Genesis 44:11 kjv
Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.
Genesis 44:11 nkjv
Then each man speedily let down his sack to the ground, and each opened his sack.
Genesis 44:11 niv
Each of them quickly lowered his sack to the ground and opened it.
Genesis 44:11 esv
Then each man quickly lowered his sack to the ground, and each man opened his sack.
Genesis 44:11 nlt
They all quickly took their sacks from the backs of their donkeys and opened them.
Genesis 44 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 37:25 | "...they sat down to eat bread. And they lifted up their eyes..." | Contrast: Brothers sat to eat while Joseph was in distress; here, they act quickly. |
| Gen 42:25 | "Then Joseph gave orders to fill their sacks with grain..." | The previous instance of sacks being filled, also containing money they unknowingly found. |
| Gen 42:35 | "As they emptied their sacks..." | Prior instance of finding the money in their sacks, establishing precedent for "emptying." |
| Gen 44:8 | "“Behold, the money that we found in the mouth of our sacks..." | Their declaration of honesty regarding the first "stolen" money. |
| Num 32:23 | "But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the Lord, and be sure your sin will find you out." | Underlying truth: sin is eventually exposed, even when hidden. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance...for the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.'" | People judge outwardly; God knows hidden truths (the cup was hidden, their past sin). |
| Job 9:20 | "Though I am innocent, my own mouth would condemn me..." | The irony: their defense here unintentionally leads to the revelation of "guilt." |
| Job 27:6 | "I hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart does not reproach me for any of my days." | Their firm declaration of innocence, striving for integrity. |
| Ps 7:3-5 | "O LORD my God, if I have done this...then let my enemy pursue my soul..." | Similar appeals for justice when falsely accused. |
| Ps 35:11 | "Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know." | The experience of being falsely accused. |
| Ps 105:17-19 | "He had sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave...until what he had said came to pass; the word of the LORD tested him." | Joseph's suffering (and this testing) was part of God's providential plan. |
| Prov 18:13 | "If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame." | The brothers aren't just giving an answer; they're demonstrating, proving their sincerity. |
| Eccl 12:14 | "For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." | Every deed, even seemingly hidden, will be brought to light. |
| Jer 17:9-10 | "The heart is deceitful above all things...I the LORD search the heart and test the mind..." | God's searching goes beyond external display to motives, which Joseph's test simulated. |
| Luke 8:17 | "For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light." | Echoes the eventual exposure of truth, both literal (the cup) and figurative (their past sin). |
| Luke 12:2 | "Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known." | Reinforces the theme of ultimate truth exposure. |
| Rom 2:15 | "...their conscience also bearing witness, and their conflicting thoughts accusing or else excusing them." | Their internal drive to clear themselves, spurred by conscience. |
| 1 Cor 4:4 | "For I know nothing against myself, yet I am not thereby acquitted..." | Human self-justification doesn't equal divine righteousness, prefiguring the deeper issue of sin. |
| Heb 4:13 | "And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account." | This episode illustrates a prefiguring of accountability before a higher power (God). |
| Jas 1:2-3 | "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." | Joseph's "testing" was designed to develop spiritual maturity in his brothers. |
Genesis 44 verses
Genesis 44 11 Meaning
Genesis 44:11 describes the swift and immediate response of Joseph's brothers to the steward's accusation of theft. Eager to prove their innocence, each brother quickly emptied his sack onto the ground for inspection, publicly demonstrating their readiness to be searched and clear their names from any suspicion of having stolen Joseph's silver cup. This action highlights their genuine belief in their blamelessness concerning the steward's charge.
Genesis 44 11 Context
Genesis 44:11 is situated in a critical juncture of Joseph's extended test of his brothers. After a joyful dinner in Genesis 43, Joseph orchestrated the planting of his personal silver cup in Benjamin's sack before his brothers departed. The steward then pursued them, accusing them of theft. The brothers, unaware of the setup and genuinely believing they were innocent, emphatically declared that whoever had the cup should die, and they would all become Joseph's servants (Gen 44:9-10). Verse 11 immediately follows this declaration, showing their immediate, confident action to substantiate their claims by inviting a full search. This act is pivotal in revealing their changed character compared to their earlier deception involving Joseph, leading directly to the dramatic discovery in Benjamin's sack and Judah's impassioned plea. The historical context includes common practices of traveling with provisions in sacks and the legal custom of a public search to ascertain guilt or innocence.
Genesis 44 11 Word analysis
- And they said (`וַיֹּאמְרוּ` - wa-yom-ru): The use of the Hebrew conjunctive waw plus the imperfect consecutive indicates an immediate and unified verbal response. It signifies their collective voice, demonstrating their agreement and solidarity in their denial. Their speaking indicates confidence and readiness to engage with the accusation.
- Each man (`אִ֣ישׁ` - ish): Emphasizes individual responsibility and action. While they speak with one voice, each person takes specific personal initiative. It underscores that this was a common, uncoerced decision among them, reflecting a shared innocence of the immediate charge.
- his sack (`שַׂקּ֗וֹ` - saq-qo): Refers to the specific cloth bag used for carrying provisions, which had just been filled by Joseph's steward. The definite possessive ("his sack") highlights the individual nature of their belongings and their readiness to reveal them. The sacks represented their personal belongings and thus their individual integrity in this context.
- and each man (`וְאִ֣ישׁ` - we-ish): Repetition of "each man" reinforces the individual and deliberate participation of every brother in this action, not merely a collective pronouncement. This detail suggests thoroughness and complete transparency from their side.
- lowered his sack (`יורדו שקקו` - yordhu saq-qo / variations in translation depend on reading and textual nuances like `כְּלָי֔וֹ`): The Hebrew root `יָרַד` (yarad) means "to go down, descend." In this context, it implies "to lower" or "to empty onto the ground" from the animal or shoulder. This action signifies a willing submission to inspection and a desire for immediate, tangible proof. It speaks to the haste and openness with which they are trying to prove innocence.
- and each man opened (`וִיפְתְּחוּ` - wi-ftĕchū): From the Hebrew root `פָּתַח` (patach), meaning "to open." This verb indicates the active and voluntary unsealing of their sacks. It shows their readiness not only to present their sacks but also to facilitate the examination themselves, emphasizing their transparency. This active "opening" (often translated "examined" or "emptied" by modern versions) is critical to the display of innocence.
- Words-group Analysis:
- "And they said, Each man his sack... and each man opened": This phrase showcases the unity and individual initiative of the brothers. It implies a coordinated, yet individually driven, action to clear their names. Their immediate willingness to open their possessions reveals a deep confidence in their blamelessness concerning the specific accusation, ironically setting them up for the hidden truth to emerge. This act is a dramatic turn from their earlier deception towards Joseph (Gen 37) and points towards a moral transformation within the family dynamics. Their proactive behavior demonstrates a willingness to submit to the inspection rather than flee or resist, signifying a notable shift in character for them since the sale of Joseph.
Genesis 44 11 Bonus section
- Dramatic Irony: The brothers' eager compliance to clear themselves of one false charge unwittingly leads them straight into revealing a true, deeper moral failing from their past (their treatment of Joseph). Their present action to "empty" themselves is a prelude to their subsequent "emptying" of their pride and confession.
- Echoes of Covenant: Their willingness to expose themselves to judgment foreshadows the ultimate judgment where all things hidden will be revealed before God.
- Joseph's Method: This controlled situation allowed Joseph to observe not only the factual content of their sacks but, more importantly, the content of their character, particularly their protective stance towards Benjamin, indicative of a true change from their past jealousy.
Genesis 44 11 Commentary
Genesis 44:11 dramatically illustrates the brothers' shift in character. Their unified, immediate, and transparent action of emptying and opening their sacks signifies their absolute conviction of innocence regarding the stolen cup. This readiness for self-incrimination, as expressed in their previous vow in Gen 44:9-10, stands in stark contrast to their deceitful cover-up after selling Joseph (Gen 37:31-33). They are eager to prove their blamelessness in this test, highlighting their growth. This willingness to be searched, ironically, precipitates the revelation of the truth about Benjamin and ultimately their deeper guilt concerning Joseph, moving God's redemptive plan forward. The scene is not just about a cup but a divinely orchestrated moment of truth, designed by Joseph to test their hearts and bring them to repentance.