Genesis 44:4 kjv

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 44:4 nkjv

When they had gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, "Get up, follow the men; and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good?

Genesis 44:4 niv

They had not gone far from the city when Joseph said to his steward, "Go after those men at once, and when you catch up with them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid good with evil?

Genesis 44:4 esv

They had gone only a short distance from the city. Now Joseph said to his steward, "Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you repaid evil for good?

Genesis 44:4 nlt

But when they had gone only a short distance and were barely out of the city, Joseph said to his palace manager, "Chase after them and stop them. When you catch up with them, ask them, 'Why have you repaid my kindness with such evil?

Genesis 44 verses

Genesis 44 4 Meaning

Genesis 44:4 records Joseph's swift command to his steward, immediately after his brothers had departed from the city, to pursue them. The steward was instructed to overtake them and directly confront them with the piercing question: "Why have you repaid good with evil?" This accusation, though a calculated ruse on Joseph's part, served as the climactic pivot in his intricate test of his brothers, designed to reveal their transformation of heart and determine their readiness for full reconciliation. It underscores a fundamental moral principle within the narrative, setting the stage for the dramatic events that follow.

Genesis 44 4 Context

Genesis chapter 44 is the dramatic climax of Joseph's protracted test of his brothers, specifically designed to gauge their change of heart concerning their treatment of Benjamin, now their youngest brother. Following the second trip to Egypt and the elaborate dinner hosted by Joseph, where Benjamin was singled out for honor, Joseph orchestrates a decisive maneuver. This verse captures the moment Joseph sets in motion the plan to frame Benjamin by secretly placing his silver divining cup in Benjamin's sack, and then sends his steward to accuse them. The specific accusation, "Why have you repaid good with evil?", refers to the recent hospitality and provision Joseph extended to them, which they are now supposedly betraying through theft. Historically, the setting is ancient Egypt, where Joseph, as the Vizier, wields immense power, and accusations of theft against a high official's property would carry severe penalties, possibly enslavement. Joseph's prior "good" included ensuring their provision of food during the famine, the return of their money in their sacks twice, and the honor shown to Benjamin. This entire scene serves as the ultimate crucible to test if the brothers' collective solidarity and personal integrity had grown beyond their self-serving betrayal of Joseph years earlier.

Genesis 44 4 Word analysis

• "They had gone only a short distance from the city": This phrase, derived from the Hebrew haṭṭeḥu min-haʿîr lōʾ harḥēq, emphasizes the immediate proximity. This quick interception adds to the dramatic tension, ensuring the brothers are still easily within reach for the steward's pursuit and for them to be brought back swiftly.
• "Joseph said to his steward": The Hebrew vayyōʾmer Yōśēp̄ ʾal-ʾašer ʿal-bêtō highlights Joseph's authoritative position. The "steward" (אֲשֶׁר עַל-בֵּיתוֹ, ʾašer ʿal-bêtō, literally "he who was over his house") denotes the chief administrator of Joseph's household. This was a position of immense trust and responsibility in ancient Near Eastern society, responsible for all domestic and financial affairs, often likened to a prime minister's chief of staff. This delegation underscores Joseph's calculated and indirect execution of his plan.
• "Go after those men at once, and when you overtake them": The imperative Hebrew verb rəḏōp̄ ("go after," "pursue") indicates a swift and direct command. The anticipation of "overtaking" them (wəhiśśagtām) shows Joseph's premeditated strategy and precision in orchestrating this encounter, not allowing them much more time to distance themselves or ponder their previous encounter with the vizier.
• "say to them": The direct address to the steward emphasizes the verbatim instruction Joseph gives.
• "'Why have you repaid good with evil?'": This is the pivotal phrase of the verse, in Hebrew Lammāh šillaḵtem rāʿâ taḥat ṭôvâ?
  • "Why?" (לָמָּה, lammāh): This is a rhetorical question, carrying an accusatory weight, implying shock and deep moral offense at an incomprehensible act. It's not seeking information but expressing condemnation and demanding a justification for an apparent betrayal.
  • "have you repaid" (שִׁלַּמְתֶּם, shillamtam): This verb means "to pay back," "to recompense," "to requite." It implies a direct transaction or exchange, a deliberate action of compensation. The choice of this verb here is stark, painting the "theft" as a direct, ungrateful response to a benefit received, intensifying the perceived injustice.
  • "good" (טוֹבָה, ṭôvâ): This refers to all the recent benevolence shown by Joseph—feeding them, allowing them to buy grain, returning their money in their sacks, providing lodging, honoring Benjamin at his table, and granting them safe passage home. In a wider context, this principle highlights a stark contrast between a benevolent act and a malicious response, a core moral tenet recognized in various ancient legal and ethical codes, stressing the value of gratitude and reciprocity.
  • "evil" (רָעָה, rāʿâ): This term here refers to the act of theft, specifically the alleged stealing of Joseph's divining cup. The act is cast as morally depraved and harmful. From a broader biblical perspective, repaying good with evil is viewed as an act of profound ingratitude and injustice, an abomination to God, running contrary to the very character of God who blesses even the undeserving (e.g., Matt 5:45). This accusation, though a feigned one in the narrative, is ironic in light of the brothers' prior "evil" (selling Joseph into slavery) after Joseph's "good" intentions (bringing food, Gen 37). Joseph's phrasing subtly evokes this deeper moral transgression he himself experienced from them, albeit he isn't accusing them of that in this moment.

Genesis 44 4 Bonus section

The concept of "repaying good with evil" carries significant cultural weight in ancient Near Eastern societies, where loyalty and gratitude to benefactors were paramount. Such an act was not merely a crime but a severe breach of social and moral order, considered contemptible. Joseph's use of this phrase elevates the perceived offense beyond simple theft to a profound act of ingratitude and betrayal. While Joseph's divining cup might suggest pagan practices (which God's people were to shun), for Joseph, it was likely a deliberate prop in his ruse, chosen for its symbolic weight and its ability to raise the stakes dramatically by linking Benjamin to sorcery or a grave religious transgression in the eyes of the Egyptians, making his "crime" unforgivable and ensuring Judah's strong plea. The whole narrative arc demonstrates God's sovereignty over human choices, using Joseph's meticulous planning and manipulation of circumstances, including his brothers' prior sin, to achieve a glorious divine outcome—the preservation of his family and the line through which the Messiah would come (Gen 50:20).

Genesis 44 4 Commentary

Genesis 44:4 marks the calculated turning point in Joseph's plan to test his brothers. The terse command to his steward initiates the final, intense phase of his "rehearsal of repentance," meticulously crafted to probe the depths of his brothers' transformation. The accusation, "Why have you repaid good with evil?", is not just a false charge of theft but a powerful moral indictment. It is profoundly ironic, given that the brothers themselves had once "repaid good with evil" when they sold Joseph into slavery, betraying him despite his good intentions (Gen 37). Now, Joseph, from a position of authority and benevolence, turns this same moral principle back upon them. This forces them to confront the perceived gravity of their actions and, critically, reveals their solidarity and self-sacrifice, especially for Benjamin, embodying a true change from their past abandonment of Joseph. The scene sets up Judah's profound and moving intercession, validating the success of Joseph's testing and paving the way for full reconciliation. Practically, this verse illustrates how God, even through human deception and testing, orchestrates events to reveal character, bring about repentance, and fulfill His sovereign redemptive purposes. It reminds us that seemingly harsh tests can serve divine good, preparing hearts for deeper truth and greater unity.