The Meaning of Genesis 44:5 Explained

Genesis 44:5

KJV: Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.

YLT: Is not this that with which my lord drinketh? and he observeth diligently with it; ye have done evil in that which ye have done.'

Darby: Is not this it in which my lord drinks, and in which indeed he divines? Ye have done evil in what ye have done.

ASV: Is not this that in which my lord drinketh, and whereby he indeed divineth? ye have done evil in so doing.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[Is] not this [it] in which my lord  drinketh,  and whereby indeed  he divineth?  ye have done evil  in so doing. 

What does Genesis 44:5 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 44:5 mean?

[Is] not this which drinks my lord from and he indeed practices divination with You have done evil in so doing
הֲל֣וֹא זֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁתֶּ֤ה אֲדֹנִי֙ בּ֔וֹ וְה֕וּא נַחֵ֥שׁ יְנַחֵ֖שׁ ؟ בּ֑וֹ הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֥ר עֲשִׂיתֶֽם

הֲל֣וֹא  [Is]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
זֶ֗ה  this 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
יִשְׁתֶּ֤ה  drinks 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁתָה  
Sense: to drink.
אֲדֹנִי֙  my  lord 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
וְה֕וּא  and  he 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
נַחֵ֥שׁ  indeed 
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.
יְנַחֵ֖שׁ  practices  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.
הֲרֵעֹתֶ֖ם  You  have  done  evil 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: מֵרֵעַ 
Sense: to be bad, be evil.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  in  so 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
עֲשִׂיתֶֽם  doing 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.