The Meaning of Genesis 44:4 Explained

Genesis 44:4

KJV: And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

YLT: they have gone out of the city -- they have not gone far off -- and Joseph hath said to him who is over his house, 'Rise, pursue after the men; and thou hast overtaken them, and thou hast said unto them, Why have ye recompensed evil for good?

Darby: They were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, when Joseph said to him who was over his house, Up! follow after the men; and when thou overtakest them, thou shalt say to them, Why have ye rewarded evil for good?

ASV: And when they were gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[And] when they were gone out  of the city,  [and] not [yet] far off,  Joseph  said  unto his steward,  Up,  follow  after  the men;  and when thou dost overtake  them, say  unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded  evil  for good? 

What does Genesis 44:4 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 44:4 mean?

[when] they had gone out of the city not [yet] far off and Joseph said to his steward of his house Get up follow after the men and when you overtake them then say to them why have you repaid evil for good
הֵ֠ם יָֽצְא֣וּ אֶת־ הָעִיר֮ לֹ֣א הִרְחִיקוּ֒ וְיוֹסֵ֤ף אָמַר֙ לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר עַל־ בֵּית֔וֹ ק֥וּם רְדֹ֖ף אַחֲרֵ֣י הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙ וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵהֶ֔ם לָ֛מָּה שִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥ם רָעָ֖ה תַּ֥חַת ؟ טוֹבָֽה

הֵ֠ם  [when]  they 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
יָֽצְא֣וּ  had  gone  out 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
הָעִיר֮  the  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
הִרְחִיקוּ֒  [yet]  far  off 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: רָחַק  
Sense: to be or become far, be or become distant, be removed, go far away.
וְיוֹסֵ֤ף  and  Joseph 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
אָמַר֙  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר  to  his  steward 
Parse: Preposition-l, Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
בֵּית֔וֹ  his  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
ק֥וּם  Get  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
רְדֹ֖ף  follow 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine singular
Root: רָדַף  
Sense: to be behind, follow after, pursue, persecute, run after.
אַחֲרֵ֣י  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
הָֽאֲנָשִׁ֑ים  the  men 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וְהִשַּׂגְתָּם֙  and  when  you  overtake  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular, third person masculine plural
Root: מַשֶּׂגֶת 
Sense: to reach, overtake, take hold upon.
וְאָמַרְתָּ֣  then  say 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲלֵהֶ֔ם  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
לָ֛מָּה  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
שִׁלַּמְתֶּ֥ם  have  you  repaid 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: שָׁלֵם  
Sense: .
רָעָ֖ה  evil 
Parse: Adjective, feminine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
؟ טוֹבָֽה  good 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.