This verse shows the brothers’ protective concern for Benjamin, revealing how they have changed from the jealousy and disregard they displayed toward Joseph.
“But we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’” (v.22) In this passage, Joseph’s brothers explain to the Egyptian ruler (whom they do not yet realize is their brother Joseph) that their youngest brother Benjamin must remain with their aged father, Jacob. Since Jacob (who is often dated around 2006-1859 BC) had already lost Joseph years before, his sons believe that losing Benjamin as well would cause him extreme grief. Their statement reveals the tender bond between Jacob and Benjamin, who shared the same mother, Rachel. The setting here is in Egypt, where Joseph rose to a position of power and placed his brothers in a situation that tested their loyalty and remorse for previous wrongs. Judah, in particular, pledged himself as surety for Benjamin’s safe return, underscoring the seriousness of their claim.
In emphasizing that “if he should leave his father, his father would die,” the brothers are making a desperate appeal to the official’s mercy. They know that any misfortune that befalls Benjamin would bring down Jacob’s sorrow so heavily that he might not survive. This conversation happens while they are unaware that the powerful ruler listening to them is Joseph himself—the very brother they once sold into slavery. That dramatic irony sets the stage for the poignant reconciliation that follows, when Joseph eventually reveals his identity and explains how God used their deeds for a greater purpose of preserving life.
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Genesis 44:22 meaning
“But we said to my lord, ‘The lad cannot leave his father, for if he should leave his father, his father would die.’” (v.22) In this passage, Joseph’s brothers explain to the Egyptian ruler (whom they do not yet realize is their brother Joseph) that their youngest brother Benjamin must remain with their aged father, Jacob. Since Jacob (who is often dated around 2006-1859 BC) had already lost Joseph years before, his sons believe that losing Benjamin as well would cause him extreme grief. Their statement reveals the tender bond between Jacob and Benjamin, who shared the same mother, Rachel. The setting here is in Egypt, where Joseph rose to a position of power and placed his brothers in a situation that tested their loyalty and remorse for previous wrongs. Judah, in particular, pledged himself as surety for Benjamin’s safe return, underscoring the seriousness of their claim.
In emphasizing that “if he should leave his father, his father would die,” the brothers are making a desperate appeal to the official’s mercy. They know that any misfortune that befalls Benjamin would bring down Jacob’s sorrow so heavily that he might not survive. This conversation happens while they are unaware that the powerful ruler listening to them is Joseph himself—the very brother they once sold into slavery. That dramatic irony sets the stage for the poignant reconciliation that follows, when Joseph eventually reveals his identity and explains how God used their deeds for a greater purpose of preserving life.