The Meaning of Genesis 43:9 Explained

Genesis 43:9

KJV: I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

YLT: I -- I am surety for him, from my hand thou dost require him; if I have not brought him in unto thee, and set him before thee -- then I have sinned against thee all the days;

Darby: I will be surety for him: of my hand shalt thou require him; if I bring him not to thee, and set him before thy face, then shall I be guilty toward thee for ever.

ASV: I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

I will be surety  for him; of my hand  shalt thou require  him: if  I bring  him not  unto thee, and set  him before thee,  then let me bear the blame  for ever: 

What does Genesis 43:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 43:1-15 - The Brothers Return With Benjamin
Joseph, in giving corn to save his own brethren and the Egyptians from starvation, is a type of our Lord, who gives the bread of life to Jew and Gentile-to all that come to Him in their hopeless need. And in this return of the full money in the sacks we are reminded that salvation is without money and without price. Whatever we bring to enrich Christ He returns to us. His gifts are all of His unmerited grace and favor. Very often we move forward with dread into the unknown; but that dread is the child of ignorance. If only we realized that love is waiting for us there, which does not ask for balm and honey, for spices and myrrh, but just for ourselves, how much happier life would become! Lift up your hearts; a feast awaits you! [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 43

1  Jacob is persuaded to send Benjamin
15  Joseph entertains his brothers
19  They discover their fears to the steward
26  Joseph makes them a feast

What do the individual words in Genesis 43:9 mean?

I will guarantee from my hand Shall you require if not I bring him [back] to you and set him before you then let bear the blame me all time
אָֽנֹכִי֙ אֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ מִיָּדִ֖י תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נּוּ אִם־ לֹ֨א הֲבִיאֹתִ֤יו אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ וְהִצַּגְתִּ֣יו לְפָנֶ֔יךָ וְחָטָ֥אתִֽי לְךָ֖ כָּל־ הַיָּמִֽים

אֶֽעֶרְבֶ֔נּוּ  will  guarantee 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: עָרַב 
Sense: to pledge, exchange, mortgage, engage, occupy, undertake for, give pledges, be or become surety, take on pledge, give in pledge.
מִיָּדִ֖י  from  my  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
תְּבַקְשֶׁ֑נּוּ  Shall  you  require 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּקַשׁ  
Sense: to seek, require, desire, exact, request.
הֲבִיאֹתִ֤יו  I  bring  him  [back] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֵלֶ֙יךָ֙  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וְהִצַּגְתִּ֣יו  and  set  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular, third person masculine singular
Root: יָצַג  
Sense: to place, set, establish.
לְפָנֶ֔יךָ  before  you 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וְחָטָ֥אתִֽי  then  let  bear  the  blame 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
לְךָ֖  me 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
הַיָּמִֽים  time 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.