Genesis 44:30

30 “And now, my lord, I cannot go back to my father without the boy. Our father’s life is bound up in the boy’s life.

Genesis 44:30 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:30

Now therefore, when I come to thy servant my father
That is, should he return to him in the land of Canaan with the rest of his brethren: and the lad [be] not with us;
his brother Benjamin, so called here, and in the following verses, though thirty years of age and upwards, see ( Genesis 43:8 ) ; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life;
he is as closely united to him in affection, and is as dear to him as his own soul; quite wrapped up in him, and cannot live without him; should he die, he must die too; see ( 1 Samuel 18:1 ) ; so it follows:

Genesis 44:30 In-Context

28 and one of them went away and never returned. Doubtless he was torn to pieces by some wild animal. I have never seen him since.

29 Now if you take his brother away from me, and any harm comes to him, you will send this grieving, white-haired man to his grave. ’

30 “And now, my lord, I cannot go back to my father without the boy. Our father’s life is bound up in the boy’s life.

31 If he sees that the boy is not with us, our father will die. We, your servants, will indeed be responsible for sending that grieving, white-haired man to his grave.

32 My lord, I guaranteed to my father that I would take care of the boy. I told him, ‘If I don’t bring him back to you, I will bear the blame forever.’