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Genesis 44:17

Mercy and compassion

15 “What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”

16 “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.”

But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”

18 Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself.

19 My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’

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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
But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”
KJV
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.
WEB
He said, “Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup is found, he will be my slave; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.”
ASV
And he said, Far be it from me that I should do so: the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my bondman; but as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
DARBY
And he said, Far be it from me to do so! The man in whose hand the cup has been found, he shall be my bondman; but as for you, go up in peace to your father.
BLB
And he said, “Far be it to me from doing this; the man in whose hand the cup was found, he shall be to me a servant. And you⁺, go up in peace to your⁺ father.”
ÅB
Men han sa: Det være langt fra meg å gjøre slikt! Den mann som begeret ble funnet hos, han skal være min slave, men dra dere andre i fred opp til deres far!
OTB
Men Josef sa, “Det være langt fra meg å gjøre dette. Bare mannen som ble funnet med begeret skal bli min slave. Dere andre, vend tilbake til deres far i fred.”
B1930
Men han sa: Det være langt fra mig å gjøre slikt! Den mann som begeret blev funnet hos, han skal være min træl, men dra I andre i fred op til eders far!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 18:25

    Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”

    Read in context

  • Genesis 37:32–33

    They sent the robe of many colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe or not.”

    Read in context

  • Proverbs 17:15

    Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.

    Read in context

  • Psalms 75:2

    “When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 26:29

    that you will not harm us, just as we have not harmed you but have done only good to you, sending you on your way in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD.”

    Read in context

  • Genesis 42:18

    and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live:

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 23:3

    The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,

    Read in context