The Meaning of Genesis 44:29 Explained

Genesis 44:29

KJV: And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

YLT: when ye have taken also this from my presence, and mischief hath met him, then ye have brought down my grey hairs with evil to sheol.

Darby: And if ye take this one also from me, and mischief should befall him, ye will bring down my grey hairs with misery to Sheol.

ASV: and if ye take this one also from me, and harm befall him, ye will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And if ye take  this also from  me,  and mischief  befall him,  ye shall bring down  my gray hairs  with sorrow  to the grave. 

What does Genesis 44:29 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 44:29 mean?

but if you take also - this [one] from me and befalls him harm then you shall bring down my gray hair in sorrow to Sheol
וּלְקַחְתֶּ֧ם גַּם־ אֶת־ זֶ֛ה מֵעִ֥ם פָּנַ֖י וְקָרָ֣הוּ אָס֑וֹן וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם שֵׂיבָתִ֛י בְּרָעָ֖ה שְׁאֹֽלָה

וּלְקַחְתֶּ֧ם  but  if  you  take 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
גַּם־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
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.
זֶ֛ה  this  [one] 
Parse: Pronoun, masculine singular
Root: זֶה  
Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, another, such.
פָּנַ֖י  me 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common singular
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וְקָרָ֣הוּ  and  befalls  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָה 
Sense: to encounter, meet, befall, happen, come to meet.
אָס֑וֹן  harm 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָסׄון  
Sense: evil, mischief, harm, hurt.
וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֧ם  then  you  shall  bring  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: יָרַד  
Sense: to go down, descend, decline, march down, sink down.
שֵׂיבָתִ֛י  my  gray  hair 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: שֵׂיבָה  
Sense: age, gray hair, hoary head, old age.
בְּרָעָ֖ה  in  sorrow 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
שְׁאֹֽלָה  to  Sheol 
Parse: Noun, common singular, third person feminine singular
Root: שְׁאֹול  
Sense: sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit.