The Meaning of Genesis 44:15 Explained

Genesis 44:15

KJV: 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?

YLT: and Joseph saith to them, 'What is this deed that ye have done? have ye not known that a man like me doth diligently observe?'

Darby: And Joseph said to them, What deed is this which ye have done? Did ye not know that such a man as I can certainly divine?

ASV: And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? know ye not that such a man as I can indeed divine?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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? 

What does Genesis 44:15 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 44:15 mean?

And said to them Joseph what deed [is] this that you have done did not you know that surely can practice divination a man such as I
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ יוֹסֵ֔ף מָֽה־ הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר ؟ עֲשִׂיתֶ֑ם הֲל֣וֹא יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם כִּֽי־ נַחֵ֧שׁ יְנַחֵ֛שׁ אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֥ר ؟ כָּמֹֽנִי

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לָהֶם֙  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
יוֹסֵ֔ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
הַמַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה  deed  [is] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מַעֲשֶׂה  
Sense: deed, work.
הַזֶּ֖ה  this 
Parse: Article, Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
אֲשֶׁ֣ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
؟ עֲשִׂיתֶ֑ם  you  have  done 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
הֲל֣וֹא  did  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יְדַעְתֶּ֔ם  you  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
נַחֵ֧שׁ  surely 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive absolute
Root: נָחַשׁ  
Sense: to practice divination, divine, observe signs, learn by experience, diligently observe, practice fortunetelling, take as an omen.
יְנַחֵ֛שׁ  can  practice  divination 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָחַשׁ  
Sense: to practice divination, divine, observe signs, learn by experience, diligently observe, practice fortunetelling, take as an omen.
אִ֖ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  such 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
؟ כָּמֹֽנִי  as  I 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: כְּמֹו  
Sense: like, as, the like of which conj.