Genesis 44:22

22 "But we said to my lord, 'The lad cannot * leave his father, for if he should 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 said to my lord , 'We have an old father and a little child of his old age. Now his brother is dead, so he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.'

21 "Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me that I may set my eyes on him.'

22 "But we said to my lord , 'The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'

23 "You said to your servants, however, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.'

24 "Thus it came about when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my lord .

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "he would"