Genesis 44:9

If any of your servants is found to have it, he must die, and the rest will become slaves of my lord.”

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The eldest brother addresses the Egyptian steward, proposing a conditional curse to verify their innocence regarding the missing cup.

The words — מֵ/עֲבָדֶ֖י/ךָ (me./'a.va.Dei./kha) establishes the group’s status as "servants," while וָ/מֵ֑ת (va./Met) pronounces the death penalty upon the guilty party.

The thread — This conditional oath parallels the search for stolen idols in Genesis 31:32, where discovery of the item triggers the same death clause.

Why it lands — The text requires a reader to note how a spoken conditional curse functions as a binding claim of innocence, independent of whether the speaker can enforce the penalty.

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

אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sher[anyone] whom יִמָּצֵ֥אyi.ma.Tze'it is found אִתּ֛וֹ'i.T/owith/ him מֵעֲבָדֶ֖יךָme./'a.va.Dei./khaof/ servants/ your וָמֵ֑תva./Metand/ he will die וְגַם־ve./gam-and/ also אֲנַ֕חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuwe נִֽהְיֶ֥הnih.Yehwe will be[long]לַֽאדֹנִ֖יla./do.N/ito/ lord/ my לַעֲבָדִֽים׃la./'a.va.Dimto/ slaves

King James Version

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

Cross-references

Genesis 31:32 If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.
Genesis 43:18 But the brothers were frightened that they had been taken to Joseph’s house. “We have been brought here because of the silver that was returned in our bags the first time,” they said. “They intend to overpower us and take us as slaves, along with our donkeys.”
Genesis 44:16 “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.”
Job 31:38 if my land cries out against me and its furrows weep together,
Psalms 7:3 O LORD my God, if I have done this, if injustice is on my hands,
Acts 25:11 If, however, I am guilty of anything worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if there is no truth to their accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”