discovered" in Benjamin's sack, Joseph confronts his brothers, maintaining his elaborate disguise as an Egyptian official with mystical powers.

Context

This verse immediately follows the discovery of Joseph's divining cup in Benjamin's sack, leading to the brothers' desperate return to Joseph's house in Egypt (Genesis 44:13). Joseph's statement is part of his carefully orchestrated ruse, designed to push his brothers to their emotional limits and assess their changed character, particularly their loyalty to Benjamin. He is creating a scenario where they must demonstrate true repentance and solidarity, unlike their betrayal of him years earlier (Genesis 37:28).

Key Themes

  • The Test of Character: Joseph is not merely seeking justice for a "stolen" cup, but testing his brothers' transformation. Their willingness to intercede for Benjamin (Genesis 44:33) will be the ultimate proof of their change and the depth of their repentance.
  • Divine Providence Amidst Human Strategy: While Joseph uses human cunning and deception, the broader narrative underscores God's sovereign hand guiding events for the preservation of Jacob's family and the fulfillment of His covenant promises. This aligns with Joseph's later understanding that God intended all for good, despite the evil intentions of his brothers (Genesis 50:20).
  • Appearance vs. Reality: Joseph, a true worshiper of God, pretends to be a diviner. This highlights the stark contrast between his outward persona as a powerful Egyptian ruler and his true identity and faith, which he will soon reveal.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "wot ye not" is an archaic KJV rendering of "know ye not," emphasizing Joseph's feigned surprise and accusation towards his brothers. The crucial word here is "divine" (Hebrew: nachash, נָחַשׁ). This term generally refers to various forms of divination, omens, or sorcery, practices explicitly forbidden by God to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 18:10). Joseph, however, is speaking from the perspective of an Egyptian official who would typically engage in or claim such abilities, using their cultural framework to add weight to his accusation and maintain his disguise. It's important to note that Joseph himself, when interpreting dreams for Pharaoh, attributed the ability to God, not himself (Genesis 41:16), showing his true stance on divine revelation.

Practical Application

This verse, within its broader narrative, reminds us that God often works through complex and unexpected circumstances to bring about His purposes. It encourages us to look beyond immediate appearances and trust in God's overarching plan, even when human actions seem deceptive or unclear. It also highlights the transformative power of repentance and the profound impact of family reconciliation, echoing themes found throughout the biblical narrative of redemption and restoration. We see how God can use even difficult or seemingly manipulative situations to bring about growth and reveal character.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 3:13

    And the LORD God said unto the woman, What [is] this [that] thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

  • Genesis 4:10

    And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

  • Exodus 32:1

    ΒΆ And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for [as for] this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.

  • Genesis 39:8

    But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what [is] with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

  • Genesis 44:4

    [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?

  • Genesis 44:5

    [Is] not this [it] in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.

  • Genesis 21:26

    And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I [of it], but to day.
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