Genesis 44:7

“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The brothers speak to the Egyptian steward immediately after he overtakes them to relay the cup accusation. They respond to his charge while still traveling with their grain sacks.

The words — חָלִ֙ילָה֙ (cha.Li.lah) translates literally as “far be it,” expressing absolute impossibility. לָ֚/מָּה (La./mah) means “why,” framing their response as a direct challenge to the steward’s premise.

The thread — This defensive posture against serious moral charges echoes the confrontations in Genesis 34:25, Genesis 35:22, and Genesis 38:16, where accusations of transgression surface in familial and covenantal contexts.

Why it lands — The text records a flat denial of guilt before the brothers’ past actions are brought to light. It forces the reader to observe the gap between their current protest and the historical pattern of deception they are repeating.

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

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּva/i.yo.me.Ruand/ they said אֵלָ֔יו'e.La/vto/ him לָ֚מָּהLa./mah<to>/ why?יְדַבֵּ֣רye.da.Berdoes he speak אֲדֹנִ֔י'a.do.N/imaster/ my כַּדְּבָרִ֖יםka./de.va.Rimaccording to the/ words הָאֵ֑לֶּהha./'E.leh<the>/ these חָלִ֙ילָה֙cha.Li.lahfar be it לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָla./'a.va.Dei./khato/ servants/ your מֵעֲשׂ֖וֹתme./'a.Sotfrom/ doing כַּדָּבָ֥רka./da.Varaccording to the/ manner הַזֶּֽה׃ha./Zeh<the>/ this

King James Version

And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:

Cross-references

Genesis 38:16 Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.” “What will you give me for sleeping with you?” she inquired.
Genesis 34:25 Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male.
Genesis 35:22 While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:
Genesis 37:18 Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him.
Joshua 22:22 “The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.
2 Samuel 20:20 “Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!
2 Kings 8:13 “But how could your servant, a mere dog, do such a monstrous thing?” said Hazael. And Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you will be king over Aram.”
Proverbs 22:1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
Ecclesiastes 7:1 A good name is better than fine perfume, and one’s day of death is better than his day of birth.
Hebrews 13:18 Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.