Genesis 44:22

22 But we said to you, ‘My lord, the boy cannot leave his father, for 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 And we responded, ‘Yes, my lord, we have a father who is an old man, and his youngest son is a child of his old age. His full brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother’s children, and his father loves him very much.’

21 “And you said to us, ‘Bring him here so I can see him with my own eyes.’

22 But we said to you, ‘My lord, the boy cannot leave his father, for his father would die.’

23 But you told us, ‘Unless your youngest brother comes with you, you will never see my face again.’

24 “So we returned to your servant, our father, and told him what you had said.