Genesis 44:20

20 And we said to lord, We have a father, an old man, and he has a son of his old age, a young one, and his brother is dead, and he alone has been left behind to his mother, and his father loves him.

Genesis 44:20 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:20

And we said unto my lord, we have a father
Yet living in the land of Canaan: an old man;
being one hundred and thirty years of age, ( Genesis 47:9 ) ; and a child of his old age;
who was born when he was near an hundred years of age: and a little one;
not in stature, but in age, being the youngest son, and much younger than they: so they represented him, on that account, and because he was tenderly brought up with his father, and not inured to business and hardship, and so unfit to travel: and his brother is dead;
meaning Joseph: so they thought him to be, having not heard of him for twenty two years or more, and they had so often said he was dead, or suggested as much, that they at length believed he was: and he alone is left of his mother;
the only child left of his mother Rachel: and his father loveth him;
being his youngest son, and the only child of his beloved Rachel, and therefore most dear unto him.

Genesis 44:20 In-Context

18 And Judas drew near him, and said, I pray, Sir, let thy servant speak a word before thee, and be not angry with thy servant, for thou art next to Pharao.

19 Sir, thou askedst thy servants, saying, Have ye a father or a brother?

20 And we said to lord, We have a father, an old man, and he has a son of his old age, a young one, and his brother is dead, and he alone has been left behind to his mother, and his father loves him.

21 And thou saidst to they servants, Bring him down to me, and I will take care of him.

22 And we said to lord, The child will not be able to leave his father; but if he should leave his father, he will die.