Keraia
Genesis 44

Genesis 44:20

Judah Pleads for Benjamin · Genesis 44:18–34
Read Genesis 44

Translations

Modern
And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’
Traditional
And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.
Literal
And we said to my lord, ‘We have to us a father, an old man, and a son of his old age, who is young. And his brother died, and he alone is left to his mother, and his father loves him.’
Latin
…et nos respondimus tibi domino meo: Est nobis pater senex, et puer parvulus, qui in senectute illius natus est: cujus uterinus frater mortuus est: et ipsum solum habet mater sua, pater vero tenere diligit eum.

Original

Hebrew
English
And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

Notes

Genesis 44:18–34

  • Judah kept his promise to make sure Benjamin was safe (43:8–10). His lengthy plea to take Benjamin's place in prison is one of the most sincere examples of intercession in the Bible (44:33). It showed Judah's care for their father and his willingness to sacrifice everything for his brother. With this integrity, Judah proved himself a true leader, worthy of the firstborn's blessing (see John 15:13). Through him, Israel's kings would emerge (see Genesis 49:10).

  • The brothers had fully repented, as shown by Judah’s intercession. Because of their change, Joseph could reveal himself to them (45:1–15). He arranged for the family to join him in Egypt, where there was food (45:16; 47:12).

Genesis 44:1–34

The brothers seemed different. They felt sorry for what they did to Joseph. They showed honor by returning the money and by bringing Benjamin. Given a chance to get rid of Rachel’s other son, Benjamin, would they do it?

Genesis 42:1–44:34

Joseph did several unusual things to his brothers when they came looking for grain. The last time Joseph had been with them, they were filled with jealousy, hatred, and anger; they attempted to destroy their brother, and they deceived their father. Joseph put them through various tests, similar to the trying situations they had put him through, to see if they had changed.

Theme notes and profiles

Egypt Joseph Judah Symbolic Numbers

Events

Glossary

Benjamin (Person) Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Famine Genesis, Book of Jacob Patriarchs, Period of the

Topics

Children: Judah Judah: Son of Jacob: Goes Down Into Egypt for Corn (Grain) Parents: Good - Exemplified: Jacob Select Readings: Judah's Defense