Genesis 44:26

26 cui diximus ire non possumus si frater noster minimus descendet nobiscum proficiscemur simul alioquin illo absente non audemus videre faciem viri

Genesis 44:26 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:26

And we said, we cannot go down
With any safety to their persons, which would be in danger, or with any profit to their families, since their end in going down to buy corn would not be answered: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down;
let it be agreed to, that Benjamin go along with us, to Egypt, and then no difficulty will be made of it: for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother [be]
with us;
the face of the great man, the governor of Egypt; for that this phrase, "the man", is not used diminutively, but as expressive of grandeur, is clear, or otherwise it would never have been made use of in his presence, and in such a submissive and polite speech as this of Judah's.

Genesis 44:26 In-Context

24 cum ergo ascendissemus ad famulum tuum patrem nostrum narravimus ei omnia quae locutus est dominus meus
25 et dixit pater noster revertimini et emite nobis parum tritici
26 cui diximus ire non possumus si frater noster minimus descendet nobiscum proficiscemur simul alioquin illo absente non audemus videre faciem viri
27 atque ille respondit vos scitis quod duos genuerit mihi uxor mea
28 egressus est unus et dixistis bestia devoravit eum et hucusque non conparet
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.