Genesis 44:22 kjv
And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.
Genesis 44:22 nkjv
And we said to my lord, 'The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'
Genesis 44:22 niv
And we said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father; if he leaves him, his father will die.'
Genesis 44:22 esv
We said to my lord, 'The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'
Genesis 44:22 nlt
But we said to you, 'My lord, the boy cannot leave his father, for his father would die.'
Genesis 44 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 37:34-35 | Jacob tore his clothes... mourning for his son for many days... refused to be comforted. | Jacob's grief for Joseph. |
| Gen 42:36 | Jacob their father said to them, “You have bereaved me of my children... all this has come upon me.” | Jacob's profound sorrow for his losses. |
| Gen 42:38 | "if harm should happen to him on the journey... then you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow." | Jacob's fear for Benjamin's safety and his own. |
| Gen 43:6 | Israel said, “Why did you deal so treacherously with me as to tell the man that you had another brother?" | Jacob's reluctance to send Benjamin. |
| Gen 43:8-9 | Judah said to Israel... "Send the boy with me, that we may live... I will be a pledge of his safety." | Judah's guarantee for Benjamin. |
| Gen 44:18-19 | Judah approached him and said, "Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord's ears..." | Judah's powerful plea for Benjamin. |
| Gen 44:32-34 | "For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy... For how can I go up to my father if the boy is not with me?" | Judah offers himself as substitute. |
| Gen 45:1-3 | Joseph could not control himself... and he wept aloud... Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph!" | Joseph moved by Judah's plea. |
| Rom 5:8 | But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. | Divine self-sacrifice for reconciliation. |
| Gal 3:13 | Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. | Christ's substitutionary atonement. |
| 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. | Christ takes our place. |
| Rom 9:3 | For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers... | Paul's deep love and self-sacrifice for Israel. |
| Ps 103:13 | As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him. | God's fatherly compassion. |
| Prov 17:22 | A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. | Physical impact of sorrow/grief. |
| Ps 69:20 | Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. | Despair from sorrow. |
| 2 Sam 18:33 | O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would that I had died instead of you, O Absalom... | David's extreme grief over his son. |
| 1 Sam 4:18 | As soon as he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward beside the gate and his neck was broken, and he died. | Shock and grief leading to physical death. |
| Matt 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood..." | Christ's lament reflecting deep affection. |
| John 15:5 | "I am the vine; you are the branches... apart from me you can do nothing." | Separation's debilitating effect. |
| Gen 45:5 | "And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you." | God's providential hand in suffering. |
| Rom 8:28 | And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good. | God's sovereign plan amidst difficulties. |
Genesis 44 verses
Genesis 44 22 Meaning
Genesis 44:22 records Judah's poignant declaration to Joseph, explaining why Benjamin, his youngest brother, could not be detained in Egypt. It conveys Jacob's profound fear that if Benjamin were to leave him, he, Jacob, would die from the overwhelming grief, having already endured the presumed loss of his beloved son Joseph. The verse underscores the intense paternal bond and the emotional fragility of Jacob, whose life appeared inextricably linked to his remaining son by Rachel.
Genesis 44 22 Context
Genesis chapter 44 is the climax of Joseph's elaborate test for his brothers, aimed at assessing their character transformation and setting the stage for reconciliation. Joseph has accused Benjamin of stealing his silver cup, intending to keep Benjamin as his slave, replicating a separation that would plunge Jacob into despair as it happened with Joseph. Verse 22 is part of Judah's moving and eloquent plea to Joseph (Gen 44:18-34), where Judah takes full responsibility for Benjamin's return and offers himself as a slave in Benjamin's place. This verse specifically relays Jacob's own words and deep apprehension previously expressed to his sons (Gen 42:38, 43:6-8) regarding sending Benjamin to Egypt, highlighting the patriarchal family structure's emphasis on familial bonds and the profound impact of losing an heir. Historically and culturally, a father's survival, especially a tribal leader, was linked to the well-being of his lineage, making the threat to Benjamin directly threaten Jacob's emotional and potentially physical life.
Genesis 44 22 Word analysis
And we said (וַנֹּאמֶר - wa'noměr): This verb is a common "Waw-conversive" (or consecutive) imperfect, signaling a sequential action in the narrative. "We" signifies the collective voice of the brothers conveying Jacob's distress.
to my lord (לַאדֹנִ֤י - la'dōnī): A standard, respectful address from a subordinate to a superior in the ancient Near East, here directed towards Joseph, emphasizing the power dynamic Judah perceives.
‘The boy (הַנַּ֣עַר - hanna'ar): Refers to Benjamin. The Hebrew word na'ar (נַ֣עַר) can mean "youth," "young man," or "boy." Here, it emphasizes Benjamin's relative youth and Jacob's tender affection and perceived vulnerability.
cannot (לֹֽא־יוּכַ֤ל - lo' yūḵal): The negative particle lo' combined with the verb yakhol (יכול - "to be able"). It conveys a strong sense of impossibility or inability. The meaning is "he is absolutely not able."
leave (לַעֲזֹ֖ב - la'azov): From the verb 'azav (עזב), meaning "to abandon," "forsake," "leave behind." Its use here evokes a powerful sense of desertion or being left, underscoring the severity of such an act for Jacob.
his father (אֶת־אָבִ֔יו - et-'āḇīw): Refers to Jacob. The phrase stresses the irreplaceable bond between father and son, particularly for Jacob, who was especially vulnerable after Joseph's presumed death and the loss of Rachel.
for if he should leave his father (כִּי־יַעֲזֹ֥ב אֶת־אָבִיו֙ - kī ya'azov et-'āḇīw): The conditional clause sets up the dire consequence. The repeated "leave his father" emphasizes the central, life-threatening nature of this separation.
his father would die (וּמֵֽת - ūmēt): From the verb mut (מות), "to die." The phrase is stark and direct. It refers to Jacob's direct words relayed by his sons, suggesting either a literal death from grief or such an extreme emotional collapse that life would cease to be worth living. Given Jacob's age and history of profound sorrow (e.g., for Joseph), a literal death from overwhelming heartbreak was a tangible threat.
"The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.": This is a direct quote of Jacob's deepest fear and condition for Benjamin's journey, powerfully recounted by Judah. It highlights the absolute necessity of Benjamin's presence for Jacob's survival, painting a vivid picture of Jacob's fragile state and profound emotional attachment, setting up the context for Judah's offer of substitution. This reiteration serves to humanize Jacob's predicament for Joseph, whose own experience of separation resonates deeply.
Genesis 44 22 Bonus section
The mention of "his father would die" reflects not only Jacob's advanced age and emotional exhaustion but also a common understanding in ancient societies where extreme grief, stress, or brokenheartedness could genuinely lead to a person's physical demise. This belief underscores the psychological and spiritual dimensions of human well-being, where a "crushed spirit" or "broken heart" (as seen in Psalms and Proverbs) could indeed weaken one to the point of death. Judah's choice to reiterate Jacob's very words adds authenticity and intensity to his plea, directly engaging Joseph on an emotional level by referencing a situation of deep parental love and the threat of loss, themes Joseph himself profoundly understood due to his own past separation from his father and his personal experience as a father himself now. This strategic choice by Judah further contributes to the narrative's tension and pathos.
Genesis 44 22 Commentary
Genesis 44:22 is a critical line in Judah's eloquent and passionate intercession for Benjamin before Joseph. It encapsulates the deep despair Jacob would face if Benjamin were lost, drawing on the pain of Joseph's presumed death. This verse powerfully conveys the patriarch's vulnerability and his profound, almost life-sustaining, attachment to Benjamin, his sole remaining child from Rachel. Judah's recital of Jacob's words ("his father would die") highlights the devastating emotional toll further loss would inflict, painting a vivid picture of Jacob's mental and physical fragility. This is not merely a hypothetical scenario but a heartfelt declaration of impending doom, showcasing Judah's changed character—from one who callously sold Joseph to one who empathizes deeply with his father's anguish and offers himself in Benjamin's stead. This dramatic moment sets the stage for Joseph's revelation, leading to the family's reconciliation, a prefiguring of redemption found in sacrifice.For practical usage: This verse reminds us of the profound impact of family bonds and the real human cost of loss and separation, urging compassion and understanding towards those facing similar distress.