Genesis 44:16 ““What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How ca…”

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.”

Berean Standard Bible

Other translations

King James Version

And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.

World English Bible

Judah said, “What will we tell my lord? What will we speak? How will we clear ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Behold, we are my lord’s slaves, both we and he also in whose hand the cup is found.”

American Standard Version

And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord’s bondmen, both we, and he also in whose hand the cup is found.

Geneva Bible 1599

Then sayd Iudah, What shall we say vnto my lord? what shall we speake? and howe can we iustifie our selues? God hath found out the wickednesse of thy seruants: beholde, we are seruants to my Lord, both wee, and he, with whome the cuppe is founde.

Darby Translation

And Judah said, What shall we say to my lord? what shall we speak, and how justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of thy servants; behold, we are my lord's bondmen, both we, and he in whose hand the cup has been found.

Young's Literal Translation

And Judah saith, 'What do we say to my lord? what do we speak? and what — do we justify ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants; lo, we [are] servants to my lord, both we, and he in whose hand the cup hath been found;'

Bible in Basic English

And Judah said, What are we to say to my lord? how may we put ourselves right in his eyes? God has made clear the sin of your servants: now we are in your hands, we and the man in whose bag your cup was seen.

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Cross references

“Judah”

Genesis 44:32 Genesis 43:8 Genesis 43:9

Genesis 44:32 · BSB

Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’

Genesis 43:8 · BSB

And Judah said to his father Israel, “Send the boy with me, and we will go at once, so that we may live and not die—neither we, nor you, nor our children.

Genesis 43:9 · BSB

I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life.

“What shall we say”

Daniel 9:7 Deuteronomy 25:1 Ezra 9:10 Ezra 9:15 Job 40:4 Proverbs 17:15

Daniel 9:7 · BSB

To You, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but this day we are covered with shame—the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, and all Israel near and far, in all the countries to which You have driven us because of our unfait…

Deuteronomy 25:1 · BSB

If there is a dispute between men, they are to go to court to be judged, so that the innocent may be acquitted and the guilty condemned.

Ezra 9:10 · BSB

And now, our God, what can we say after this? For we have forsaken the commandments

Ezra 9:15 · BSB

O LORD, God of Israel, You are righteous! For we remain this day as a remnant. Here we are before You in our guilt, though because of it no one can stand before You.”

Job 40:4 · BSB

“Behold, I am insignificant. How can I reply to You? I place my hand over my mouth.

Proverbs 17:15 · BSB

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.

“God hath”

Numbers 32:23 Luke 12:2 Genesis 37:18–28 Joshua 7:1 Joshua 7:18 Judges 1:7

Numbers 32:23 · BSB

But if you do not do this, you will certainly sin against the LORD—and be assured that your sin will find you out.

Luke 12:2 · BSB

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

Genesis 37:18–28 · BSB

Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him.

Joshua 7:1 · BSB

The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the…

Joshua 7:18 · BSB

And he had the family of Zabdi come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected.

Judges 1:7 · BSB

Then Adoni-bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have gathered the scraps under my table. As I have done to them, so God has repaid me.” And they brought him to Jerusalem, where he died.

“iniquity”

Isaiah 27:9

Isaiah 27:9 · BSB

Therefore Jacob’s guilt will be atoned for, and the full fruit of the removal of his sin will be this: When he makes all the altar stones like crushed bits of chalk, no Asherah poles or incense altars will remain standin…

“behold”

Genesis 44:9 Genesis 37:7 Genesis 37:9

Genesis 44:9 · BSB

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

Genesis 37:7 · BSB

We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to mine.”

Genesis 37:9 · BSB

Then Joseph had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

Cross references adapted from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0) and the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

In context

15“What is this deed you have done?” Joseph declared. “Do you not know that a man like me can surely divine the truth?”

17But 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.”

Read Genesis 44