Genesis 44:18
in Genesis 44Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh, my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant; for thou art even as Pharaoh.
KJV
Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou art even as Pharaoh.
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This verse in Genesis 44
Commentary
7 notes on this verseThou art even as Pharaoh - As wise, as powerful, and as much to be dreaded as he. In the Asiatic countries, the reigning monarch is always considered to be the pattern of all perfection; and the highest honor that can be conferred on any person, is to resemble him to the monarch; as the monarch himself is likened, in the same complimentary way, to an angel of God. See 2Sa 14:17, 2Sa 14:18. Judah is the chief speaker here, because it was in consequence of his becoming surety for Benjamin that Jacob permitted him to accompany them to Egypt.
This site's exposition
let your servant speak personally to my lord
The longest speech any man makes in Genesis begins here and runs to seventeen verses. Judah asks to speak a word into the lord's own ear, and he sets him level with Pharaoh before he begins. Adam Clarke called it a specimen of natural eloquence. The cup never comes up in it again.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine? 16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-scripture
And for which he would search thoroughly - So it may be rendered. God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants - Referring to the injury they had formerly done to Joseph, for which they thought God was now reckoning with them. Even in those afflictions wherein we apprehend ourselves wronged by men, yet we must own that God is righteous, and finds out our iniquity.
And must he be brought with so much difficulty to the preferment of a perpetual slavery? Was he not brought to Egypt in obedience, purely in obedience to the command of Joseph, and would not he shew him some mercy? The great argument he insists upon was the insupportable grief it would be to his aged father, if Benjamin should be left behind in servitude.
Then Judah came near unto him,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Joseph's behavior must not be viewed from any single point, or in separate parts, but as a whole--a well-thought, deep-laid, closely connected plan; and though some features of it do certainly exhibit an appearance of harshness, yet the pervading principle of his conduct was real, genuine, brotherly kindness.
The words behind it
19 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיִּגַּ֨שׁ | vaiyigash | and he drew near | H5066 → | 125 times |
| אֵלָ֜יו | ʾelav | to him | H413 → | 5510 times |
| יְהוּדָ֗ה | yehudah | Judah | H3063 → | 819 times |
| וַיֹּאמֶר֮ | vaiyomer | and he said | H559 → | 5305 times |
| בִּ֣י | bi | pardon me | H994 → | |
| אֲדֹנִי֒ | ʾadoni | O lord my | H113 → | 333 times |
| יְדַבֶּר־ | yedaber- | may he speak | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| נָ֨א | na' | please | H4994 → | 404 times |
| עַבְדְּךָ֤ | ʾavdekha | servant your | H5650 → | 799 times |
| דָבָר֙ | davar | a word | H1697 → | 1440 times |
| בְּאָזְנֵ֣י | beazenei | in [the] ears of | H241 → | 187 times |
| אֲדֹנִ֔י | ʾadoni | lord my | H113 → | 333 times |
| וְאַל־ | veal- | and may not | H408 → | 724 times |
| יִ֥חַר | yichar | it burn | H2734 → | 91 times |
| אַפְּךָ֖ | ʾapekha | anger your | H639 → | 276 times |
| בְּעַבְדֶּ֑ךָ | beavdekha | on servant your | H5650 → | 799 times |
| כִּ֥י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| כָמ֖וֹךָ | khamokha | as you | H3644 → | 143 times |
| כְּפַרְעֹֽה׃ | kefaroh | as Pharaoh | H6547 → | 274 times |
וַיִּגַּ֨שׁand he drew near
vaiyigashH5066 →125 times
אֵלָ֜יוto him
ʾelavH413 →5510 times
יְהוּדָ֗הJudah
yehudahH3063 →819 times
וַיֹּאמֶר֮and he said
vaiyomerH559 →5305 times
בִּ֣יpardon me
biH994 →
אֲדֹנִי֒O lord my
ʾadoniH113 →333 times
יְדַבֶּר־may he speak
yedaber-H1696 →1141 times
נָ֨אplease
na'H4994 →404 times
עַבְדְּךָ֤servant your
ʾavdekhaH5650 →799 times
דָבָר֙a word
davarH1697 →1440 times
בְּאָזְנֵ֣יin [the] ears of
beazeneiH241 →187 times
אֲדֹנִ֔יlord my
ʾadoniH113 →333 times
וְאַל־and may not
veal-H408 →724 times
יִ֥חַרit burn
yicharH2734 →91 times
אַפְּךָ֖anger your
ʾapekhaH639 →276 times
בְּעַבְדֶּ֑ךָon servant your
beavdekhaH5650 →799 times
כִּ֥יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
כָמ֖וֹךָas you
khamokhaH3644 →143 times
כְּפַרְעֹֽה׃as Pharaoh
kefarohH6547 →274 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 41:40You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”
it leads to
- Proverbs 22:29
Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.
- Acts 7:10
and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.
- Psalms 105:21–22
He made him master of his household, ruler over all his substance,
- Daniel 5:29
Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel in purple, placed a gold chain around his neck, and proclaimed him the third highest ruler in the kingdom.
- Proverbs 22:29
Through
Genesis 18:32Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.”
it leads to
- James 5:15–17
And the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
- Judges 6:39
Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me; let me speak one more time. Please allow me one more test with the fleece. This time let it be dry, and the…
- Matthew 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.
- James 5:15–17
Through
Exodus 32:22“Do not be enraged, my lord,” Aaron replied. “You yourself know that the people are intent on evil.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 9:24
You have been rebelling against the LORD since the day I came to know you.
- Deuteronomy 9:24
About Genesis
Who and where
2 names in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.