My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’
Parallel translations
- KJV My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a brother?
- BSB My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’
- ESV My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father, or a brother?’
- NKJV My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’
- NASB My lord asked his servants, saying, ‘Have you a father or a brother?’
- NLT “My lord, previously you asked us, your servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Judah recounts how Joseph had asked whether they had a father or brother. He carefully retraces the history to make his case.
Overview
Judah retells the conversation accurately, recalling Joseph's questions about their family. By rehearsing the facts, he builds toward an appeal centered on their father's love for Benjamin. The careful narration reflects Judah's earnestness and his focus on Jacob's wellbeing rather than his own.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Gen 43:7They said, “The man asked directly concerning ourselves, and concerning our relatives, saying, ‘Is your father still alive? Have you another brother?’ We just answered his questions. Is there any way we could know that he would say, ‘Bring your brother down?’”
- Gen 42:7–10Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them. He said to them, “Where did you come from?” They said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.”
- Gen 43:29He lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin, his brother, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me?” He said, “God be gracious to you, my son.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 44:19 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.