Genesis 44:17

But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joseph addresses his brothers after the silver cup is discovered in Benjamin’s sack. He separates the brother who possessed the cup from the rest of the group.

The words — The Hebrew term חָלִילָה (cha.Li.lah) literally means “far be it” and functions as a strong negation of the proposed action.

The thread — The identical idiom appears in Genesis 18:25, where Abraham applies it to God’s judgment.

Why it lands — It requires the reader to recognize that legal innocence does not automatically override political authority. The text establishes that Joseph will enforce the discovered evidence on one brother while releasing the others.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֕אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said חָלִ֣ילָהcha.Li.lahfar be itלִּ֔יL/ito/ meמֵעֲשׂ֖וֹתme./'a.Sotfrom/ doing זֹ֑אתZotthis הָאִ֡ישׁha./'Ishthe/ man אֲשֶׁר֩'a.Sherwhom נִמְצָ֨אnim.Tza'it was found הַגָּבִ֜יעַha./ga.Vi.a'the/ cup בְּיָד֗וֹbe./ya.D/oin/ hand/ his ה֚וּאhu'he יִהְיֶה־yih.yeh-he will beלִּ֣יl/iof/ meעָ֔בֶד'A.vedslave וְאַתֶּ֕םve./'a.Temand/ you עֲל֥וּ'a.Lugo up לְשָׁל֖וֹםle./sha.Lomto/ peace אֶל־'el-to אֲבִיכֶֽם׃ פ'a.vi./Khemfather/ your

King James Version

And he said, God forbid that I should do so: but the man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.

Cross-references

Genesis 18:25 Far be it from You to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
Genesis 26:29 that you will not harm us, just as we have not harmed you but have done only good to you, sending you on your way in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD.”
Genesis 37:32 They sent the robe of many colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe or not.”
Genesis 42:18 and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live:
2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me, ‘He who rules the people with justice, who rules in the fear of God,
Psalms 75:2 “When I choose a time, I will judge fairly.
Proverbs 17:15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.