Genesis 44:14
New International Version
Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.

New Living Translation
Joseph was still in his palace when Judah and his brothers arrived, and they fell to the ground before him.

English Standard Version
When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground.

Berean Standard Bible
When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

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

New King James Version
So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground.

New American Standard Bible
When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell down to the ground before him.

NASB 1995
When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

NASB 1977
When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there. So they fell to the ground before him.

Amplified Bible
When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there; and they fell to the ground before him.

Christian Standard Bible
When Judah and his brothers reached Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell to the ground before him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Judah and his brothers reached Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell to the ground before him.”

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

Contemporary English Version
When Judah and his brothers got there, Joseph was still at home. So they bowed down to Joseph,

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph's house while Joseph was still there. Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground.

Good News Translation
When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They bowed down before him,

International Standard Version
Joseph was waiting for them back at his palace when his brothers returned. They fell to the ground in front of him,

Majority Standard Bible
When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

NET Bible
So Judah and his brothers came back to Joseph's house. He was still there, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.

New Heart English Bible
So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house, (for he was yet there:) and they fell before him on the ground.

World English Bible
Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there. They fell on the ground before him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Judah and his brothers come to the house of Joseph, and he is yet there, and they fall to the earth before him;

Young's Literal Translation
And Judah -- his brethren also -- cometh in unto the house of Joseph, and he is yet there, and they fall before him to the earth;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Judah and his brethren will come to Joseph's house, and he yet there: and they will fall before him to the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Juda at the head of his brethren went in to Joseph, (for he was not yet gone out of the place, ) and they altogether fell down before him on the ground.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Judah, first among his brothers, entered to Joseph (for he had not yet departed from the place) and together they all fell down before him to the ground.

New American Bible
When Judah and his brothers entered Joseph’s house, he was still there; so they flung themselves on the ground before him.

New Revised Standard Version
Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house while he was still there; and they fell to the ground before him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house; for he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yehuda and his brothers came into Yoseph, and he was still there, and they fell before him on the ground.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house, and he was yet there; and they fell before him on the ground.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Judas and his brethren came in to Joseph, while he was yet there, and fell on the ground before him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Benjamin and the Silver Cup
13Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city. 14When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him. 15“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”…

Cross References
Genesis 37:26-28
Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? / Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed. / So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Genesis 42:6-9
Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. / And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.” / Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. ...

Genesis 43:26-28
When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him. / He asked if they were well, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father you told me about? Is he still alive?” / “Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.

Genesis 45:3-5
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence. / Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! / And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.

Genesis 50:18-21
His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!” / But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? / As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. ...

Exodus 32:31-32
So Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made gods of gold for themselves. / Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.”

1 Samuel 26:18-19
And he continued, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand? / Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’

2 Samuel 14:33
So Joab went and told the king, and David summoned Absalom, who came to him and bowed facedown before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.

2 Kings 5:15
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

Job 1:20-21
Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, / saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Isaiah 45:14
This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you; they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you: ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’”

Jeremiah 26:14-15
As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right. / But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its residents; for truly the LORD has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”

Matthew 18:26-27
Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ / His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him.

Matthew 27:3-4
When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. / “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

Luke 15:18-19
I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. / I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’


Treasury of Scripture

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

he was yet.

Genesis 43:16,25
And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon…

fell.

Genesis 37:7-9
For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf…

Genesis 50:18
And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

Philippians 2:10,11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; …

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Earth Faces Fall Fell Ground House Joseph Joseph's Judah Themselves Threw
Genesis 44
1. Joseph's policy to stay his brothers.
6. The silver cup is found in Benjamin's sack.
14. They are brought before Joseph.
18. Judah's humble supplication to Joseph.














When Judah and his brothers
This phrase highlights the leadership role that Judah assumes among his brothers. Historically, Judah emerges as a central figure in the narrative of Joseph, reflecting his future significance as the forefather of the tribe from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ would descend. The Hebrew name "Judah" (יְהוּדָה, Yehudah) means "praise," which is fitting as Judah's actions often lead to pivotal moments of reconciliation and redemption.

came to Joseph’s house
The setting of Joseph's house is significant. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a house was not just a dwelling but a place of authority and governance. Joseph, as the vizier of Egypt, holds a position of immense power, and his house symbolizes the center of Egyptian political and economic life. This setting underscores the gravity of the brothers' situation as they stand before the one who holds their fate in his hands.

he was still there
Joseph's presence in the house when his brothers arrive is crucial. It indicates his anticipation of their return and his control over the unfolding events. The phrase suggests a divine orchestration, as Joseph's actions are part of a larger plan to bring about reconciliation and the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

and they fell to the ground before him
This act of prostration is a gesture of deep respect and submission, common in ancient cultures when approaching someone of high status. It fulfills Joseph's earlier dreams (Genesis 37:7-9) where his brothers' sheaves bowed down to his, symbolizing their eventual submission. The Hebrew verb "fell" (נָפַל, naphal) conveys a sense of complete surrender, both physically and spiritually, as the brothers recognize Joseph's authority and their own vulnerability.

Verses 14-17. - And Judah - who is recognized as the leader in this second embassy to Egypt (Genesis 43:8) - and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: - "awaiting, no doubt, the result which he anticipated" (Murphy) - and they fell before him on the ground. The expression indicates a complete prostration of the body. It was a token of their penitence, and a sign that they craved his forgiveness. And Joseph said unto them, - in a speech not of "cruel and haughty irony" (Kalisch), but simply of assumed resentment - What deed is this that we have done! were ye not (or, did you not know?) that such a man as I can certainly divine? - literally, divining can divine (vide on ver. 5). Though Joseph uses this language, and is represented by his steward as possessing a divining cup, there is no reason to suppose that he was in the habit of practicing this heathen superstition. And Judah said (acting throughout this scene as the spokesman of his brethren), What shall we say unto my lord? What shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? (i.e. justify ourselves, or purge ourselves from suspicion). God (literally, the Elohim) hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants (literally, servants to my lord), both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. And he (i.e. Joseph) said, God forbid that I should do so (vide ver. 9): 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. Thus they were once more tested as to whether they could, as before, callously deliver up their father's favorite, and so bring down the gray hairs of their father to the grave, or would heroically and self-sacrificingly offer their own lives and liberties for his protection (Rosenmüller, Keil, Lange, Murphy, and others). How nobly they stood the test Judah's pathetic supplication reveals.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When Judah
יְהוּדָ֤ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

and his brothers
וְאֶחָיו֙ (wə·’e·ḥāw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

arrived at
וַיָּבֹ֨א (way·yā·ḇō)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

Joseph’s
יוֹסֵ֔ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

house,
בֵּ֣יתָה (bê·ṯāh)
Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1004: A house

he
וְה֖וּא (wə·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

was still
עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ (‘ō·w·ḏen·nū)
Adverb | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

there,
שָׁ֑ם (šām)
Adverb
Strong's 8033: There, then, thither

and they fell
וַיִּפְּל֥וּ (way·yip·pə·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

to the ground
אָֽרְצָה׃ (’ā·rə·ṣāh)
Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

before him.
לְפָנָ֖יו (lə·p̄ā·nāw)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face


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OT Law: Genesis 44:14 Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 44:13
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