The Meaning of Genesis 44:21 Explained

Genesis 44:21

KJV: And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

YLT: 'And thou sayest unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, and I set mine eye upon him;

Darby: And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down to me, that I may set mine eye on him.

ASV: And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And thou saidst  unto thy servants,  Bring him down  unto me, that I may set  mine eyes  upon him. 

What does Genesis 44:21 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 44:18-34 - Judah Pleads For Benjamin
No portion in Genesis could be more suitable for Good Friday. Judah's proposal to give himself instead of Benjamin reminds us of Him who freely gave Himself up for us all. It was with such love, but of infinite intensity, that Christ loved us. In Judah's words we find the loftiest type of pleading which man has ever put forth for man. It is extraordinary to get this glimpse of the strong and noble emotions that slumber in hearts where we should least expect them! But these words are poor and cold compared with those that Jesus utters on our behalf. It must have required extraordinary self-command on Joseph's part to make his brethren suffer thus. But he dared to enforce it, because he knew the goal they were approaching. Christ often turns aside to hide His sorrow at our griefs, which are the necessary pathway to where all tears are wiped away. [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 44:21 mean?

And you said to your servants bring him down to me that I may set my eyes on him
וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־ עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ הוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ אֵלָ֑י וְאָשִׂ֥ימָה עֵינִ֖י עָלָֽיו

וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙  And  you  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
עֲבָדֶ֔יךָ  your  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
הוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ  bring  him  down 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural, third person masculine singular
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
אֵלָ֑י  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וְאָשִׂ֥ימָה  that  I  may  set 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
עֵינִ֖י  my  eyes 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
עָלָֽיו  on  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.