Verse

Genesis 44:9

ESV Whichever of your servants is found with it shall die, and we also will be my lord 's servants."
NIV If any of your servants is found to have it, he will die; and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves."
NASB With whomever of your servants it is found, he shall die, and we also shall be my lord’s slaves.'
CSB If it is found with one of us, your servants, he must die, and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves."
NLT If you find his cup with any one of us, let that man die. And all the rest of us, my lord, will be your slaves.'
KJV With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord's bondmen.
NKJV With whomever of your servants it is found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s slaves.”

What does Genesis 44:9 mean?

Jacob's sons are defending themselves from accusations they have stolen a valuable silver cup (Genesis 44:1–8). They don't realize the accusations are coming from their estranged brother (Genesis 42:7–8), or that they are part of a deliberate test. The men have strongly claimed innocence.

Now, they foolishly go too far. Rashly, without fully understanding what is happening, they vow that if anyone is found with the cup, he can be executed, and the rest of the men made slaves. What the brothers don't know, of course, is that the steward himself has placed the cup in the sack of the youngest brother Benjamin. Joseph's brothers have played right into his scheme. The purpose of that plan will become clearer in the following verses.
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