Genesis 44:21 - You said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’
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What does "Genesis 44:21" mean?
This verse from Genesis 44:21 is part of Joseph's elaborate test of his brothers, whom he doesn't recognize (and who don't recognize him, now a powerful Egyptian official). It is a fabricated quote attributed to Jacob, their father. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"You said to your servants...": Joseph, disguised as an Egyptian official, is addressing his brothers.
"Bring him down to me...": The "him" refers to Benjamin, the youngest brother and the only full brother of Joseph. Jacob is being portrayed as having said he wants Benjamin brought to him in Egypt.
"that I may set my eyes on him.": This expresses Jacob's longing and desire to see Benjamin. It emphasizes the deep affection and attachment Jacob has for his youngest son, especially after the supposed loss of Joseph. He wants to see Benjamin with his own eyes, indicating a deep, personal need.
Context within the story:
Joseph is manipulating the situation to see how his brothers will react to the potential loss of Benjamin. He plants a silver cup in Benjamin's sack and then accuses them of theft. This verse is Joseph recalling (or rather, fabricating) Jacob's strong desire to see Benjamin, which is intended to heighten the tension and make the brothers' predicament even more fraught. Joseph wants to know if his brothers have changed and if they will protect Benjamin, or abandon him as they did Joseph years ago.
In essence, the verse highlights Jacob's deep love for Benjamin and serves as a plot device to test the integrity and brotherhood of Joseph's siblings. It's designed to evoke empathy and to see if the brothers will act differently than they did when they sold Joseph into slavery.
Genesis 44:21 - You said to your servants, ‘Bring him down to me, that I may set my eyes on him.’
What does "Genesis 44:21" mean?
This verse from Genesis 44:21 is part of Joseph's elaborate test of his brothers, whom he doesn't recognize (and who don't recognize him, now a powerful Egyptian official). It is a fabricated quote attributed to Jacob, their father. Here's a breakdown of the meaning:
"You said to your servants...": Joseph, disguised as an Egyptian official, is addressing his brothers.
"Bring him down to me...": The "him" refers to Benjamin, the youngest brother and the only full brother of Joseph. Jacob is being portrayed as having said he wants Benjamin brought to him in Egypt.
"that I may set my eyes on him.": This expresses Jacob's longing and desire to see Benjamin. It emphasizes the deep affection and attachment Jacob has for his youngest son, especially after the supposed loss of Joseph. He wants to see Benjamin with his own eyes, indicating a deep, personal need.
Context within the story:
Joseph is manipulating the situation to see how his brothers will react to the potential loss of Benjamin. He plants a silver cup in Benjamin's sack and then accuses them of theft. This verse is Joseph recalling (or rather, fabricating) Jacob's strong desire to see Benjamin, which is intended to heighten the tension and make the brothers' predicament even more fraught. Joseph wants to know if his brothers have changed and if they will protect Benjamin, or abandon him as they did Joseph years ago.
In essence, the verse highlights Jacob's deep love for Benjamin and serves as a plot device to test the integrity and brotherhood of Joseph's siblings. It's designed to evoke empathy and to see if the brothers will act differently than they did when they sold Joseph into slavery.