Genesis 44:21

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

Genesis 44:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 44:21

And thou saidst unto thy servants, bring him down unto me,
&c.] Judah does not relate the reason of his order, which was to give proof that they were no spies, but as if Joseph designed to show favour to Benjamin, as undoubtedly he did: that I may set mine eyes upon him;
not barely see him, as Aben Ezra interprets it, though that would be, and was, very desirable by him, and agreeable to him; but he desired to set his eyes upon him, not only for his own pleasure, but for the good of Benjamin, as the Targum of Jonathan adds; he intimated that he should receive him kindly, show favour unto him, and use him well: the Septuagint version is, "and I will take care of him": Joseph's brethren had told him, that Benjamin was at home with their father, who they suggested was afraid to let him go with them, lest evil should befall him; wherefore to encourage him to let him go with them, Joseph promised to take care of him, that no hurt should be done to him, but he should be provided with everything that was proper and necessary; and this Judah improves into an argument with the governor in favour of Benjamin, that since he desired his coming, in order to show him a kindness, he hoped he would not detain him, and make a slave of him.

Genesis 44:21 In-Context

19 My lord asked his servants, saying, "Have you a father or a brother?'
20 And we said to my lord, "We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead; he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.'
21 Then you said to your servants, "Bring him down to me, so that I may set my eyes on him.'
22 We said to my lord, "The boy cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.'
23 Then you said to your servants, "Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you shall see my face no more.'
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.