Genesis 44:10 kjv
And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
Genesis 44:10 nkjv
And he said, "Now also let it be according to your words; he with whom it is found shall be my slave, and you shall be blameless."
Genesis 44:10 niv
"Very well, then," he said, "let it be as you say. Whoever is found to have it will become my slave; the rest of you will be free from blame."
Genesis 44:10 esv
He said, "Let it be as you say: he who is found with it shall be my servant, and the rest of you shall be innocent."
Genesis 44:10 nlt
"That's fair," the man replied. "But only the one who stole the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may go free."
Genesis 44 10 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 44:9 | "...With whomever of your servants it is found, he shall die, and we also will be my lord's slaves." | Brothers' oath setting the stage for punishment. |
| Gen 44:17 | "...Only the one in whose hand the cup was found shall be my servant..." | Joseph's direct command confirming the limited punishment. |
| Gen 44:18-34 | Judah's powerful plea, offering himself as a slave in Benjamin's place. | Fulfillment of the test; Judah's intercession. |
| Gen 37:28 | Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and sold him to the Ishmaelites... | Brothers' past sin of selling Joseph into servitude. |
| Gen 45:5 | "Now do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here..." | Joseph revealing God's hand in his servitude for good. |
| Exod 21:16 | "Whoever kidnaps a man, whether he sells him or is found in possession of him, shall be put to death." | Law against manstealing (the original sin against Joseph). |
| Deut 15:12-18 | Laws concerning the freeing of Hebrew bondservants after six years. | General principles of Israelite servitude/bondage. |
| Lev 25:39-43 | Rules against cruel treatment of fellow Israelites in servitude. | Treatment of those in service, not slaves but paid laborers. |
| Prov 11:8 | The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked takes his place. | Substitutionary deliverance, applicable to Benjamin/Judah. |
| Prov 21:18 | The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the treacherous for the upright. | Idea of one taking the place for another, theme of substitution. |
| Matt 20:28 | "...just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." | Christ's servanthood and substitutionary sacrifice. |
| Mark 10:45 | Same as Matt 20:28. | Christ as ransom, connecting to "servant" theme. |
| Rom 5:6-8 | "...Christ died for the ungodly. ...God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." | The principle of the innocent (Christ) dying for the guilty. |
| 2 Cor 5:21 | "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." | Christ taking the "punishment" or consequence of sin for believers. |
| Gal 3:13 | "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us..." | Christ's substitutionary work, bearing a curse. |
| Philem 18-19 | "If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it..." | An example of substitutionary debt payment in the NT. |
| Isa 53:4-6 | "...he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities... upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace..." | Prophetic imagery of vicarious suffering for salvation. |
| Psa 25:22 | "Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles." | Divine redemption, a theme woven through Joseph's story. |
| Jer 30:8 | "...I will break his yoke from off your neck, and I will burst your bonds, and strangers shall no more make a servant of him." | Prophecy of freedom from servitude/bondage. |
| Zech 3:1-5 | Joshua the high priest clothed with filthy garments, then given clean ones (representing removal of guilt). | Cleansing from sin and guilt, echoing "you shall be clear." |
Genesis 44 verses
Genesis 44 10 Meaning
Genesis 44:10 describes the response of Joseph's steward to Judah's declaration regarding the stolen cup. The steward agrees to Judah's terms that only the one in whose sack the cup is found will become a servant to Joseph, while the rest of the brothers would be absolved of responsibility and permitted to go free. This seemingly merciful act by the steward (who acts on Joseph's instructions) significantly lessens the penalty proposed by the brothers, isolating the burden onto one person and setting the stage for their collective moral response.
Genesis 44 10 Context
Genesis 44 unfolds Joseph's ultimate test of his brothers. After enjoying a feast in Joseph's house, they depart, but Joseph orders his steward to place his silver cup into Benjamin's sack and then pursue them. When accused, Judah confidently declares that if the cup is found, the one with whom it is found will die, and all the brothers will become Joseph's slaves. The steward's response in verse 10 is crucial. By limiting the consequence to Benjamin alone becoming a servant and absolving the others, Joseph escalates the moral dilemma. This maneuver forces the brothers to choose: will they abandon Benjamin to servitude, much like they abandoned Joseph to slavery, or will they demonstrate a changed heart by defending their innocent brother? This directly sets up Judah's profound intercession in the verses that follow, revealing the brothers' transformation and paving the way for Joseph's eventual revelation and reconciliation.
Genesis 44 10 Word analysis
- And he said (וַיֹּאמֶר - vayyomer): A common Hebrew conjunction and verb, introducing the steward's response. It implies an authoritative and decisive declaration from Joseph's agent.
- "Now let it be as you say" (גַּם־עַתָּה כְדִבְרֵיכֶם - gam-'attah kidb'reychem):
- gam-'attah: Literally "even now" or "also now." This phrase can imply affirmation or acceptance of a preceding statement, essentially saying, "Yes, according to what you have stated." It serves to confirm that the steward acknowledges their earlier declaration in verse 9.
- kidb'reychem: "according to your words." This directly links the steward's pronouncement to Judah's own words in Gen 44:9, creating an agreement or a binding verbal contract based on the brothers' own terms, yet subtly altered by the steward.
- he with whom it is found (אֲשֶׁר יִמָּצֵא אִתּוֹ - 'asher yimmatzei 'itto):
- 'asher yimmatzei: "who is found." This specific wording refers to the individual person (Benjamin, though unnamed here) discovered to be in possession of the item, highlighting the singular focus of the accusation.
- 'itto: "with him." Emphasizes the direct link to the accused person, confirming individual guilt based on evidence.
- shall be my servant (יִהְיֶה־לִּי עָבֶד - yihyeh-li 'aved):
- yihyeh-li: "he shall be to me." Indicates direct ownership or allegiance.
- 'aved: "servant," "slave," "bondservant." In the ancient Near East, a stolen object, especially from royalty or an official, could lead to severe penalties, often involving servitude. Joseph, acting as an Egyptian lord, enforces this. This punishment is significantly milder than Judah's self-imposed death sentence or collective servitude, strategically creating a profound ethical choice.
- and you shall be clear (וְאַתֶּם תִּהְיוּ נְקִיִּם - v'attem tihyu neqiyyim):
- v'attem: "and you all." Addresses the other brothers collectively, contrasting them with the individual accused.
- tihyu neqiyyim: "you shall be clean," "you shall be innocent," "you shall be unpunished." This term signifies being absolved of guilt, set free, or declared blameless in this matter. It represents Joseph's controlled "mercy" within the testing process, ensuring that the dilemma for the brothers is focused specifically on Benjamin's fate rather than their own collective enslavement, amplifying the ethical pressure.
Genesis 44 10 Bonus section
The "clearing" of the other brothers by Joseph's steward (acting on Joseph's behalf) holds a prophetic resonance for a greater redemption. Just as the innocent Benjamin was ostensibly to be punished, and his brothers "cleared," the eventual fulfillment of God's covenant involved a substitutionary act. Christ, the truly innocent one, took on the guilt and punishment of humanity (Isa 53:4-6, 2 Cor 5:21), allowing all who believe in Him to be "cleared" and declared righteous before God. Judah's willingness to stand in the gap for Benjamin also serves as an Old Testament shadow of intercession and substitution that finds its ultimate meaning in the self-giving love of Jesus Christ. This verse highlights Joseph's intricate divine plan, where a worldly trial of human character ultimately prefigures aspects of heavenly redemption.
Genesis 44 10 Commentary
Genesis 44:10 marks a critical turning point in Joseph's carefully orchestrated test of his brothers. The steward, acting under Joseph's precise instructions, agrees to their self-pronounced verdict (Gen 44:9) but significantly tempers it. Instead of death for one and collective servitude for all, only Benjamin is to become a servant. This selective judgment transforms the situation into a precise ethical crucible. It presents the brothers with an acute choice: abandon Benjamin to his perceived fate and secure their own freedom, or demonstrate a true change of heart by intervening on his behalf. This mirrors their previous sin of selling Joseph into slavery (Gen 37), but now the tables are turned, and it is a different, younger brother at risk. Joseph's action is a profound psychological test, designed to determine if they have moved past their former envy and selfishness, and if they now possess the brotherly unity and responsibility required for true family reconciliation and the continuation of God's covenant plan through their lineage. This decision paves the way for Judah's self-sacrificial plea, the pinnacle of the brothers' repentance.