Genesis 44:22

22 We answered my lord, 'The boy can't leave his father; if he were to leave his father, his father would die.'

Genesis 44:22 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:22

And we said unto my lord, the lad cannot leave his father,
&c.] That is, his father will not be willing to part with him: for [if] he should leave his father, [his father] would die;
with grief and trouble, fearing some evil was befallen him, and he should see him no more.

Genesis 44:22 In-Context

20 We answered my lord, 'We have a father who is an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one whose brother is dead; so that of his mother's children he alone is left; and his father loves him.'

21 But you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me, so that I can see him.'

22 We answered my lord, 'The boy can't leave his father; if he were to leave his father, his father would die.'

23 You said to your servants, 'You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.'

24 We went up to your servant my father and told him what my lord had said;