Genesis 44:28

28 One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since.

Genesis 44:28 in Other Translations

KJV
28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:
ESV
28 One left me, and I said, Surely he has been torn to pieces, and I have never seen him since.
NLT
28 and one of them went away and never returned. Doubtless he was torn to pieces by some wild animal. I have never seen him since.
MSG
28 One turned up missing. I concluded that he'd been ripped to pieces. I've never seen him since.
CSB
28 One left-I said that he must have been torn to pieces-and I have never seen him again.

Genesis 44:28 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:28

And the one went out from, me
Being sent by him to see how his brethren did, who were feeding his flocks at Shechem, and he had never returned to him to that day: and I said, surely he is torn in pieces;
by some wild beast; this he said on sight of his coat, being shown him all bloody: and I saw him not since;
now twenty two years ago; for though Joseph was not such a great way off his father, especially if he was at Memphis, as some think; yet what through his confinement as a servant in Potiphar's house, and then for some years in prison, and through the multiplicity of business when advanced in Pharaoh's court, he had no leisure and opportunity of visiting his father; and especially so it was ordered by the providence of God that he should not, that he might be made known at the most proper time for the glory of God, and the good of his family.

Genesis 44:28 In-Context

26 But we said, ‘We cannot go down. Only if our youngest brother is with us will we go. We cannot see the man’s face unless our youngest brother is with us.’
27 “Your servant my father said to us, ‘You know that my wife bore me two sons.
28 One of them went away from me, and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since.
29 If you take this one from me too and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray head down to the grave in misery.’
30 “So now, if the boy is not with us when I go back to your servant my father, and if my father, whose life is closely bound up with the boy’s life,

Cross References 2

  • 1. S Genesis 37:33
  • 2. Genesis 45:26,28; Genesis 46:30; Genesis 48:11
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.