Genesis 44:18
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.”
17 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.”
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?’
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.’
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
- 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.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- Then Judah came near to him, and said, “Oh, my lord, please let your servant speak a word in my lord’s ears, and don’t let your anger burn against your servant; for you are even as Pharaoh.
- ASV
- 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.
- DARBY
- Then Judah came near to him, and said, Ah! 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.
- BLB
- And Judah came near to him and said, “Please my lord, please let your servant speak a word in the ears of my lord, and do not let your anger burn against your servant; for you [are] like Pharaoh.
- ÅB
- Da gikk Juda fram til ham og sa: Hør meg, herre! La din tjener få tale et ord for min herres ører, og la ikke din vrede tennes opp mot din tjener; for du er som Farao selv.
- OTB
- Da nærmet Juda seg ham og sa, “Vær så snill, min herre, la din tjener tale et ord i min herres ører, og ikke bli sint på din tjener, for du er som farao selv.
- B1930
- Da gikk Juda frem til ham og sa: Hør mig, herre! La din tjener få tale et ord for min herres ører, og la ikke din vrede optendes mot din tjener; for du er som Farao selv.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Exodus 32:22
“Do not be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil.
Read in contextGenesis 41:40
You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”
Read in contextGenesis 18:30
Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.”
Read in contextGenesis 18:32
Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”
Read in contextGenesis 41:44
And Pharaoh declared to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your permission, no one in all the land of Egypt shall lift his hand or foot.”
Read in contextJohn 5:22
Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,
Read in contextPsalms 79:5
How long, O LORD? Will You be angry forever? Will Your jealousy burn like fire?
Read in contextActs 2:29
Brothers, I can tell you with confidence that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
Read in context