Genesis 44:30

30 When I now go back to your servant my father without the young man—whose life is so bound up with his—

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 One disappeared and I said, 'He must have been torn up by a wild animal,' and I haven't seen him since.

29 And if you take this one from me too, something terrible will happen to him, and you will send me—old as I am—to my grave in despair.'

30 When I now go back to your servant my father without the young man—whose life is so bound up with his—

31 and when he sees that the young man isn't with us, he will die, and your servants will have sent our father your servant—old as he is—to his grave in grief.

32 I, your servant, guaranteed the young man's safety to my father, telling him, ‘If I don't bring him back to you, it will be my fault forever.'