The Meaning of Genesis 44:8 Explained

Genesis 44:8

KJV: Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?

YLT: lo, the money which we found in the mouth of our bags we brought back unto thee from the land of Canaan, and how do we steal from the house of thy lord silver or gold?

Darby: Behold, the money that we found in our sacks' mouths we have brought again to thee from the land of Canaan; and how should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?

ASV: Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Behold, the money,  which we found  in our sacks'  mouths,  we brought again  unto thee out of the land  of Canaan:  how then should we steal  out of thy lord's  house  silver  or gold? 

What does Genesis 44:8 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 44:8 mean?

Behold the silver which we found in the mouth of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan Then how could we steal from house of your lord silver or gold
הֵ֣ן כֶּ֗סֶף אֲשֶׁ֤ר מָצָ֙אנוּ֙ בְּפִ֣י אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ הֱשִׁיבֹ֥נוּ אֵלֶ֖יךָ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וְאֵ֗יךְ נִגְנֹב֙ מִבֵּ֣ית אֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ כֶּ֖סֶף א֥וֹ ؟ זָהָֽב

הֵ֣ן  Behold 
Parse: Interjection
Root: הֵן  
Sense: behold, lo, though hypothetical part.
כֶּ֗סֶף  the  silver 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
מָצָ֙אנוּ֙  we  found 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
בְּפִ֣י  in  the  mouth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ  of  our  sacks 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: אַמְתַּחַת  
Sense: sack, flexible container (for grain).
הֱשִׁיבֹ֥נוּ  we  brought  back 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
אֵלֶ֖יךָ  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מֵאֶ֣רֶץ  from  the  land 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
כְּנָ֑עַן  of  Canaan 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: כְּנַעַן 
Sense: the 4th son of Ham and the progenitor of the Phoenicians and of the various nations who peopled the seacoast of Palestine.
וְאֵ֗יךְ  Then  how 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: אֵיךְ 
Sense: how? interj.
נִגְנֹב֙  could  we  steal 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common plural
Root: גָּנַב  
Sense: to steal, steal away, carry away.
מִבֵּ֣ית  from  house 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ  of  your  lord 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
כֶּ֖סֶף  silver 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֶּסֶף  
Sense: silver, money.
؟ זָהָֽב  gold 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָהָב  
Sense: gold.