Genesis 44:30

28 When one of them was gone, I said: “Surely he has been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since.

29 Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’

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,

31 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.

32 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.’

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
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,
KJV
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;
WEB
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;
ASV
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;
DARBY
And now, when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad is not with us, seeing that his life is bound up with his life,
BLB
And now, when I come to your servant, my father, and the boy [is] not with us, and his soul is bound up in his soul,
ÅB
Skal jeg nå komme hjem til din tjener min far, og gutten, som han henger ved med hele sin sjel, ikke er med oss,
OTB
Nå, hvis gutten ikke er med oss når jeg vender tilbake til din tjener, vår far, og hvis min far, hvis liv er nært knyttet til guttens liv,
B1930
Skal jeg nu komme hjem til din tjener min far, og gutten, som han henger ved med hele sin sjel, ikke er med oss,

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 18:1

    After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 44:34

    For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 25:29

    And should someone pursue you and seek your life, then the life of my lord will be bound securely by the LORD your God in the bundle of the living. But He shall fling away the lives of your enemies like stones from a sling.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 44:31

    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.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 44:17

    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.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 18:33

    The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber 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!”

    Read in context