Genesis 44:16

Guilt and conscience Sin Truth and honesty

¹⁴ And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

¹⁵ 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?

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 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 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.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”
KJV: 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.
WEB: Judah said, “What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? How will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Behold, we are my lord’s slaves, both we and he also in whose hand the cup is found.”
ASV: 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 bondmen, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found.
DARBY: And Judah said, What shall we say to my lord? what shall we speak, and how justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of thy servants; behold, we are my lord's bondmen, both we, and he in whose hand the cup has been found.
BLB: And Judah said, “What shall we say to my lord? What shall we speak? And how shall we justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Behold, we [are] to my lord as servants, both we and also [he] with whom the cup was found.”

ÅB: Og Juda sa: Hva skal vi svare min herre? Hva skal vi si, og hva skal vi rettferdiggjøre oss med? Gud har funnet dine tjeneres misgjerning; se, vi er min herres slaver, både vi og den som begeret ble funnet hos.
OTB: Juda svarte, “Hva kan vi si til min herre? Hvordan kan vi rettferdiggjøre oss selv? Gud har avdekket dine tjeneres skyld. Vi er nå min herres slaver, både vi og den som ble funnet med begeret.”
B1930: Og Juda sa: Hvad skal vi svare min herre? Hvad skal vi si, og hvad skal vi rettferdiggjøre oss med? Gud har funnet dine tjeneres misgjerning; se, vi er min herres træler, både vi og den som begeret blev funnet hos.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Genesis 44:9
With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.
Read in context
Daniel 9:7
O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against thee.
Read in context
Numbers 32:23
But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.
Read in context
Luke 12:2
For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
Read in context
Joshua 7:18
And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
Read in context
Job 40:4
Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Read in context
Genesis 37:18–28
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
Read in context
Ezra 9:15
O LORD God of Israel, thou art righteous: for we remain yet escaped, as it is this day: behold, we are before thee in our trespasses: for we cannot stand before thee because of this.
Read in context