Genesis 44:29

Now if you also take this one from me and harm comes to him, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.’

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Judah addresses the Egyptian official on behalf of his brothers during their second journey to Egypt, responding to the accusation regarding the silver cup. The speech occurs in the steward’s chamber as the brothers plead for mercy.

The words — וּ/לְקַחְתֶּ֧ם (u./le.kach.Tem) = "and you will take" [H3947]; אָס֑וֹן ('a.Son) = "harm" [H611]. These terms frame the conditional warning that removing Benjamin and suffering him will trigger Jacob’s grief.

The thread — The fear of losing a favored son and the father’s subsequent despair recur in Genesis 42:38, Genesis 43:14, and Genesis 42:36. Each reference tracks the same pattern of parental dread and divine restraint.

Why it lands — The text demands readers recognize the weight of paternal love and the real danger of taking away what is most precious. It asks the reader to confront how loss shapes leadership and obedience.

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

וּלְקַחְתֶּ֧םu./le.kach.Temand/ you will take גַּם־gam-also אֶת־'et-<obj.>זֶ֛הzehthis [one]מֵעִ֥םme./'Imfrom/ with פָּנַ֖יpa.Na/ipresence/ my וְקָרָ֣הוּve./ka.Ra./huand/ it will happen to/ him אָס֑וֹן'a.Sonharm וְהֽוֹרַדְתֶּ֧םve./ho.rad.Temand/ you will cause to go down אֶת־'et-<obj.>שֵׂיבָתִ֛יsei.va.T/igray hair/ my בְּרָעָ֖הbe./ra.'Ahin/ calamity שְׁאֹֽלָה׃she.'O.la/hSheol/ towards

King James Version

And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Cross-references

Genesis 42:38 But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”
Genesis 43:14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
Genesis 42:36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is no more. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!”
Genesis 44:31 sees that the boy is not with us, he will die. Then your servants will have brought the gray hair of your servant our father down to Sheol in sorrow.
Deuteronomy 31:17 On that day My anger will burn against them, and I will abandon them and hide My face from them, so that they will be consumed, and many troubles and afflictions will befall them. On that day they will say, ‘Have not these disasters come upon us because our God is no longer with us?’
Psalms 88:3 For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.