Genesis 44:8
New International Version
We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found inside the mouths of our sacks. So why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?

New Living Translation
Didn’t we return the money we found in our sacks? We brought it back all the way from the land of Canaan. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?

English Standard Version
Behold, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?

Berean Standard Bible
We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?

King James Bible
Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?

New King James Version
Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?

New American Standard Bible
Behold, the money which we found in the opening of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?

NASB 1995
“Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?

NASB 1977
“Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?

Legacy Standard Bible
Behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?

Amplified Bible
Please remember, the money which we found in the mouths of our sacks we have brought back to you from the land of Canaan. Is it likely then that we would steal silver or gold from your master’s house?

Christian Standard Bible
We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found at the top of our bags. How could we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money we found at the top of our bags. How could we steal gold and silver from your master’s house?

American Standard Version
Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?

Contemporary English Version
We even returned the money we found in our grain sacks when we got back to Canaan. So why would we want to steal any silver or gold from your master's house?

English Revised Version
Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
We brought the money we found in our sacks back from Canaan. So why would we steal any silver or gold from your master's house?

Good News Translation
You know that we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money we found in the top of our sacks. Why then should we steal silver or gold from your master's house?

International Standard Version
Look, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money that we found at the top of our sacks. How, then, could we have stolen silver or gold from your master's palace?

Majority Standard Bible
We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master?s house?

NET Bible
Look, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. Why then would we steal silver or gold from your master's house?

New Heart English Bible
Look, the money that we found in the mouths of our sacks we brought back to you from the land of Canaan. How then could we steal silver or gold from your lord?s house?

Webster's Bible Translation
Behold, the money which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again to thee from the land of Canaan: how then should we steal from thy lord's house silver or gold?

World English Bible
Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks’ mouths, we brought again to you out of the land of Canaan. How then should we steal silver or gold out of your lord’s house?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
behold, the money which we found in the mouth of our bags we brought back to you from the land of Canaan, and how do we steal from the house of your lord silver or gold?

Young's Literal Translation
lo, the money which we found in the mouth of our bags we brought back unto thee from the land of Canaan, and how do we steal from the house of thy lord silver or gold?

Smith's Literal Translation
Behold, the silver which we found in the mouth of our sacks, we turned back to thee from the land of Canaan: and how shall we steal from thy lord's house, silver or gold?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The money, that we found in the top of our sacks, we brought back to thee from the land of Chanaan: how then should it be that we should steal out of thy lord's house, gold or silver?\

Catholic Public Domain Version
The money, which we found at the top of our sacks, we carried back to you from the land of Canaan. So in what way does it follow that we would steal, from the house of your lord, gold or silver?

New American Bible
We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the money that we found in the mouths of our bags. How could we steal silver or gold from your master’s house?

New Revised Standard Version
Look, the money that we found at the top of our sacks, we brought back to you from the land of Canaan; why then would we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Behold, the money which we found in our sacks' mouths we brought back to you from the land of Canaan; how then should we steal from your master's house gold or silver?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Behold the money that we found in the mouth of our sacks we returned it from the land of Canaan; how were we stealing gold or silver from the house of your Lord?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought back unto thee out of the land of Canaan; how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If we brought back to thee out of the land of Chanaan the money which we found in our sacks, how should we steal silver or gold out of the house of thy lord?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Benjamin and the Silver Cup
7“Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing. 8 We even brought back to you from the land of Canaan the silver we found in the mouths of our sacks. Why would we steal silver or gold from your master’s house? 9If any of your servants is found to have it, he must die, and the rest will become slaves of my lord.”…

Cross References
Genesis 42:25-28
Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return each man’s silver to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This order was carried out, / and they loaded the grain on their donkeys and departed. / At the place where they lodged for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of the sack. ...

Genesis 31:32
If you find your gods with anyone here, he shall not live! In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself if anything is yours, and take it back.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the idols.

Genesis 43:12
Take double the silver with you so that you may return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake.

Exodus 20:15
You shall not steal.

Leviticus 19:11
You must not steal. You must not lie or deceive one another.

Deuteronomy 5:19
You shall not steal.

Joshua 7:11-12
Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions. / This is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies. They will turn their backs and run from their enemies, because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you unless you remove from among you whatever is devoted to destruction.

1 Samuel 12:3-5
Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” / “You have not cheated us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.” / Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.

2 Kings 12:15
No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay the workmen, because they acted with integrity.

2 Kings 22:7
But they need not account for the money put into their hands, since they work with integrity.”

Job 31:5-6
If I have walked in falsehood or my foot has rushed to deceit, / let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.

Psalm 15:1-5
A Psalm of David. O LORD, who may abide in Your tent? Who may dwell on Your holy mountain? / He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart, / who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend, ...

Proverbs 20:7
The righteous man walks with integrity; blessed are his children after him.

Isaiah 33:15-16
He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, who refuses gain from extortion, whose hand never takes a bribe, who stops his ears against murderous plots and shuts his eyes tightly against evil— / he will dwell on the heights; the mountain fortress will be his refuge; his food will be provided and his water assured.

Jeremiah 2:35
you say, ‘I am innocent. Surely His anger will turn from me.’ Behold, I will judge you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’


Treasury of Scripture

Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again to you out of the land of Canaan: how then should we steal out of your lord's house silver or gold?

the money.

Genesis 42:21,27,35
And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us…

Genesis 43:12,21,22
And take double money in your hand; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks, carry it again in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight: …

how then.

Genesis 44:7
And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing:

Exodus 20:15
Thou shalt not steal.

Deuteronomy 5:19
Neither shalt thou steal.

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Bags Canaan Found Gold House Inside Lord's Master's Money Mouth Mouths Sacks Silver Steal
Genesis 44
1. Joseph's policy to stay his brothers.
6. The silver cup is found in Benjamin's sack.
14. They are brought before Joseph.
18. Judah's humble supplication to Joseph.














We even brought back to you
This phrase highlights the integrity and honesty of Joseph's brothers. The Hebrew root for "brought back" is "שׁוּב" (shuv), which means to return or restore. This action signifies repentance and a desire to make amends, reflecting a change in the brothers' character from their earlier betrayal of Joseph. It underscores the biblical principle of restitution and the importance of righting wrongs as a demonstration of genuine repentance.

from the land of Canaan
Canaan is the land promised to Abraham and his descendants, a place of both physical and spiritual significance. The mention of Canaan here serves as a reminder of the covenantal promises of God to the patriarchs. It also contrasts the brothers' journey from a place of promise to Egypt, a land of testing and refinement, symbolizing the journey of faith and the trials that often accompany it.

the money we found in the mouths of our sacks
This phrase refers to the previous incident where the brothers discovered their payment for grain returned to them. The Hebrew word for "money" is "כֶּסֶף" (kesef), which also means silver, a valuable commodity. The return of the money was a test of their honesty and integrity. It also foreshadows the theme of divine providence and the mysterious ways God provides for His people, even in times of uncertainty.

Why would we steal silver or gold
The rhetorical question emphasizes the absurdity of the accusation against them. The Hebrew words for "silver" (כֶּסֶף, kesef) and "gold" (זָהָב, zahav) are often associated with wealth and temptation. The brothers' defense highlights their innocence and the transformation in their character. It serves as a reminder of the biblical teaching that integrity and righteousness are more valuable than material wealth.

from your master’s house?
This phrase refers to Joseph, who is in a position of authority in Egypt. The term "master" (אָדוֹן, adon) signifies lordship and authority. The brothers' acknowledgment of Joseph's position reflects their submission and respect for authority, a key biblical principle. It also foreshadows the eventual revelation of Joseph's identity and the fulfillment of God's sovereign plan, demonstrating that God is the ultimate master orchestrating events for His purposes.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
We even brought back
הֱשִׁיבֹ֥נוּ (hĕ·šî·ḇō·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

to you
אֵלֶ֖יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

from the land
מֵאֶ֣רֶץ (mê·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Canaan
כְּנָ֑עַן (kə·nā·‘an)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3667: Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordan

the money
כֶּ֗סֶף (ke·sep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

we found
מָצָ֙אנוּ֙ (mā·ṣā·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

in the mouths
בְּפִ֣י (bə·p̄î)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

of our sacks.
אַמְתְּחֹתֵ֔ינוּ (’am·tə·ḥō·ṯê·nū)
Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 572: Something expansive, a bag

Why
וְאֵ֗יךְ (wə·’êḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 349: How?, how!, where

would we steal
נִגְנֹב֙ (niḡ·nōḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 1589: To thieve, to deceive

gold
זָהָֽב׃ (zā·hāḇ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2091: Gold, something gold-colored, as oil, a clear sky

and
א֥וֹ (’ōw)
Conjunction
Strong's 176: Desire, if

silver
כֶּ֖סֶף (ke·sep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

from your master’s
אֲדֹנֶ֔יךָ (’ă·ḏō·ne·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

house?
מִבֵּ֣ית (mib·bêṯ)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT Law: Genesis 44:8 Behold the money which we found (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 44:7
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