Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father.” New Living Translation For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!” English Standard Version For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.” Berean Standard Bible For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.” King James Bible 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. New King James Version For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest perhaps I see the evil that would come upon my father?” New American Standard Bible For how shall I go up to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear that I may see the evil that would overtake my father.” NASB 1995 “For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me— for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father?” NASB 1977 “For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me, lest I see the evil that would overtake my father?” Legacy Standard Bible For how shall I go up to my father if the boy is not with me, lest I see the evil that would overtake my father?” Amplified Bible How can I go up to my father if the young man is not with me—for fear that I would see the tragedy that would overtake my [elderly] father [if Benjamin does not return]?” Christian Standard Bible For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the grief that would overwhelm my father.” Holman Christian Standard Bible For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the grief that would overwhelm my father.” American Standard Version For how shall I go up to my father, if the lad be not with me? lest I see the evil that shall come on my father. Contemporary English Version How can I face my father if Benjamin isn't with me? I couldn't bear to see my father in such sorrow. English Revised Version For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest I see the evil that shall come on my father. GOD'S WORD® Translation How could I go back to my father if the boy isn't with me? I couldn't bear to see my father's misery!" Good News Translation How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I cannot bear to see this disaster come upon my father." International Standard Version After all, how can I go back to my father if the young man doesn't accompany me? I'm afraid of what might happen to my father." NET Bible For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn't bear to see my father's pain." New Heart English Bible For how will I go up to my father if the boy isn?t with me? I could not bear to see the misery that would come on my father." Webster's Bible Translation For how shall I return to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest perhaps I see the evil that shall come on my father. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.” World English Bible For how will I go up to my father, if the boy isn’t with me?—lest I see the evil that will come on my father.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionfor how do I go up to my father, and the youth not with me? Lest I look on the evil which finds my father.” Young's Literal Translation for how do I go up unto my father, and the youth not with me? lest I look on the evil which doth find my father.' Smith's Literal Translation For how shall I go up to my father and the youth not with me? lest I shall look upon the evil which shall find my father. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleFor I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I be a witness of the calamity that will oppress my father. Catholic Public Domain Version For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I appear as a witness to the calamity that will oppress my father.” New American Bible How could I go back to my father if the boy were not with me? I could not bear to see the anguish that would overcome my father.” New Revised Standard Version For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the suffering that would come upon my father.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor how can I go up to my father, if the lad is not with me? Lest I see the misfortune which will come on my father. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated For how shall I go up to my father and the boy not be with me, lest I shall see the evil that will happen to my father?” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917For how shall I go up to my father, if the lad be not with me? lest I look upon the evil that shall come on my father.' Brenton Septuagint Translation For how shall I go up to my father, the lad not being with us? lest I behold the evils which will befall my father. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Judah Pleads for Benjamin…33Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers. 34For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.” 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!” 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. 1 Samuel 20:41-42 When the young man had gone, David got up from the south side of the stone, fell facedown, and bowed three times. Then he and Jonathan kissed each other and wept together—though David wept more. / And Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for the two of us have sworn in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘May the LORD be a witness between you and me, and between your descendants and mine forever.’” Then David got up and departed, and Jonathan went back into the city. 2 Samuel 1:26 I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. You were delightful to me; your love to me was extraordinary, surpassing the love of women. 2 Samuel 18:33 The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” 1 Kings 3:26 Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!” But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!” Matthew 2:18 “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 18:12-14 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? / And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. / In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish. Luke 15:20-24 So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. / The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ / But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ... John 11:33-36 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. / “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. / Jesus wept. ... Treasury of Scripture 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. lest. 1 Samuel 2:33,34 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age… 2 Chronicles 34:28 Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again. Esther 8:6 For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred? come on. Exodus 18:8 And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, and all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and how the LORD delivered them. Job 31:29 If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: Psalm 116:3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. Jump to Previous Boy Evil Fear Find Me-For Misery Overtake Peradventure Perhaps YouthJump to Next Boy Evil Fear Find Me-For Misery Overtake Peradventure Perhaps YouthGenesis 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. For how can I go back to my father without the boy? This phrase reflects Judah's deep sense of responsibility and familial duty. In the cultural context of ancient Israel, the eldest son often bore the responsibility for the well-being of the family. Judah, though not the eldest, steps into this role, showing a transformation from his earlier actions in Genesis. This moment is pivotal, as it demonstrates Judah's repentance and growth, contrasting with his earlier decision to sell Joseph into slavery. The "boy" refers to Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob, who is deeply loved by their father. This love is reminiscent of Jacob's love for Joseph, highlighting the theme of favoritism and its consequences within the family. I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him. Persons / Places / Events 1. JudahOne of Jacob's twelve sons, who emerges as a leader among his brothers. In this passage, he is speaking to Joseph, pleading for Benjamin's release. 2. Benjamin The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel, and Joseph's full brother. He is central to the brothers' return to Egypt and the unfolding events. 3. Joseph The governor of Egypt, who is testing his brothers' integrity and repentance by placing a silver cup in Benjamin's sack. 4. Jacob (Israel) The father of the twelve tribes of Israel, who is deeply attached to Benjamin after losing Joseph. 5. Egypt The land where Joseph has risen to power and where the brothers have come to buy grain during a famine. Teaching Points Repentance and TransformationJudah's plea shows a heart transformed from the one who sold Joseph into slavery. True repentance involves a change in behavior and attitude. Family and Responsibility Judah's willingness to take responsibility for Benjamin reflects the importance of family bonds and accountability. God's Sovereignty The unfolding events demonstrate God's sovereign plan, using human actions to fulfill His purposes. Compassion and Empathy Judah's concern for his father's well-being teaches us the importance of empathy and compassion in our relationships. Leadership and Sacrifice Judah's leadership is marked by self-sacrifice, a model for Christian leadership that prioritizes others' needs. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 44What does the Bible say about God versus Satan? Who is Lucifer also known as Satan? If Jesus taught love for enemies (Matthew 5:44), why does Psalm 109 appear to endorse the exact opposite stance? What defines the Moral Majority? Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Forכִּי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction how אֵיךְ֙ (’êḵ) Interjection Strong's 349: How?, how!, where can I go back אֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה (’e·‘ĕ·leh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to my father אָבִ֔י (’ā·ḇî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 1: Father without אֵינֶ֣נּוּ (’ê·nen·nū) Adverb | third person masculine singular Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle the boy? וְהַנַּ֖עַר (wə·han·na·‘ar) Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer I could not bear פֶּ֚ן (pen) Conjunction Strong's 6435: Removal, lest to see אֶרְאֶ֣ה (’er·’eh) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 7200: To see the misery בָרָ֔ע (ḇā·rā‘) Preposition-b, Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7451: Bad, evil that אֲשֶׁ֥ר (’ă·šer) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that would overwhelm יִמְצָ֖א (yim·ṣā) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present [him].” אָבִֽי׃ (’ā·ḇî) Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular Strong's 1: Father Links Genesis 44:34 NIVGenesis 44:34 NLT Genesis 44:34 ESV Genesis 44:34 NASB Genesis 44:34 KJV Genesis 44:34 BibleApps.com Genesis 44:34 Biblia Paralela Genesis 44:34 Chinese Bible Genesis 44:34 French Bible Genesis 44:34 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 44:34 For how will I go up (Gen. 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