The Meaning of Genesis 44:14 Explained

Genesis 44:14

KJV: And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

YLT: And Judah -- his brethren also -- cometh in unto the house of Joseph, and he is yet there, and they fall before him to the earth;

Darby: And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; and he was still there; and they fell down before him to the ground.

ASV: And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; and he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Judah  and his brethren  came  to Joseph's  house;  for he [was] yet there: and they fell  before him  on the ground. 

What does Genesis 44:14 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 44:1-17 - Joseph's Cup In Benjamin's Sack
It is a terrible revelation when our Benjamins are found possessed of the cup. They have been so loved, so favored, so screened; they have never been guilty of the excesses of Reuben and Judah; they have given no rise to evil reports, like the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, Genesis 37:2. Now when they are convicted of sin, the surprise of their brethren is only equaled by their own remorse. This accounts for the soul agony of men like Cyprian, Augustine, Bunyan and Spurgeon. What transitions there are in life! At the close of the previous chapter the brothers were as happy as they could be, and here plunged into the deepest anguish. But the intensity of their pain and sorrow, like fire, melted and cleansed them, and prepared for the great reconciliation. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 44

1  Joseph's policy to stay his brothers
6  The silver cup is found in Benjamin's sack
14  They are brought before Joseph
18  Judah's humble supplication to Joseph

What do the individual words in Genesis 44:14 mean?

So came Judah and his brothers into the house of Joseph and he [was] still there and they fell before him on the ground
וַיָּבֹ֨א יְהוּדָ֤ה וְאֶחָיו֙ בֵּ֣יתָה יוֹסֵ֔ף וְה֖וּא עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ שָׁ֑ם וַיִּפְּל֥וּ לְפָנָ֖יו אָֽרְצָה

וַיָּבֹ֨א  So  came 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
יְהוּדָ֤ה  Judah 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהוּדָה  
Sense: the son of Jacob by Leah.
וְאֶחָיו֙  and  his  brothers 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
בֵּ֣יתָה  into  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יוֹסֵ֔ף  of  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
וְה֖וּא  and  he  [was] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ  still 
Parse: Adverb, third person masculine singular
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
וַיִּפְּל֥וּ  and  they  fell 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָפַל  
Sense: to fall, lie, be cast down, fail.
לְפָנָ֖יו  before  him 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
אָֽרְצָה  on  the  ground 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.