Genesis 44:30
New International Version
“So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father, and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life,

New Living Translation
“And now, my lord, I cannot go back to my father without the boy. Our father’s life is bound up in the boy’s life.

English Standard Version
“Now therefore, as soon as I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy’s life,

Berean Standard Bible
So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy’s life,

King James Bible
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;

New King James Version
“Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life,

New American Standard Bible
So now, when I come to your servant, my father, and the boy is not with us—since our father’s life is so attached to the boy’s life—

NASB 1995
“Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life,

NASB 1977
“Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life,

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, when I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us—and his life is bound up in the boy’s life—

Amplified Bible
Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the young man is not with us, since his life is bound up in the young man’s life,

Christian Standard Bible
“So if I come to your servant my father and the boy is not with us—his life is wrapped up with the boy’s life—

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So if I come to your servant my father and the boy is not with us—his life is wrapped up with the boy’s life—

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

Contemporary English Version
That's why Benjamin must be with us when I go back to my father. He loves him so much

English Revised Version
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;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Our father's life is wrapped up with the boy's life. If I come [home] without the boy

International Standard Version
"So when I go back to your servant, my father, and the young man isn't with us, since he's constantly living life focused on his son,

Majority Standard Bible
So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy?s life,

NET Bible
"So now, when I return to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us--his very life is bound up in his son's life.

New Heart English Bible
So now, when I come to your servant my father and the boy is not with us, since his life is bound up in the boy?s life,

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

World English Bible
Now therefore when I come to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us; since his life is bound up in the boy’s life;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, at my coming to your servant my father, and the youth not with us (and his soul is bound up in his soul),

Young's Literal Translation
'And now, at my coming in unto thy servant my father, and the youth not with us (and his soul is bound up in his soul),

Smith's Literal Translation
And now if I came to thy servant my father, and the youth not with us, for his soul is bound upon his soul,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
30Therefore if I shall go to thy servant our father, and the boy be wanting, (whereas his life dependeth upon the life of him,)

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, if I would have gone to your servant, our father, with the boy not present, (though his life depends upon the life of him)

New American Bible
“So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father, whose very life is bound up with his, he will die as soon as he sees that the boy is missing;

New Revised Standard Version
Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father and the boy is not with us, then, as his life is bound up in the boy’s life,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now therefore when we come to your servant our father, and the lad is not with us; seeing that his life is dear to him like his own life;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And now when we go to your Servant, our father, and the boy is not with us, and his soul is beloved to him as himself;
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad is not with us; seeing that his soul is bound up with the lad's soul;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Now then, if I should go in to they servant, and our father, and the boy should not be with us, (and his life depends on this lad's life)

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Judah Pleads for Benjamin
29Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’ 30So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant, and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy’s life, 31sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow.…

Cross References
Genesis 37:33-35
His father recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” / Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. / All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

Genesis 42:36-38
Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is no more. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!” / Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him.” / But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

Genesis 43:8-9
And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children. / I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life.

Genesis 45:28
“Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”

Genesis 46:29-30
Joseph prepared his chariot and went there to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, embraced him, and wept profusely. / Then Israel said to Joseph, “Finally I can die, now that I have seen your face and know that you are still alive!”

Genesis 37:3-4
Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors. / When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Genesis 37:23-24
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the robe of many colors he was wearing— / and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, with no water in it.

Genesis 37:28
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 42:13
But they answered, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

Genesis 42:21-22
Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” / And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”

Genesis 42:32
We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan.’

Genesis 43:14
May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

Genesis 44:20
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.’

Genesis 44:31-34
sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow. / Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’ / Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers. ...

1 Samuel 18:1-3
After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. / And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. / Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.


Treasury of Scripture

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

When I.

Genesis 44:17,31,34
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…

his life

1 Samuel 18:1
And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

1 Samuel 25:29
Yet a man is risen to pursue thee, and to seek thy soul: but the soul of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of life with the LORD thy God; and the souls of thine enemies, them shall he sling out, as out of the middle of a sling.

2 Samuel 18:33
And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!

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Bound Boy Boy's Closely Life Servant Soul
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Bound Boy Boy's Closely Life Servant Soul
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.














So if the boy is not with us when I return to your servant
This phrase is part of Judah's plea to Joseph, who is still unrecognized by his brothers. The "boy" refers to Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob and Rachel. Judah is expressing the dire consequences of returning to their father, Jacob, without Benjamin. This reflects the deep familial bonds and the importance of family lineage in ancient Israelite culture. The brothers' journey to Egypt was necessitated by famine, a common occurrence in the ancient Near East, which often led to migration and trade with Egypt, a land known for its grain supplies.

and if my father, whose life is wrapped up in the boy’s life
Jacob's deep affection for Benjamin is highlighted here, emphasizing the special status of Rachel's children in his heart. This phrase underscores the patriarchal family structure, where the father's emotional and spiritual well-being is closely tied to his offspring. The phrase also foreshadows the eventual reconciliation and restoration of the family, a theme prevalent throughout Genesis. The connection between Jacob and Benjamin can be seen as a type of the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, where the Father's love is profoundly connected to the Son.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Judah
One of the twelve sons of Jacob, Judah plays a pivotal role in this account. He steps forward to plead with Joseph on behalf of his brother Benjamin and his father Jacob, demonstrating leadership and responsibility.

2. Joseph
The governor of Egypt, who is actually Judah's brother, though his identity is not yet revealed to his brothers. Joseph orchestrates the situation to test his brothers' integrity and repentance.

3. Benjamin
The youngest son of Jacob and the only full brother of Joseph. His wellbeing is central to the account, as his father Jacob is deeply concerned for him.

4. Jacob (Israel)
The father of the twelve tribes of Israel, who is back in Canaan. His deep love for Benjamin is a driving force in the account, as he fears losing him after already losing Joseph.

5. Egypt
The setting of the account, where Joseph has risen to power and where his brothers have come to buy grain during a famine.
Teaching Points
The Power of Repentance and Change
Judah's willingness to take responsibility for Benjamin and his plea to Joseph demonstrate a significant change from his earlier actions. This transformation is a powerful example of repentance and growth.

The Importance of Family and Sacrifice
Judah's concern for his father and brother highlights the importance of family bonds and the willingness to sacrifice for loved ones. This reflects the biblical principle of putting others' needs before our own.

God's Sovereignty in Trials
The unfolding events in Egypt reveal God's hand in orchestrating circumstances for His purposes. Trusting in God's sovereignty can bring comfort during difficult times.

Leadership and Responsibility
Judah's leadership is evident as he steps forward to speak on behalf of his family. True leadership involves taking responsibility and advocating for others.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So
וְעַתָּ֗ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

if the boy
וְהַנַּ֖עַר (wə·han·na·‘ar)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

is not
אֵינֶ֣נּוּ (’ê·nen·nū)
Adverb | third person masculine singular
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

with us
אִתָּ֑נוּ (’it·tā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

when I return
כְּבֹאִי֙ (kə·ḇō·’î)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

your servant,
עַבְדְּךָ֣ (‘aḇ·də·ḵā)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

my father—
אָבִ֔י (’ā·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1: Father

his life
וְנַפְשׁ֖וֹ (wə·nap̄·šōw)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

is wrapped up
קְשׁוּרָ֥ה (qə·šū·rāh)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 7194: To tie, gird, confine, compact, in love, league

in the boy’s life—
בְנַפְשֽׁוֹ׃ (ḇə·nap̄·šōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion


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OT Law: Genesis 44:30 Now therefore when I come to your (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 44:29
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