The Meaning of Genesis 44:34 Explained

Genesis 44:34

KJV: For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

YLT: for how do I go up unto my father, and the youth not with me? lest I look on the evil which doth find my father.'

Darby: for how should I go up to my father if the lad were not with me? lest I see the evil that would come on my father.

ASV: For how shall I go up to my father, if the lad be not with me? lest I see the evil that shall come on my father.

What does Genesis 44:34 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 44:34 mean?

For how shall I go up to my father if the boy [is] not with me lest I see the evil that would come upon - my father
כִּי־ אֵיךְ֙ אֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה אֶל־ אָבִ֔י וְהַנַּ֖עַר אֵינֶ֣נּוּ ؟ אִתִּ֑י פֶּ֚ן אֶרְאֶ֣ה בָרָ֔ע אֲשֶׁ֥ר יִמְצָ֖א אֶת־ אָבִֽי

אֵיךְ֙  how 
Parse: Interjection
Root: אֵיךְ 
Sense: how? interj.
אֶֽעֱלֶ֣ה  shall  I  go  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
אָבִ֔י  my  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
וְהַנַּ֖עַר  if  the  boy  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
؟ אִתִּ֑י  with  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
פֶּ֚ן  lest 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
אֶרְאֶ֣ה  I  see 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
בָרָ֔ע  the  evil 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
אֲשֶׁ֥ר  that 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יִמְצָ֖א  would  come  upon 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
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.
אָבִֽי  my  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.