Genesis 44:32

KJV1611 – Modern English

For your servant became a guarantee for the lad to my father, saying, If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father forever.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

כִּ֤י עַבְדְּךָ֙ עָרַ֣ב אֶת־הַנַּ֔עַר מֵעִ֥ם אָבִ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר אִם־לֹ֤א אֲבִיאֶ֙נּוּ֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְחָטָ֥אתִי לְאָבִ֖י כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃

Transliteration

For kî your servant ʿabdəkā ʿārab ʾet-the hannaʿar from mēʿim my father ʾābî lēʾmōr if ʾim-not lōʾ I bring him ʾăbîʾennû to you ʾēleykā then I shall bear the guilt wəḥāṭāʾtî to my father ləʾābî all kol-the days hayyāmîm

Grammar Details

• *kî*: conjunction - for
• *ʿabdəkā*: masculine singular noun with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - your servant
• *ʿārab*: Qal perfect, 3rd person masculine singular - became surety for
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *hannaʿar*: definite article + masculine singular noun - the young man
• *mēʿim*: preposition + preposition - from with
• *ʾābî*: masculine singular noun with 1st person singular suffix - my father
• *lēʾmōr*: preposition + Qal infinitive construct - saying
• *ʾim*: conditional particle - if
• *lōʾ*: negative particle - not
• *ʾăbîʾennû*: Hiphil imperfect, 1st person singular with 3rd person masculine singular suffix - I bring him
• *ʾēleykā*: preposition with 2nd person masculine singular suffix - to you
• *wəḥāṭāʾtî*: waw-consecutive + Qal perfect, 1st person singular - then I shall bear the guilt
• *ləʾābî*: preposition + masculine singular noun with 1st person singular suffix - to my father
• *kol*: masculine singular construct - all of
• *hayyāmîm*: definite article + masculine plural noun - the days

Word Meanings

• *ʿabdəkā*: your servant/your slave
• *ʿārab*: became surety for/pledged himself for/guaranteed
• *hannaʿar*: the young man/the lad/the boy
• *mēʿim*: from with/from
• *lēʾmōr*: saying
• *ʾăbîʾennû*: I bring him/I return him
• *wəḥāṭāʾtî*: then I shall bear the guilt/then I shall have sinned/then I shall be at fault
• *kol-hayyāmîm*: all the days/forever/always

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  For your servant took responsibility for the boy before my father, saying, 'If I do not bring him back to you, then I shall bear the blame before my father all my life.'

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  For thy servant{H5650} became surety{H6148} for the lad{H5288} unto{H5973} my father,{H1} saying,{H559} If I bring{H935} him not unto thee, then shall I bear the blame{H2398} to my father{H1} for ever.{H3117}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  For thy servant{H5650} became surety{H6148}{(H8804)} for the lad{H5288} unto{H5973} my father{H1}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, If I bring{H935}{(H8686)} him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame{H2398}{(H8804)} to my father{H1} for ever{H3117}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  For I thy servaunt became suertie for the lad vnto my father and sayde: yf I bringe him not vnto the agayne. I will bere the blame all my life loge.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  For I thy seruaunt became suertye for the lad vnto my father, and sayde: yf I brynge him not agayne, I will beare the blame all my lyfe longe.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Doubtlesse thy seruant became suertie for the childe to my father, and said, If I bring him not vnto thee againe, then I will beare the blame vnto my father for euer.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  For I thy seruaunt became suretie for the lad before my father, and saide: If I bryng hym not vnto thee agayne, I shal beare the blame vnto my father all my lyfe long.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  For your servant became collateral for the boy to my father, saying, 'If I don't bring him to you, then I will bear the blame to my father forever.'

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  for thy servant obtained the youth by surety from my father, saying, If I bring him not in unto thee -- then I have sinned against my father all the days.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then shall I bear the blame to my father for ever.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then shall I bear the blame to my father for ever.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  For I made myself responsible for the boy to my father, saying, If I do not give him safely back to you, let mine be the sin for ever.

• World English Bible (2000)

  For your servant became collateral for the boy to my father, saying, 'If I don't bring him to you, then I will bear the blame to my father forever.'

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Indeed, your servant pledged security for the boy with my father, saying,‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I will bear the blame before my father all my life.’

Referenced Verses

• Gen 43:8-9 : 8 And Judah said to Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go; that we may live, and not die, both we, you, and also our little ones. 9 I will be surety for him; from my hand you shall require him: if I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever:
• Gen 43:16 : 16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, Bring these men home, and prepare a feast; for these men shall dine with me at noon.