Genesis 44:14
ESV
When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph 's house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground.
NIV
Joseph was still in the house when Judah and his brothers came in, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.
NASB
When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell down to the ground before him.
CSB
When Judah and his brothers reached Joseph’s house, he was still there. They fell to the ground before him.
NLT
Joseph was still in his palace when Judah and his brothers arrived, and they fell to the ground before him.
KJV
And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.
NKJV
So Judah and his brothers came to Joseph’s house, and he was still there; and they fell before him on the ground.
What does Genesis 44:14 mean?
With Benjamin essentially facing a life of slavery in Egypt for the theft of the Egyptian ruler's personal silver cup, all of Joseph's brothers return with him to Joseph's house (Genesis 44:7–12). Benjamin, however, is innocent. Joseph had his own steward place the cup in the boy's bag (Genesis 44:3–6). The eleven men don't realize the powerful man with whom they've been interacting is their own estranged brother (Genesis 42:7–8). These trials have been tests, of a sort, which Joseph has been using to see if they have changed since selling him into slavery twenty years ago (Genesis 37:24–28).Joseph's brothers are desperate and heartbroken about what has happened. They find Joseph still at home. They throw themselves on the ground, prostrate (Genesis 37:7), as sign of respect and humility, hoping he will show them mercy.
Genesis 44:14–34 explains how Joseph's brothers reacted to another test of character. The youngest, Benjamin, was discovered to have Joseph's own silver cup in his bags. This was secretly put there on Joseph's orders—and the brothers still do not know his identity. Joseph's intent seems to be a test of his brothers' growth: are they still as cruel and selfish as when they sold Joseph, himself, into Egyptian slavery? Benjamin's sentence is to become Joseph's slave while the rest are free to go. Instead, Judah offers to take Benjamin's place in order save his youngest brother and their old father, who will surely die of grief if Benjamin is lost.
Eleven of Jacob's sons enjoyed a meal as honored guests of an Egyptian governor. They are sent off the next morning with full sacks of grain. All seems well until the governor's house steward overtakes them on the road and accuses them of stealing the ruler's personal and valuable silver cup. The brothers don't know this governor is Joseph, their long-lost brother. Nor do they know he ordered the steward to place the cup in Benjamin's sack. This is part of Joseph's final test of his brothers and their moral growth. Seeking to rescue Benjamin from slavery, Judah makes a powerful speech to Joseph, offering to take Benjamin's place as a slave to save the boy and avoid grieving their father, Jacob.
