Genesis 44:22

22 "We said to you, 'The boy can't leave his father. If he does, his father will 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, 'We have an old father. A young son was born to him when he was old. His brother is dead. He's the only one of his mother's sons left. And his father loves him.'

21 "Then you said to us, 'Bring him down to me. I want to see him for myself.'

22 "We said to you, 'The boy can't leave his father. If he does, his father will die.'

23 "But you told us, 'Your youngest brother must come down here with you. If he doesn't, you won't see my face again.'

24 So we went back to my father. We told him what you had said.