The Meaning of Genesis 44:31 Explained

Genesis 44:31

KJV: It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy servants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave.

YLT: then it hath come to pass when he seeth that the youth is not, that he hath died, and thy servants have brought down the grey hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to sheol;

Darby: it will come to pass when he sees that the lad is not there, that he will die; and thy servants will bring down the grey hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.

ASV: it will come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us , that he will die: and thy servants will bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

It shall come to pass, when he seeth  that the lad  [is] not [with us], that he will die:  and thy servants  shall bring down  the gray hairs  of thy servant  our father  with sorrow  to the grave. 

What does Genesis 44:31 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 44:31 mean?

and when it will come to pass he sees that not the boy [is with us] that he will die So will bring down your servants - the gray hair of your servant our father in sorrow to Sheol
וְהָיָ֗ה כִּרְאוֹת֛וֹ כִּי־ אֵ֥ין הַנַּ֖עַר וָמֵ֑ת וְהוֹרִ֨ידוּ עֲבָדֶ֜יךָ אֶת־ שֵׂיבַ֨ת עַבְדְּךָ֥ אָבִ֛ינוּ בְּיָג֖וֹן שְׁאֹֽלָה

וְהָיָ֗ה  and  when  it  will  come  to  pass 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
כִּרְאוֹת֛וֹ  he  sees 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
כִּי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
הַנַּ֖עַר  the  boy  [is  with  us] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
וָמֵ֑ת  that  he  will  die 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
וְהוֹרִ֨ידוּ  So  will  bring  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
עֲבָדֶ֜יךָ  your  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שֵׂיבַ֨ת  the  gray  hair 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: שֵׂיבָה  
Sense: age, gray hair, hoary head, old age.
עַבְדְּךָ֥  of  your  servant 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
אָבִ֛ינוּ  our  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
בְּיָג֖וֹן  in  sorrow 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יָגֹון  
Sense: grief, sorrow, anguish.
שְׁאֹֽלָה  to  Sheol 
Parse: Noun, common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שְׁאֹול  
Sense: sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit.