Bible Strands
Genesis 44:26
But we answered, ‘We cannot go down there unless our younger brother goes with us. So if our younger brother is not with us, we cannot see the man.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The brothers address the Egyptian official in Egypt, responding to his demand that they procure grain. They state their collective inability to travel to Canaan without their youngest brother.
The words — לֹ֥א נוּכַ֖ל (lo' nu.Khal) translates literally as "we are not able," paired with לָ/רֶ֑דֶת (la./Re.det) meaning "to go down," establishing a firm boundary on their capacity.
The thread — This dialogue recalls the brothers' earlier conditional offer in Genesis 43:4, while the official's binding requirement for the younger brother appears in Genesis 43:5. The structural inability to proceed without a specific person mirrors the closed-door scenario in Luke 11:7.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human tasks often require conditions beyond personal control. It asks the reader to acknowledge when a prerequisite must be met before any action can commence.
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
King James Version
And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down: for we may not see the man’s face, except our youngest brother be with us.
Cross-references
- Genesis 43:4 If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you.
- Luke 11:7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’