Genesis 44:4

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

הֵ֠ם יָֽצְא֣וּ אֶת־הָעִיר֮ לֹ֣א הִרְחִיקוּ֒ וְיוֹסֵ֤ף אָמַר֙ לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ ק֥וּם רְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לָ֛מָּה שִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥ם רָעָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת טוֹבָֽה׃

Transliteration

They hēm yāṣəʾû ʾet-the hāʿîr not lōʾ hirḥîqû and wəyôsēp ʾāmar to laʾăšer ʿal-his bêtô qûm rədōp after ʾaḥărê the hāʾănāšîm and wəhiśśagtām and wəʾāmartā to ʾălēhem why lāmmâ šillamtem rāʿâ instead of taḥat ṭôbâ

Grammar Details

*hēm*: 3rd person masculine plural pronoun - they
*yāṣəʾû*: Qal perfect, 3rd person common plural - they had gone out
*ʾet*: direct object marker
*hāʿîr*: definite article + feminine singular noun - the city
*lōʾ*: negative particle - not
*hirḥîqû*: Hiphil perfect, 3rd person common plural - they had gone far
*wəyôsēp*: waw-conjunction + proper noun - and Joseph
*ʾāmar*: Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - said
*laʾăšer*: preposition + relative pronoun - to who/the one who
*ʿal*: preposition - over/in charge of
*bêtô*: masculine singular noun with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - his house
*qûm*: Qal imperative, masculine singular - arise
*rədōp*: Qal imperative, masculine singular - pursue
*ʾaḥărê*: preposition - after
*hāʾănāšîm*: definite article + masculine plural noun - the men
*wəhiśśagtām*: waw-conjunction + Hiphil perfect, 2nd person masculine singular with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - and when you overtake them
*wəʾāmartā*: waw-conjunction + Qal perfect, 2nd person masculine singular - and you shall say
*ʾălēhem*: preposition with 3rd person masculine plural suffix - to them
*lāmmâ*: interrogative - why
*šillamtem*: Piel perfect, 2nd person masculine plural - you have repaid
*rāʿâ*: feminine singular noun - evil
*taḥat*: preposition - instead of/in place of
*ṭôbâ*: feminine singular noun - good

Word Meanings

*yāṣəʾû*: went out/departed/exited
*hirḥîqû*: gone far/distanced themselves/moved away
*rədōp*: pursue/chase/follow
*hiśśagtām*: overtake them/catch up with them/reach them
*šillamtem*: repaid/returned/rewarded
*rāʿâ*: evil/harm/wrong
*ṭôbâ*: good/goodness/kindness

ℹ️

About this Translation

King James Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: King James VersionBest for: Original-language word studies

🎯 Translation Approach

Classic King James Version text presented with Strong's numbering to link English words to their underlying Hebrew and Greek terms. Prioritizes literal/formal correspondence while enabling original-language word study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Each English term is keyed to a Strong's number, enabling direct lookup of the underlying Hebrew or Greek word.
KJV text basis: Employs the classic King James Version wording known for formal equivalence and literary style.
Study-focused layout: Optimized for research and analysis, prioritizing lexical access over uninterrupted readability.
Concordance compatibility: Strong's numbers map to widely available concordances and lexicons for deeper study.

✅ Strengths

Strong linkage to original Hebrew/Greek via Strong's numbers
High concordance with source wording
Well-suited for in-depth word studies and exegesis
Widely recognized and referenced KJV text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language can be difficult for modern readers
Reference numbers can disrupt continuous reading
Less suitable for public or devotional reading compared to modern translations

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Students of biblical languages
Pastors and teachers
Serious Bible students
Researchers needing lexical linkage
Readers preferring KJV tradition

Consider alternatives for

New believers
Casual devotional reading
Children and young readers
English language learners

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Ps 35:12 : 12 They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul.
John 10:32 : 32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
Ps 109:5 : 5 And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
Prov 17:13 : 13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Deut 2:16 : 16 So it came to pass, when all the men of war were consumed and dead from among the people,
1 Sam 24:17 : 17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
2 Chr 20:11 : 11 Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

Gen 44:5-7
3 verses
81%
5Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.
6And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.
7And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:
Gen 44:1-3
3 verses
79%
1And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth.
2And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
3As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.
Gen 44:15
77%
15And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
Gen 37:17-18
2 verses
76%
17And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
18And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
Gen 50:15
75%
15And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
Gen 50:17
75%
17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
Gen 43:17
74%
17And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house.
Gen 42:25
74%
25Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.
Gen 45:4-5
2 verses
74%
4And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
5Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
Gen 45:17
73%
17And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
Gen 43:15
73%
15And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph.
Gen 50:20
73%
20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Gen 42:14
72%
14And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
Gen 43:24
72%
24And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.
Gen 44:17
72%
17And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.
Gen 42:7
71%
7And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
Gen 45:9
71%
9Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not: