“What are you talking about?” the brothers responded. “We are your servants and would never do such a thing!
Parallel translations
- WEB They said to him, “Why does my lord speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they should do such a thing!
- KJV And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:
- BSB “Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.
- NKJV And they said to him, “Why does my lord say these words? Far be it from us that your servants should do such a thing.
- NASB And they said to him, “Why does my lord say such words as these? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!
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
The brothers protest their innocence, insisting such theft is unthinkable for them. Their indignation shows a conscience now sensitive to wrongdoing.
Overview
The brothers respond with sincere shock, certain none of them would steal from their benefactor. Their strong denial reflects how far they believe themselves removed from such crime, though they do not yet know they are being tested for an older guilt. Their wounded protest sets the stage for the painful discovery that follows.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Gen 38:16–18He turned to her by the way, and said, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he didn’t know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”
- Eccl 7:1A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.
- 2 Kgs 8:13Hazael said, “But what is your servant, who is but a dog, that he could do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “Yahweh has shown me that you will be king over Syria.”
- Gen 35:22While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah, his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve.
- Prov 22:1A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
- Heb 13:18Pray for us, for we are persuaded that we have a good conscience, desiring to live honorably in all things.
- Gen 37:18–32They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him.
- Josh 22:22–29“The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, the Mighty One, God, Yahweh, he knows; and Israel shall know: if it was in rebellion, or if in trespass against Yahweh (don’t save us today),
- Gen 34:25–31On the third day, when they were sore, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword, came upon the unsuspecting city, and killed all the males.
- 2 Sam 20:20Joab answered, “Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
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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 44:7 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.