Translations
Modern
His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”
Traditional
And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
Literal
And his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
Latin
Veneruntque ad eum fratres sui: et proni adorantes in terram, dixerunt: Servi tui sumus.
Original
Hebrew
English
His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”
Notes
The brothers begged Joseph to forgive them, referring to themselves as his slaves (compare 37:7; 44:16, 33). They worried that Joseph had only made peace with them earlier because he wanted to see his father again. Now that Jacob and Pharaoh were not there to restrain him, they feared he might seek revenge. But Joseph wept because they still feared he would punish them.
Theme notes and profiles
Glossary
Book of Exodus Genesis, Book of Jacob Patriarchs, Period of the
Topics
Conviction: Joseph's Brother, on Account of Their Cruelty to Joseph Families: should Live in Mutual Forbearance Family of Saints: Live in Mutual Forbearance Repentance: Joseph's Brothers, of Their Maltreatment of Joseph