But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’
Parallel translations
- WEB You said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will see my face no more.’
- KJV And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.
- NKJV But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.’
- NASB You said to your servants, however, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’
- NLT But you told us, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes with you, you will never see my face again.’
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
Joseph had insisted they could not see his face again without bringing Benjamin. The brothers were left no choice but to comply.
Overview
Judah recounts Joseph's firm condition that barred them from returning for food unless Benjamin came. This explains why Jacob finally, reluctantly, let the boy go. The retelling sets the family's desperate need against the unbearable risk to their father.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Gen 43:5But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”
- Gen 43:3But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’
- Gen 42:15–20And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
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 44:23 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.