Genesis 44:34
 Genesis 44:34 
New International Version (©2011)
How can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? No! Do not let me see the misery that would come on my father."

New Living Translation (©2007)
For how can I return to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn't bear to see the anguish this would cause my father!"

English Standard Version (©2001)
For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I fear to see the evil that would find my father.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"For how shall I go up to my father if the lad is not with me-- for fear that I see the evil that would overtake my father?"

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the grief that would overwhelm my father."

International Standard Version (©2012)
After all, how can I go back to my father if the young man doesn't accompany me? I'm afraid of what might happen to my father."

NET Bible (©2006)
For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn't bear to see my father's pain."

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
How could I go back to my father if the boy isn't with me? I couldn't bear to see my father's misery!"

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest perhaps I see the evil that shall come on my father.

American King James Version
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

American Standard Version
For how shall I go up to my father, if the lad be not with me? lest I see the evil that shall come on my father.

Douay-Rheims Bible
For I cannot return to my father without the boy, lest I be a witness of the calamity that will oppress my father.

Darby Bible Translation
for how should I go up to my father if the lad were not with me? lest I see the evil that would come on my father.

English Revised Version
For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest I see the evil that shall come on my father.

Webster's Bible Translation
For how shall I return to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest perhaps I see the evil that shall come on my father.

World English Bible
For how will I go up to my father, if the boy isn't with me?--lest I see the evil that will come on my father."

Young's Literal Translation
for how do I go up unto my father, and the youth not with me? lest I look on the evil which doth find my father.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

44:18-34 Had Joseph been, as Judah supposed him, an utter stranger to the family, he could not but be wrought upon by his powerful reasonings. But neither Jacob nor Benjamin need an intercessor with Joseph; for he himself loved them. Judah's faithful cleaving to Benjamin, now, in his distress, was recompensed long afterwards by the tribe of Benjamin keeping with the tribe of Judah, when the other tribes deserted it. The apostle, when discoursing of the mediation of Christ, observes, that our Lord sprang out of Judah, Heb 7:14; and he not only made intercession for the transgressors, but he became a Surety for them, testifying therein tender concern, both for his Father and for his brethren. Jesus, the great antitype of Joseph, humbles and proves his people, even after they have had some tastes of his loving-kindness. He brings their sins to their remembrance, that they may exercise and show repentance, and feel how much they owe to his mercy.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me?.... Signifying that he must abide in Egypt, and chose to do it, and could not go up to the land of Canaan any more or see his father's face without Benjamin along with him, to whom he was a surety for him:

lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father; see him die, or live a life of sorrow worse than death: this he could not bear, and chose rather to be a slave in Egypt, than to be the spectator of such an affecting scene. By this speech of Judah, Joseph plainly saw the great affection which his brethren, especially Judah, had for his father and his brother Benjamin, as well as the sense they had of their evil in selling him, which lay uppermost on their minds, and for which they thought themselves brought into all this trouble; wherefore he could no longer conceal himself from them, but makes himself known unto them, which is the principal subject of the following chapter.


Genesis 44:34 Parallel Commentaries

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Judah Pleads for Benjamin
32For your servant became surety for the lad to my father, saying, If I bring him not to you, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33Now therefore, I pray you, let your servant abide instead of the lad a slave to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brothers. 34For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil that shall come on my father.

Genesis 44:33 "Now then, please let your servant remain here as my lord's slave in place of the boy, and let the boy return with his brothers.
Genesis 45:1 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, "Have everyone leave my presence!" So there was no one with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers.