Genesis 44:32
30 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;
31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.
For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.
33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.
34 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.
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
- 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.’
- KJV
- For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.
- WEB
- For your servant became collateral for the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I don’t bring him to you, then I will bear the blame to my father forever.’
- ASV
- For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then shall I bear the blame to my father for ever.
- DARBY
- For thy servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, If I bring him not to thee, then I shall be guilty toward my father all my days.
- BLB
- For your servant guaranteed the boy to my father, saying, ‘If I do not bring him [back] to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father all the days.’
- ÅB
- For din tjener tok på seg å svare for gutten hos min far og sa: dersom jeg ikke har ham med tilbake til deg, vil jeg være min fars skyldner alle mine dager.
- OTB
- Din tjener garanterte guttens sikkerhet til min far, og sa, ‘Hvis jeg ikke bringer ham tilbake, vil jeg bære skylden for min far hele mitt liv.’
- B1930
- For din tjener tok på sig å svare for gutten hos min far og sa: dersom jeg ikke har ham med tilbake til dig, vil jeg være min fars skyldner alle mine dager.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Genesis 43:16
And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon.
Read in contextGenesis 43:8–9
And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones.
Read in context