Genesis 44:27 kjv

And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons:

Genesis 44:27 nkjv

Then your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons;

Genesis 44:27 niv

"Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons.

Genesis 44:27 esv

Then your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons.

Genesis 44:27 nlt

"Then my father said to us, 'As you know, my wife had two sons,

Genesis 44 verses

Genesis 44 27 Meaning

Genesis 44:27, spoken by Judah recounting his father Jacob's words to the brothers, expresses the deep sorrow and singular attachment Jacob felt towards his sons born of Rachel, particularly Benjamin, his sole remaining son from his beloved wife. It reveals the core reason for Jacob's profound distress over Benjamin's potential loss: Joseph, Rachel's first son, was already presumed dead, making Benjamin the last physical connection to his deeply loved Rachel.

Genesis 44 27 Context

This verse is embedded in Judah's eloquent and passionate plea to Joseph, whom they do not yet recognize as their brother, for the release of Benjamin. The scene takes place in Egypt after Joseph has devised a test for his brothers by placing his divining cup in Benjamin's sack, leading to Benjamin's "discovery" and detention. Judah steps forward as a surety for Benjamin, demonstrating genuine repentance and love for his father. Judah's speech (Gen 44:18-34) recounts their family's ordeal and their father Jacob's deep, almost debilitating, attachment to Benjamin. Judah aims to highlight the overwhelming sorrow Jacob would experience if Benjamin did not return, using Jacob's own words to emphasize the critical bond the elderly father shared with Rachel's youngest son, Benjamin, after the tragic presumed loss of Joseph, her first. This plea demonstrates Judah's profound empathy, transforming him from the one who suggested selling Joseph (Gen 37:26-27) to one willing to sacrifice himself for a brother.

Genesis 44 27 Word analysis

• And: Hebrew waw (וּ), serving as a conjunction, connecting this statement to Judah's previous explanations of the family situation.
• thy servant: Hebrew `abdekha (עַבְדְּךָ), meaning "your servant." This is a respectful and deferential term used by Judah to address Joseph, acknowledging Joseph's authority and status as the Egyptian viceroy. It also sets up Jacob as someone who is submissive to Joseph's power, enhancing the plea.
• my father: Hebrew `avi (אָבִי), clearly identifying Jacob, emphasizing the speaker's filial relationship and the profound love for his elderly parent. It evokes the image of a vulnerable, sorrowing father.
• said unto us: Direct speech, signaling a quote from Jacob himself. This makes the words more authoritative and poignant, as they are not merely Judah's interpretation but Jacob's own expression of grief and attachment.
• Ye know: Hebrew yada`tem (יְדַעְתֶּם), an appeal to common knowledge or shared experience. Jacob's words imply that his sons are fully aware of his affection for Rachel and her offspring, reinforcing the emotional weight of his statement. It signifies an appeal based on established truth and intimate family history.
• that my wife: Hebrew `ishti (אִשְׁתִּי), "my woman" or "my wife." This directly refers to Rachel, Jacob's most beloved wife, setting the emotional tone for the remainder of the sentence. The choice of "wife" (as opposed to specifically naming Rachel) makes it more universally applicable to a deep conjugal bond.
• bare me: Hebrew yaldahti li (יָלְדָה־לִּי), "she bore for me." Emphasizes that these sons were borne to Jacob, as a personal gift or continuation of his lineage, reinforcing their special place in his heart.
• two sons: Hebrew shənayim banim (שְׁנַיִם בָּנִים), "two sons." This immediately brings to mind Joseph and Benjamin, Rachel's only children. For Jacob, these were not merely two sons among twelve, but special ones linked by the exceptional love he had for Rachel, who suffered greatly (and ultimately died) for them. The emphasis on "two" underscores their unique significance to Jacob, especially after Joseph's presumed death left Benjamin as the last of these precious two.

Words-Group analysis:

• "thy servant my father": This phrase combines humility from Judah toward Joseph with deep filial respect and love for Jacob. It positions Jacob as a vulnerable elder deserving of consideration due to his status and suffering, rather than a demanding patriarch.
• "Ye know that my wife bare me two sons": This declaration encapsulates the pathos of Jacob's situation. It invokes the shared memory of Jacob's intense love for Rachel (Gen 29), the difficult births of Joseph and Benjamin (Gen 30, 35), and Rachel's death delivering Benjamin. The emphasis on "two sons" (Joseph and Benjamin) and Jacob's connection through his "wife" (Rachel) highlights the unique and profound emotional bond Jacob had with them, differentiating them from his other children. It points to a singular line of offspring for Jacob, born from his only true love, whose fate weighed most heavily on him.

Genesis 44 27 Bonus section

The careful wording Judah uses in relaying Jacob's message—starting with "thy servant my father"—is a powerful rhetorical device. It not only expresses respect for Joseph but also elevates Jacob's vulnerability and status as an aged patriarch whose well-being is tied to his children. The statement reflects Jacob's life-long preference for Rachel and her children, a favoritism that, while causing past family strife (Gen 37), now manifests as an immense and profound attachment born out of enduring love and past tragedies. The phrase "ye know" also suggests that Jacob's suffering over Joseph was a prominent, often repeated, lament within the family, something they all had witnessed and internalized, thus strengthening Judah's argument for compassion.

Genesis 44 27 Commentary

Genesis 44:27 captures the emotional heart of Jacob's deep sorrow and attachment, expressed through Judah's heartfelt retelling. It concisely summarizes Jacob's tragic experience: the intense love for Rachel, the cherished birth of her two sons (Joseph and Benjamin), and the profound grief when Joseph was "lost." This verse sets the stage for understanding why Benjamin's well-being was so critical to Jacob's very existence. Jacob's statement, "Ye know that my wife bare me two sons," isn't merely stating a fact; it's a lament steeped in the memory of a beloved, lost wife and the anguish over the presumed loss of one of her children. For Jacob, Benjamin represented the last living piece of Rachel, and losing him would surely bring his "grey hairs down with sorrow to the grave." The verse therefore emphasizes the powerful ties of family love and the devastating impact of loss, underscoring the spiritual and emotional journey Jacob underwent, leading ultimately to divine revelation and reunion.