The Meaning of Genesis 44:9 Explained

Genesis 44:9

KJV: With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.

YLT: with whomsoever of thy servants it is found, he hath died, and we also are to my lord for servants.'

Darby: With whomsoever of thy servants it is found, let him die; and we also will be my lord's bondmen.

ASV: With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

With whomsoever of thy servants  it be found,  both let him die,  and we also will be my lord's  bondmen. 

What does Genesis 44:9 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 44:9 mean?

with whomever is found it of your servants and let him die and also we will be of my lord slaves
אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִמָּצֵ֥א אִתּ֛וֹ מֵעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ וָמֵ֑ת וְגַם־ אֲנַ֕חְנוּ נִֽהְיֶ֥ה לַֽאדֹנִ֖י לַעֲבָדִֽים

אֲשֶׁ֨ר  with  whomever 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
יִמָּצֵ֥א  is  found 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
מֵעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ  of  your  servants 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
וָמֵ֑ת  and  let  him  die 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
וְגַם־  and  also 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
נִֽהְיֶ֥ה  will  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לַֽאדֹנִ֖י  of  my  lord 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אָדֹון  
Sense: firm, strong, lord, master.
לַעֲבָדִֽים  slaves 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.