Genesis 44 בְּרֵאשִׁית פרק מ״ד

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Genesis 44 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיְצַוand commandedאֶת־אֲשֶׁרhim that wasעַל־בֵּיתוֹupon his householdלֵאמֹרsayingמַלֵּאfillאֶת־אַמְתְּחֹתthe sacks ofהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menאֹכֶלwith foodכַּאֲשֶׁרas much asיוּכְלוּןthey are ableשְׂאֵתto carryוְשִׂיםand putכֶּסֶף־אִישׁeach man's moneyבְּפִיin the mouth ofאַמְתַּחְתּוֹ׃his sack

   And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth.

2. 2

   וְאֶת־גְּבִיעִיand my gobletגְּבִיעַthe goblet ofהַכֶּסֶףsilverתָּשִׂיםyou shall putבְּפִיin the mouth ofאַמְתַּחַתthe sack ofהַקָּטֹןthe youngestוְאֵתandכֶּסֶףthe moneyשִׁבְרוֹof his purchaseוַיַּעַשׂand he didכִּדְבַרaccording to the word ofיוֹסֵףJosephאֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבֵּר׃spoke

   And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.

3. 3

   הַבֹּקֶרthe morningאוֹרwas lightוְהָאֲנָשִׁיםand the menשֻׁלְּחוּwere sent awayהֵמָּהtheyוַחֲמֹרֵיהֶם׃and their donkeys

   As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

4. 4

   הֵםtheyיָצְאוּwent forthאֶת־הָעִירthe cityלֹאnotהִרְחִיקוּthey had gone farוְיוֹסֵףand Josephאָמַרsaidלַאֲשֶׁרto him that wasעַל־בֵּיתוֹupon his householdקוּםariseרְדֹףpursueאַחֲרֵיafterהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menוְהִשַּׂגְתָּםand you will overtake themוְאָמַרְתָּand sayאֲלֵהֶםunto themלָמָּהwhyשִׁלַּמְתֶּםhave you repaidרָעָהevilתַּחַתforטוֹבָה׃good

   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?

5. 5

   הֲלוֹאis it notזֶהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichיִשְׁתֶּהhe drinksאֲדֹנִיmy lordבּוֹin itוְהוּאand heנַחֵשׁindeedיְנַחֵשׁhe practices divinationבּוֹin itהֲרֵעֹתֶםyou have done evilאֲשֶׁרwhichעֲשִׂיתֶם׃you have done

   Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.

6. 6

   וַיַּשִּׂגֵםand he overtook themוַיְדַבֵּרand spokeאֲלֵהֶםunto themאֶת־הַדְּבָרִיםthe wordsהָאֵלֶּה׃these

   And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.

7. 7

   וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidאֵלָיוto himלָמָּהwhyיְדַבֵּרspeaksאֲדֹנִיmy lordכַּדְּבָרִיםaccording to the wordsהָאֵלֶּהtheseחָלִילָהfar be itלַעֲבָדֶיךָto your servantsמֵעֲשׂוֹתfrom doingכַּדָּבָרaccording to the wordהַזֶּה׃this

   And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:

8. 8

   הֵןbeholdכֶּסֶףsilverאֲשֶׁרwhichמָצָאנוּwe have foundבְּפִיin the mouth ofאַמְתְּחֹתֵינוּour sacksהֱשִׁיבֹנוּwe brought backאֵלֶיךָto youמֵאֶרֶץfrom the land ofכְּנָעַןCanaanוְאֵיךְand howנִגְנֹבwill we stealמִבֵּיתfrom the house ofאֲדֹנֶיךָyour lordכֶּסֶףsilverאוֹorזָהָב׃gold

   Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?

9. 9

   אֲשֶׁרwhichיִמָּצֵאis foundאִתּוֹwith himמֵעֲבָדֶיךָof your servantsוָמֵתlet him dieוְגַם־אֲנַחְנוּand also weנִהְיֶהlet us beלַאדֹנִיto my lordלַעֲבָדִים׃for servants

   With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.

10. 10

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidגַּם־עַתָּהalso nowכְדִבְרֵיכֶםaccording to your wordsכֶּן־הוּאso let it beאֲשֶׁרwhichיִמָּצֵאis foundאִתּוֹwith himיִהְיֶה־לִּיshall be to meעָבֶדservantוְאַתֶּםand youתִּהְיוּshall beנְקִיִּם׃innocent

    And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.

11. 11

    וַיְמַהֲרוּand they hurriedוַיּוֹרִדוּand they brought downאִישׁeachאֶת־אַמְתַּחְתּוֹhis sackאָרְצָהto the groundוַיִּפְתְּחוּand they openedאִישׁeachאַמְתַּחְתּוֹ׃his sack

    Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack.

12. 12

    וַיְחַפֵּשׂand he searchedבַּגָּדוֹלat the eldestהֵחֵלbeganוּבַקָּטֹןand at the youngestכִּלָּהhe finishedוַיִּמָּצֵאand it was foundהַגָּבִיעַthe gobletבְּאַמְתַּחַתin the sack ofבִּנְיָמִן׃Benjamin

    And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest: and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack.

13. 13

    וַיִּקְרְעוּand they rentשִׂמְלֹתָםtheir clothesוַיַּעֲמֹסand ladedאִישׁeachעַל־חֲמֹרוֹupon his donkeyוַיָּשֻׁבוּand returnedהָעִירָה׃into the city

    Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.

14. 14

    וַיָּבֹאand cameיְהוּדָהJudahוְאֶחָיוand his brethrenבֵּיתָהto the house ofיוֹסֵףJosephוְהוּאand heעוֹדֶנּוּwhile he stillשָׁםthereוַיִּפְּלוּand they fellלְפָנָיוbefore himאָרְצָה׃to the ground

    And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

15. 15

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidלָהֶםto themיוֹסֵףJosephמָה־הַמַּעֲשֶׂהwhat deedהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichעֲשִׂיתֶםyou have doneהֲלוֹאis it notיְדַעְתֶּםyou knowכִּי־נַחֵשׁbecause indeedיְנַחֵשׁhe practices divinationאִישׁa manאֲשֶׁרwhichכָּמֹנִי׃like unto me

    And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?

16. 16

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיְהוּדָהJudahמַה־נֹּאמַרwhat will we sayלַאדֹנִיto my lordמַה־נְּדַבֵּרwhat will we speakוּמַה־נִּצְטַדָּקyea and what will we justify ourselvesהָאֱלֹהִיםGodמָצָאfoundאֶת־עֲוֺןthe iniquity ofעֲבָדֶיךָyour servantsהִנֶּנּוּbehold we areעֲבָדִיםservantsלַאדֹנִיto my lordגַּם־אֲנַחְנוּalso weגַּםalsoאֲשֶׁר־נִמְצָאhe in whose hand was foundהַגָּבִיעַthe gobletבְּיָדוֹ׃in his hand

    And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.

17. 17

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidחָלִילָהfar be itלִּיto meמֵעֲשׂוֹתfrom doזֹאתthisהָאִישׁthe manאֲשֶׁרwhichנִמְצָאwas foundהַגָּבִיעַthe gobletבְּיָדוֹin his handהוּאheיִהְיֶה־לִּיshall be to meעָבֶדservantוְאַתֶּםand youעֲלוּgo upלְשָׁלוֹםin peaceאֶל־אֲבִיכֶם׃to your father

    And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.

18. 18

    וַיִּגַּשׁand he drew nearאֵלָיוto himיְהוּדָהJudahוַיֹּאמֶרand saidבִּיOאֲדֹנִיmy lordיְדַבֶּר־נָאmay he speak I prayעַבְדְּךָyour servantדָבָרa wordבְּאׇזְנֵיin the ears ofאֲדֹנִיmy lordוְאַל־יִחַרand do not be angry withאַפְּךָyour angerבְּעַבְדֶּךָagainst your servantכִּיforכָמוֹךָyou areכְּפַרְעֹה׃as Pharaoh

    Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.

19. 19

    אֲדֹנִיmy lordשָׁאַלhe askedאֶת־עֲבָדָיוhis servantsלֵאמֹרsayingהֲיֵשׁ־לָכֶםis there to youאָבfatherאוֹ־אָח׃or a brother

    My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?

20. 20

    וַנֹּאמֶרand we saidאֶל־אֲדֹנִיto my lordיֶשׁ־לָנוּwe haveאָבfatherזָקֵןoldוְיֶלֶדand a childזְקֻנִיםold ageקָטָןlittleוְאָחִיוand his brotherמֵתdiedוַיִּוָּתֵרand he remainedהוּאheלְבַדּוֹaloneלְאִמּוֹof his motherוְאָבִיוand his fatherאֲהֵבוֹ׃loves him

    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.

21. 21

    וַתֹּאמֶרand you saidאֶל־עֲבָדֶיךָto your servantsהוֹרִדֻהוּbring him downאֵלָיunto meוְאָשִׂימָהso let me setעֵינִיmy eyeעָלָיו׃upon him

    And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

22. 22

    וַנֹּאמֶרand we saidאֶל־אֲדֹנִיto my lordלֹא־יוּכַלnot canהַנַּעַרthe ladלַעֲזֹבto leaveאֶת־אָבִיוhis fatherוְעָזַבand he will leaveאֶת־אָבִיוhis fatherוָמֵת׃he would die

    And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father: for if he should leave his father, his father would die.

23. 23

    וַתֹּאמֶרand you saidאֶל־עֲבָדֶיךָto your servantsאִם־לֹאif notיֵרֵדshall come downאֲחִיכֶםyour brotherהַקָּטֹןthe youngestאִתְּכֶםwith youלֹאnotתֹסִפוּןshall you againלִרְאוֹתto seeפָּנָי׃my face

    And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

24. 24

    וַיְהִיand it came to passכִּיwhenעָלִינוּwe went upאֶל־עַבְדְּךָto your servantאָבִיmy fatherוַנַּגֶּד־לוֹand we told himאֵת־דִּבְרֵיthe words ofאֲדֹנִי׃my lord

    And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord.

25. 25

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאָבִינוּour fatherשֻׁבוּgo againשִׁבְרוּ־לָנוּbuy usמְעַט־אֹכֶל׃a little food

    And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food.

26. 26

    וַנֹּאמֶרand we saidלֹאnotנוּכַלcan weלָרֶדֶתto go downאִם־יֵשׁif there isאָחִינוּour brotherהַקָּטֹןthe youngestאִתָּנוּwith usוְיָרַדְנוּand we will go downכִּי־לֹאthat notנוּכַלcan weלִרְאוֹתto seeפְּנֵיface ofהָאִישׁthe manוְאָחִינוּand our brotherהַקָּטֹןthe youngestאֵינֶנּוּis notאִתָּנוּ׃with us

    And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us.

27. 27

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidעַבְדְּךָyour servantאָבִיmy fatherאֵלֵינוּunto usאַתֶּםyouיְדַעְתֶּםyou knowכִּיthatשְׁנַיִםtwoיָלְדָה־לִּיshe bore to meאִשְׁתִּי׃my wife

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

28. 28

    וַיֵּצֵאand went outהָאֶחָדthe oneמֵאִתִּיfrom meוָאֹמַרand I saidאַךְsurelyטָרֹףsurelyטֹרָףhe has been torn to piecesוְלֹאand notרְאִיתִיוI saw himעַד־הֵנָּה׃hitherto

    And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:

29. 29

    וּלְקַחְתֶּםand you will takeגַּם־אֶת־זֶהalso thisמֵעִםfromפָּנַיmy faceוְקָרָהוּand it will happen to himאָסוֹןmischiefוְהוֹרַדְתֶּםand you will cause to go downאֶת־שֵׂיבָתִיmy gray hairsבְּרָעָהin evilשְׁאֹלָה׃to Sheol

    And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

30. 30

    וְעַתָּהand nowכְּבֹאִיwhen I comeאֶל־עַבְדְּךָto your servantאָבִיmy fatherוְהַנַּעַרand the ladאֵינֶנּוּis notאִתָּנוּwith usוְנַפְשׁוֹand his soulקְשׁוּרָהis bound upבְנַפְשׁוֹ׃in his soul

    Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life;

31. 31

    וְהָיָהand beכִּרְאוֹתוֹwhen he seesכִּי־אֵיןbecause there is noהַנַּעַרthe ladוָמֵתhe will dieוְהוֹרִידוּand take downעֲבָדֶיךָyour servantsאֶת־שֵׂיבַתthe gray hair ofעַבְדְּךָyour servantאָבִינוּour fatherבְּיָגוֹןwith sorrowשְׁאֹלָה׃to Sheol

    It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

32. 32

    כִּיbecauseעַבְדְּךָyour servantעָרַבhe stood surety forאֶת־הַנַּעַרthe ladמֵעִםfromאָבִיmy fatherלֵאמֹרsayingאִם־לֹאif notאֲבִיאֶנּוּI will bring himאֵלֶיךָto youוְחָטָאתִיthen let me bear the blameלְאָבִיfor my fatherכׇּל־הַיָּמִים׃all the days

    For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.

33. 33

    וְעַתָּהand nowיֵשֶׁב־נָאlet abide I prayעַבְדְּךָyour servantתַּחַתunderהַנַּעַרthe ladעֶבֶדa servantלַאדֹנִיto my lordוְהַנַּעַרand the ladיַעַלlet go upעִם־אֶחָיו׃with his brethren

    Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

34. 34

    כִּי־אֵיךְbecause howאֶעֱלֶהshall I go upאֶל־אָבִיto my fatherוְהַנַּעַרand the ladאֵינֶנּוּis notאִתִּיwith meפֶּןlestאֶרְאֶהI shall seeבָרָעthe evilאֲשֶׁרwhichיִמְצָאshall findאֶת־אָבִי׃my father

    For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.