Fear – Leviticus

Each of you must respect (yârêʼ)[1] his mother and his father, and you must keep my Sabbaths.  I am the Lord your God.[2]  The Rabbis who translated the Septuagint chose φοβείσθω, a form of φοβέω[3] (fear, put to flight).[4]  The note in the NET reads: “Heb ‘A man his mother and his father you [plural] shall fear.’ The LXX, Syriac, Vulgate, and certain Targum mss reverse the order, ‘his father and his mother.’ The term ‘fear’ is subject to misunderstanding by the modern reader, so ‘respect’ has been used in the translation. Cf. NAB, NRSV ‘revere’; NASB ‘reverence’.”

Honor your father and your mother, that you may live a long time in the land the Lord your God is giving to you,[5] the law reads in Exodus.  And in Deuteronomy it reads, Honor your father and your mother just as the Lord your God has commanded you to do, so that your days may be extended and that it may go well with you in the land that he is about to give you.[6]  Respect may be the best translation of yârêʼ in Leviticus 19:3.  Still, at the risk of being a modern reader misunderstanding the text, I would like to spend a moment to consider why someone under the law might actually fear his mother and father (Deuteronomy 21:18-21 NET).

If a person has a stubborn, rebellious son who pays no attention to his father or mother, and they discipline him to no avail, his father and mother must seize him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his city.  They must declare to the elders of his city, “Our son is stubborn and rebellious and pays no attention to what we say – he is a glutton and drunkard.”  Then all the men of his city must stone him to death.  In this way you will purge out wickedness from among you, and all Israel will hear about it and be afraid (yârêʼ).

The quip from Bill Cosby’s father—“I brought you in this world, and I can take you out”[7]—was legally true in Israel.  This is law; this is how it works.  It is about purging out wickedness by removing the evildoer from society, by stoning the lawbreaker to death in this case, so all Israel will hear about it and be afraidAfraid was translated φοβηθήσονται, a form of φοβέω[8] in the Septuagint.  The law is all about punishment and the fear of punishment.  The goal of punishment, particularly capital punishment, is to instill fear into the unrighteous in the hope that they will abide by the law.  This is the righteousness of the law.  It is the best of all possible worlds as far as law is concerned.

The other occurrences of yârêʼ in Leviticus are formulaic.  There is a law associated with fearing God (or his sanctuary):

Reference

Law

yârêʼ (fear)

Septuagint

Leviticus 19:14 (NET) You must not curse a deaf person or put a stumbling block in front of a blind person. You must fear (yârêʼ) your God; I am the Lord. φοβηθήσῃ, a form of φοβέω[9]
Leviticus 19:30 (NET) You must keep my Sabbaths… …and fear (yârê) my sanctuary.  I am the Lord. φοβηθήσεσθε, a form of φοβέω[10]
Leviticus 19:32 (NET) You must stand up in the presence of the aged, honor the presence of an elder… …and fear (yârêʼ) your God.  I am the Lord. φοβηθήσῃ, a form of φοβέω
Leviticus 25:17 (NET) No one is to oppress his fellow citizen… …but you must fear (yârêʼ) your God, because I am the Lord your God. φοβηθήσῃ, a form of φοβέω
Leviticus 25:36 (NET) Do not take interest or profit from him… …but you must fear (yârêʼ) your God and your brother must live with you. φοβηθήσῃ, a form of φοβέω
Leviticus 25:43 (NET) You must not rule over him harshly… …but you must fear (yârêʼ) your God. φοβηθήσῃ, a form of φοβέω
Leviticus 26:2 (NET) You must keep my Sabbaths… …and reverence (yârê) my sanctuary.  I am the Lord. φοβηθήσεσθε, a form of φοβέω

One should demonstrate his fear of God not by running away but by 1) not cursing a deaf person or putting a stumbling block in front of a blind person; 2) keeping the Sabbaths; 3) standing up and honoring the presence of an elder; 4) not oppressing a fellow citizen; 5) not taking interest or profiting from him; and 6) not ruling over him harshly.  Combined with the fear of punishment for noncompliance it is not too difficult to see how fearing God came to mean obeying his laws.

Jesus used this formula Himself:

Reference

Law

Fear God

Matthew 10:28 (NET) Do not be afraid (φοβεῖσθε, a form of φοβέω) of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear (φοβεῖσθε, a form of φοβέω) the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Luke 12:4, 5 (NET) I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid (φοβηθῆτε, a form of φοβέω) of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do. But I will warn you whom you should fear (φοβηθῆτε, a form of φοβέω): Fear (φοβήθητε, a form of φοβέω) the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear (φοβήθητε, a form of φοβέω) him!

But Jesus added something to this formula, a reason not to fear; namely, our value to God our Father.

Law

Fear God

Don’t Fear God

Do not be afraid (φοβεῖσθε, a form of φοβέω) of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Matthew 10:28a (NET)

Instead, fear (φοβεῖσθε, a form of φοβέω) the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28b (NET)

Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  Even all the hairs on your head are numbered.  So do not be afraid (φοβεῖσθε, a form of φοβέω); you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31 (NET)

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid (φοβηθῆτε, a form of φοβέω) of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do.

Luke 12:4 (NET)

But I will warn you whom you should fear (φοβηθῆτε, a form of φοβέω): Fear (φοβήθητε, a form of φοβέω) the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear (φοβήθητε, a form of φοβέω)   him!

Luke 12:5 (NET)

Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.  In fact, even   the hairs on your head are all numbered.  Do not be afraid (φοβεῖσθε, a form of φοβέω); you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Luke 12:6, 7 (NET)

God’s love, the Apostle John’s shorthand for what Paul called the fruit of the Spirit, not merely for us but in us, transforms our fear of God into reverence and worship for Him.

Law

Fear God

Don’t Fear God

Love

Do not be afraid (φοβεῖσθε, a form of φοβέω) of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Matthew 10:28a (NET)

Instead, fear (φοβεῖσθε, a form of φοβέω) the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28b (NET)

Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  Even all the hairs on your head are numbered.  So do not be afraid (φοβεῖσθε, a form of φοβέω); you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:29-31 (NET)

And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us.  God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him.

1 John 4:16 (NET) Table

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid (φοβηθῆτε, a form of φοβέω) of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do.

Luke 12:4 (NET)

But I will warn you whom you should fear (φοβηθῆτε, a form of φοβέω): Fear (φοβήθητε, a form of φοβέω) the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear (φοβήθητε, a form of φοβέω) him!

Luke 12:5 (NET)

Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies?  Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.  In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered.  Do not be afraid (φοβεῖσθε, a form of φοβέω); you are more valuable than many sparrows.

Luke 12:6, 7 (NET)

There is no fear (φόβος)[11] in love, but perfect love drives out fear (φόβον, a form of φόβος), because fear (φόβος) has to do with punishment (κόλασιν, a form of κόλασις).[12]  The one who fears (φοβούμενος, a form of φοβέω) punishment has not been perfected in love.

1 John 4:18 (NET)

He made the one who did not know (γνόντα, a form of γινώσκω)[13] sin[14]  Yahweh became flesh as Jesus and then Jesus did not need anyone to testify about man, for he knew (ἐγίνωσκεν, another form of γινώσκω) what was in man.[15] God made the one who did not know (γνόντα, a form of γινώσκω)[16] sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God.[17]  The Father has a different attitude toward us who have been reconciled to Him through Jesus/Yahweh: Do not be afraid (φοβοῦ, a form of φοβέω), little flock, Jesus said, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.[18]  We love, John concluded, because he loved us first.[19]  By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.[20]

It’s not wrong to look back and superimpose this kind of reverence upon fear in the law.  God was still love, even as Yahweh gave the law to Moses.  David seemed to grasp thisDo not reject me! He prayed.  Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me!  Let me again experience the joy of your deliverance!  Sustain me by giving me the desire to obey![21]

What is wrong is for me to pretend that I got here by obeying the law.  That would make me a false witness.[22]  Compared to that betrayal Judas’ kiss would seem like passion, and Peter’s denial like words of truth.  It is such a profound taking of the Lord’s name in vain[23] it makes the hapless soul who uses the name “Jesus!” as an expletive sound like a preacher of righteousness by comparison.  Are there any fires in any hell hot enough for me if I were to pretend such a thing?

Actually, yes, and I think it’s quite easy to see.  If Jesus said, depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness![24] and took his Holy Spirit from me, I might last for a moment or two out of habit.  But soon enough, hurt, angry, I would revert to the sinner I am apart from God’s credited righteousness, the fruit of his Spirit.  I’ve been judged and found wanting by two wives, (three if you count my high school girlfriend) and sent on my way.  But to be rejected by Love Himself would be unendurable apart from Him.  I would become both the spark and the fuel of the fire, and wherever I am would become hell.  And if you were anywhere near me when that happened, it would not go well for you.

Let’s face it, you were hard to love and difficult to forgive when I believed that I was loved and forgiven by God.  How do you expect to fare when I no longer receive a continuous infusion of his love, his joy, his peace, his patience, his kindness, his goodness, his faithfulness, his gentleness, and his self-control?[25]  What will become of you when I am under no obligation and have no incentive to forgive you?  I’m likely to conclude that you are the cause of all my misery and treat you accordingly.  That sounds like Garcin’s epiphany in Sartre’s play No Exit, “Hell is other people.”[26]


[2] Leviticus 19:3 (NET)

[5] Exodus 20:12 (NET) Table

[6] Deuteronomy 5:16 (NET)

[14] 2 Corinthians 5:21a (NET)

[15] John 2:25 (NET)

[17] 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NET)

[18] Luke 12:32 (NET)

[19] 1 John 4:19 (NET)

[20] 1 John 4:17 (NET)

[21] Psalm 51:11, 12 (NET) Table1 Table2

[24] Matthew 7:23 (NKJV)

[25] Galatians 5:22, 23 (NET)

Fear – Genesis, Part 7

The grain Joseph’s brothers brought back from Egypt didn’t outlast the famine.  “Return, buy us a little more food,” their father said.  But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’  If you send our brother [Joseph’s younger brother Benjamin] with us, we’ll go down and buy food for you.  But if you will not send him, we won’t go down there because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’”1

At first Jacob (also called Israel by God) remained reluctant.  When Judah reminded him how the Egyptian [their brother Joseph] had questioned them, and promised to be surety for Benjamin, their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man – a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.  Take double the money with you; you must take back the money that was returned in the mouths of your sacks – perhaps it was an oversight.”2  This reminds me of the strategy Jacob employed when he returned home and met his estranged brother Esau.3

But Israel continued, Take your brother too, and go right away to the man.  May the sovereign God grant you mercy before the man so that he may release your other brother and Benjamin!  As for me, if I lose my children I lose them.”4

You are making me childless!  Jacob had complained to his sonsJoseph is gone.  Simeon is gone.  And now you want to take Benjamin!  Everything is against me.5  But Israel was willing to trust the sovereign God with the outcome.  Yes, they are the same man, but it reminds me of those born of the flesh of Adam and born from above of the Spirit of God.  For the flesh has desires that are opposed to the Spirit, and the Spirit has desires that are opposed to the flesh, Paul wrote the Galatians, for these are in opposition to each other, so that you cannot do what you want.6

Joseph’s brothers returned with Benjamin to Egypt.  When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the servant who was over his household, “Bring the men to the house.  Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon.”  The man did just as Joseph said; he brought the men into Joseph’s house.7  Joseph invited his brothers to a meal, but the men were afraid (yārē’, וַיִּֽירְא֣וּ) when they were brought to Joseph’s house.  They said, “We are being brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks last time.  He wants to capture us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys!”8 As far as I can tell the rabbis who translated the Septuagint left this particular fear out of their Greek translation.

Joseph’s brothers approached the man who was in charge of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.  They said, “My lord, we did indeed come down the first time to buy food.  But when we came to the place where we spent the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found his money – the full amount – in the mouth of his sack.  So we have returned it.  We have brought additional money with us to buy food.  We do not know who put the money in our sacks!”9

“Everything is fine,” the man in charge of Joseph’s household told them.  “Don’t be afraid (yârêʼ, תִּירָ֗אוּ).  Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks.  I had your money.”  Then he brought Simeon out to them.10  In Greek in the Septuagint afraid was φοβεῖσθε (a form of φοβέω).  Do not be afraid (φοβεῖσθε) of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, Jesus told his disciples.  Instead, fear11 (φοβεῖσθε) the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.12  Jesus was sending them to their deaths.  That sounds ominous, but Jesus is sending all of us to our deaths whether we believe Him or not.  One may die a martyr serving the Savior, another may choke out his last breath from advanced emphysema or heart failure or a brain tumor, but (with the possible exception of those alive and trusting Christ at the time of His return) we are all going to die, or sleep as the New Testament writers seemed to prefer to call it.

The one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell is either God the Father, or the Lord Jesus Himself if I take his teaching literally:  For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he does, and will show him greater deeds than these, so that you will be amazed.  For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes.  Furthermore, the Father does not judge anyone, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, so that all people will honor the Son just as they honor the Father.  The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him [Table].13 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me [Table], Jesus said.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit [Table], teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age [Table].14

So Matthew 10:28 contains a New Testament occurrence of the fear of the Lord.  It’s also a no-win scenario for Bible translators.  The first part of Jesus’ statement is fairly clear:  Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Jesus doesn’t want his followers to be terrified into fleeing from, or struck with fear by, those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  He doesn’t want that fear to stop one from believing or even professing faith in Him.

Still there are other definitions of φοβεῖσθε listed in the NET online Bible.  There may be plenty of good reason to be “startled by strange sights or occurrences,” “struck with amazement,” even “to fear” or “be afraid of one” posing some irrational threat of violence.  It is wise at times “to fear (i.e. hesitate) to do something (for fear of harm).”  It is necessary for conscience’ sake “to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience” those in authority, even those who would kill the body for professing faith in Jesus Christ.  And the negation in this quotation is μὴ, the qualified as opposed to the absolute negation according to Strong’s Concordance.

Instead, fear the one who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell,15 Jesus continued.  It is fairly obvious that Jesus was not telling his disciples to flee in terror from Him, but to “reverence, venerate, to treat [Him] with deference or reverential obedience.”  Of course if the translators had translated φοβεῖσθε reverence here, I might have complained that they were obscuring the fact that both words were φοβεῖσθε.  Jesus made his point perfectly clear as He continued, Aren’t two sparrows sold for a penny?  Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will.  Even all the hairs on your head are numbered.  So do not be afraid16 (φοβεῖσθε); you are more valuable than many sparrows.17  And again, the negation is μὴ, the qualified as opposed to the absolute negation so as not to conflict with the command to fear or reverence Him.

Up to this point in the story Joseph’s brothers feared God’s punishmentSurely we’re being punished because of our brother, they had said to one another, because we saw how distressed he was when he cried to us for mercy, but we refused to listen.  That is why this distress has come on us!18  But I think something changed in them after everything they’d been through, when Joseph’s steward said:  Don’t be afraidYour God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks.19

So that day they ate and drank with Joseph until they all became drunk.20  But Joseph still didn’t reveal his identity.  In fact, he tormented them again.  He had his servant return all their money in their sacks, and hide the cup he used for divination in Benjamin’s sack.  They had not gone very far from the city when Joseph said to the servant who was over his household, “Pursue the men at once!  When you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?’”21  This time, however, the brothers were indignant rather than fearful.

“Why does my lord say such things?  Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!  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?  If one of us has it, he will die, and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves!”22

“You have suggested your own punishment!” Joseph’s servant replied.  “The one who has it will become my slave, but the rest of you will go free.”23  This, I think, is the tipoff to Joseph’s plan.  His servant knew Joseph wanted Benjamin alive even though he had no suspicion why.  Joseph, after seeing Benjamin, had to leave the room again, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears.24  And Joseph knew the famine would continue, for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting,25 he said.  By arresting Benjamin Joseph could both spend time with him and guarantee his brothers’ return for more grain.  But his brothers upended his scheme.

When Joseph’s servant found the divination cup exactly where he had placed it in Benjamin’s sack, his brothers did not abandon their younger sibling to his fate.  They all tore their clothes!  [a sign of mourning or repentance]  Then each man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.26

 

Addendum: September 3, 2025
Tables comparing Genesis 43:2; 43:3; 43:4; 43:5; 43:11; 43:12; 43:13; 43:16; 43:17; 43:18; 43:19; 43:20; 43:21; 43:22; 43:23; 43:34; 44:4; 44:7; 44:8; 44:9; 44:10; 43:30; 45:6 and 44:13 in the Tanakh, KJV and NET, and comparing the Greek of Genesis 43:2 (43:1); 43:3 (43:2); 43:4 (43:3); 43:5 (43:4); 43:11 (43:10); 43:12 (43:11); 43:13 (43:12); 43:16 (43:15); 43:17 (43:16); 43:18 (43:17); 43:19 (43:18); 43:20 (43:19); 43:21 (43:20); 43:22 (43:21); 43:23 (43:22); 43:34 (43:33); 44:4; 44:7; 44:8; 44:9; 44:10; 43:30 (43:29); 45:6 and 44:13 in the Septuagint (BLB and Elpenor), and a table comparing Matthew 10:31 in the NET and KJV follow.

Genesis 43:2 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:2 (KJV)

Genesis 43:2 (NET)

And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said unto them: ‘Go again, buy us a little food.’ And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. When they finished eating the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Return, buy us a little more food.”

Genesis 43:2 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:1 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα συνετέλεσαν καταφαγεῖν τὸν σῖτον ὃν ἤνεγκαν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῶν πάλιν πορευθέντες πρίασθε ἡμῖν μικρὰ βρώματα ΕΓΕΝΕΤΟ δὲ ἡνίκα συνετέλεσαν καταφαγεῖν τὸν σῖτον, ὃν ἤνεγκαν ἐξ Αἰγύπτου, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῶν· πάλιν πορευθέντες πρίασθε ἡμῖν μικρὰ βρώματα

Genesis 43:2 (NETS)

Genesis 43:1 (English Elpenor)

And it came about when they had finished eating up the grain that they had brought from Egypt, that then their father said to them, “Again go purchase a few provisions for us.” And it came to pass, when they had finished eating the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, that their father said to them, Go again; buy us a little food.

Genesis 43:3 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:3 (KJV)

Genesis 43:3 (NET)

And Judah spoke unto him, saying: ‘The man did earnestly forewarn us, saying: Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’

Genesis 43:3 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:2 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἶπεν δὲ αὐτῷ Ιουδας λέγων διαμαρτυρίᾳ διαμεμαρτύρηται ἡμῖν ὁ ἄνθρωπος λέγων οὐκ ὄψεσθε τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἐὰν μὴ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὑμῶν ὁ νεώτερος μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν ᾖ εἶπε δὲ αὐτῷ ᾿Ιούδας λέγων· διαμαρτυρίᾳ μεμαρτύρηται ἡμῖν ὁ ἄνθρωπος κύριος τῆς γῆς λέγων· οὐκ ὄψεσθε τὸ πρόσωπόν μου, ἐὰν μὴ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὑμῶν ὁ νεώτερος μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν ᾖ·

Genesis 43:3 (NETS)

Genesis 43:2 (English Elpenor)

But Ioudas spoke to him, saying, “With a solemn declaration the man has solemnly declared to us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your younger brother be with you.’ And Judas spoke to him, saying, The man, the lord of the country, positively testified to us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, unless your younger brother be with you.

Genesis 43:4 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:4 (KJV)

Genesis 43:4 (NET)

If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food; If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food: If you send our brother with us, we’ll go down and buy food for you.

Genesis 43:4 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:3 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἰ μὲν οὖν ἀποστέλλεις τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν καταβησόμεθα καὶ ἀγοράσωμέν σοι βρώματα εἰ μὲν οὖν ἀποστέλλῃς τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν, καταβησόμεθα, καὶ ἀγοράσομέν σοι βρώματα

Genesis 43:4 (NETS)

Genesis 43:3 (English Elpenor)

If, therefore, you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you provisions, If, then, thou send our brother with us, we will go down, and buy thee food;

Genesis 43:5 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:5 (KJV)

Genesis 43:5 (NET)

but if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down, for the man said unto us: Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you.’ But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. But if you will not send him, we won’t go down there because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’”

Genesis 43:5 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἰ δὲ μὴ ἀποστέλλεις τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν μεθ᾽ ἡμῶν οὐ πορευσόμεθα ὁ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος εἶπεν ἡμῖν λέγων οὐκ ὄψεσθέ μου τὸ πρόσωπον ἐὰν μὴ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὑμῶν ὁ νεώτερος μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν ᾖ εἰ δὲ μὴ ἀποστέλλῃς τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἡμῶν μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν, οὐ πορευσόμεθα. ὁ γὰρ ἄνθρωπος εἶπεν ἡμῖν, λέγων· οὐκ ὄψεσθέ μου τὸ πρόσωπον, ἐὰν μὴ ὁ ἀδελφὸς ὑμῶν ὁ νεώτερος μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν ᾖ

Genesis 43:5 (NETS)

Genesis 43:4 (English Elpenor)

but if you do not send our brother with us, we will not go, for the man spoke to us, saying, ‘You shall not see my face unless your younger brother be with you.’” but if thou send not our brother with us, we will not go: for the man spoke to us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, unless your younger brother be with you.

Genesis 43:11 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:11 (KJV)

Genesis 43:11 (NET)

And their father Israel said unto them: ‘If it be so now, do this: take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and ladanum, nuts, and almonds; And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this; take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spices, and myrrh, nuts, and almonds: Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take some of the best products of the land in your bags, and take a gift down to the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.

Genesis 43:11 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἶπεν δὲ αὐτοῖς Ισραηλ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῶν εἰ οὕτως ἐστίν τοῦτο ποιήσατε λάβετε ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν τῆς γῆς ἐν τοῖς ἀγγείοις ὑμῶν καὶ καταγάγετε τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ δῶρα τῆς ῥητίνης καὶ τοῦ μέλιτος θυμίαμα καὶ στακτὴν καὶ τερέμινθον καὶ κάρυα εἶπε δὲ αὐτοῖς ᾿Ισραὴλ ὁ πατὴρ αὐτῶν· εἰ οὕτως ἐστί, τοῦτο ποιήσατε· λάβετε ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν τῆς γῆς ἐν τοῖς ἀγγείοις ὑμῶν καὶ καταγάγετε τῷ ἀνθρώπῳ δῶρα τῆς ρητίνης καὶ τοῦ μέλιτος, θυμίαμά τε καὶ στακτὴν καὶ τερέβινθον καὶ κάρυα

Genesis 43:11 (NETS)

Genesis 43:10 (English Elpenor)

Then their father Israel said to them, “If it is so, do this: take some of the fruits of the land in your containers, and bring down presents to the man, some pine resin and some honey, incense and oil and myrrh and terebinth and nuts. And Israel, their father, said to them, If it be so, do this; take of the fruits of the earth in your vessels, and carry down to the man presents of gum and honey, and frankincense, and stacte, and turpentine, and walnuts.

Genesis 43:12 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:12 (KJV)

Genesis 43:12 (NET)

and take double money in your hand; and the money that was returned in the mouth of your sacks carry back in your hand; peradventure it was an oversight; 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: Take double the money with you; you must take back the money that was returned in the mouths of your sacks—perhaps it was an oversight.

Genesis 43:12 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:11 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον δισσὸν λάβετε ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ὑμῶν τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ ἀποστραφὲν ἐν τοῖς μαρσίπποις ὑμῶν ἀποστρέψατε μεθ᾽ ὑμῶν μήποτε ἀγνόημά ἐστιν καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον δισσὸν λάβετε ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ὑμῶν· καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ ἀποστραφὲν ἐν τοῖς μαρσίπποις ὑμῶν ἀποστρέψατε μεθ᾿ ὑμῶν· μή ποτε ἀγνόημά ἐστι

Genesis 43:12 (NETS)

Genesis 43:11 (English Elpenor)

And take twice the money in your hands; bring back with you that money that was returned in your bags; perhaps it is a mistake. And take double money in your hands, and the money that was returned in your sacks, carry back with you, lest peradventure it is a mistake.

Genesis 43:13 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:13 (KJV)

Genesis 43:13 (NET)

take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man; Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man: Take your brother too, and go right away to the man.

Genesis 43:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:12 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν ὑμῶν λάβετε καὶ ἀναστάντες κατάβητε πρὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον καὶ τὸν ἀδελφὸν ὑμῶν λάβετε καὶ ἀναστάντες κατάβητε πρὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον

Genesis 43:13 (NETS)

Genesis 43:12 (English Elpenor)

Take your brother also and rise, go down to the man. And take your brother; and arise, go down to the man.

Genesis 43:16 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:16 (KJV)

Genesis 43:16 (NET)

And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house: ‘Bring the men into the house, and kill the beasts, and prepare the meat; for the men shall dine with me at noon.’ And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for these men shall dine with me at noon. When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the servant who was over his household, “Bring the men to the house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon.”

Genesis 43:16 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:15 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἶδεν δὲ Ιωσηφ αὐτοὺς καὶ τὸν Βενιαμιν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν ὁμομήτριον καὶ εἶπεν τῷ ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ εἰσάγαγε τοὺς ἀνθρώπους εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν καὶ σφάξον θύματα καὶ ἑτοίμασον μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ γὰρ φάγονται οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἄρτους τὴν μεσημβρίαν εἶδε δὲ ᾿Ιωσὴφ αὐτοὺς καὶ τὸν Βενιαμὶν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ τὸν ὁμομήτριον καὶ εἶπε τῷ ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ· εἰσάγαγε τοὺς ἀνθρώπους εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν καὶ σφάξον θύματα καὶ ἑτοίμασον· μετ᾿ ἐμοῦ γὰρ φάγονται οἱ ἄνθρωποι ἄρτους τὴν μεσημβρίαν

Genesis 43:16 (NETS)

Genesis 43:15 (English Elpenor)

And Ioseph saw them and his brother Beniamin, and he said to the one in charge of his household, “Bring the men in to the house, and slaughter animals, and make ready, for the men shall eat bread loaves with me during the noon hour.” And Joseph saw them and his brother Benjamin, born of the same mother; and he said to the steward of his household, Bring the men into the house, and slay beasts and make ready, for the men are to eat bread with me at noon.

Genesis 43:17 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:17 (KJV)

Genesis 43:17 (NET)

And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. The man did just as Joseph said; he brought the men into Joseph’s house.

Genesis 43:17 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:16 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐποίησεν δὲ ὁ ἄνθρωπος καθὰ εἶπεν Ιωσηφ καὶ εἰσήγαγεν τοὺς ἀνθρώπους εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ιωσηφ ἐποίησε δὲ ὁ ἄνθρωπος, καθὰ εἶπεν ᾿Ιωσήφ, καὶ εἰσήγαγε τοὺς ἀνθρώπους εἰς τὸν οἶκον ᾿Ιωσήφ

Genesis 43:17 (NETS)

Genesis 43:16 (English Elpenor)

And the man did just as Ioseph said, and he brought the men in to the house of Ioseph. And the man did as Joseph said; and he brought the men into the house of Joseph.

Genesis 43:18 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:18 (KJV)

Genesis 43:18 (NET)

And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said: ‘Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses.’ And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us, and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. But the men were afraid when they were brought to Joseph’s house. They said, “We are being brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks last time. He wants to capture us, make us slaves, and take our donkeys!”

Genesis 43:18 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:17 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ ἄνθρωποι ὅτι εἰσήχθησαν εἰς τὸν οἶκον Ιωσηφ εἶπαν διὰ τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ ἀποστραφὲν ἐν τοῖς μαρσίπποις ἡμῶν τὴν ἀρχὴν ἡμεῖς εἰσαγόμεθα τοῦ συκοφαντῆσαι ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐπιθέσθαι ἡμῖν τοῦ λαβεῖν ἡμᾶς εἰς παῖδας καὶ τοὺς ὄνους ἡμῶν ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ ἄνδρες ὅτι εἰσήχθησαν εἰς τὸν οἶκον τοῦ ᾿Ιωσήφ, εἶπαν· διὰ τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ ἀποστραφὲν ἐν τοῖς μαρσίπποις ἡμῶν τὴν ἀρχὴν ἡμεῖς εἰσαγόμεθα τοῦ συκοφαντῆσαι ἡμᾶς καὶ ἐπιθέσθαι ἡμῖν τοῦ λαβεῖν ἡμᾶς εἰς παῖδας καὶ τοὺς ὄνους ἡμῶν

Genesis 43:18 (NETS)

Genesis 43:17 (English Elpenor)

Now when the men saw that they were brought in to Ioseph’s house, they said, “Because of the money that was returned in our bags at first we are being brought in so that he may accuse us falsely and set upon us, to take us as slaves with our donkeys.” And the men, when they perceived that they were brought into the house of Joseph, said, We are brought in because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first; even in order to inform against us, and lay it to our charge; to take us for servants, and our asses.

Genesis 43:19 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:19 (KJV)

Genesis 43:19 (NET)

And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they spoke unto him at the door of the house, And they came near to the steward of Joseph’s house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, So they approached the man who was in charge of Joseph’s household and spoke to him at the entrance to the house.

Genesis 43:19 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:18 (Septuagint Elpenor)

προσελθόντες δὲ πρὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ οἴκου Ιωσηφ ἐλάλησαν αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ πυλῶνι τοῦ οἴκου προσελθόντες δὲ πρὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον τὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ ᾿Ιωσὴφ ἐλάλησαν αὐτῷ ἐν τῷ πυλῶνι τοῦ οἴκου

Genesis 43:19 (NETS)

Genesis 43:18 (English Elpenor)

And going to the man who was in charge of Ioseph’s house, they spoke with him in the gateway of the house, And having approached the man who was over the house of Joseph, they spoke to him in the porch of the house,

Genesis 43:20 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:20 (KJV)

Genesis 43:20 (NET)

and said: ‘Oh my lord, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food. And said, O sir, we came indeed down at the first time to buy food: They said, “My lord, we did indeed come down the first time to buy food.

Genesis 43:20 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:19 (Septuagint Elpenor)

λέγοντες δεόμεθα κύριε κατέβημεν τὴν ἀρχὴν πρίασθαι βρώματα λέγοντες· δεόμεθα, κύριε, κατέβημεν τὴν ἀρχὴν πρίασθαι βρώματα

Genesis 43:20 (NETS)

Genesis 43:19 (English Elpenor)

saying, “We plead, lord; we came down at first to purchase provisions. saying, We pray [thee], Sir; we came down at first to buy food.

Genesis 43:21 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:21 (KJV)

Genesis 43:21 (NET)

And it came to pass, when we came to the lodging-place, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight; and we have brought it back in our hand. And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man’s money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. But when we came to the place where we spent the night, we opened our sacks and each of us found his money—the full amount—in the mouth of his sack. So we have returned it.

Genesis 43:21 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:20 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα ἤλθομεν εἰς τὸ καταλῦσαι καὶ ἠνοίξαμεν τοὺς μαρσίππους ἡμῶν καὶ τόδε τὸ ἀργύριον ἑκάστου ἐν τῷ μαρσίππῳ αὐτοῦ τὸ ἀργύριον ἡμῶν ἐν σταθμῷ ἀπεστρέψαμεν νῦν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ἡμῶν ἐγένετο δὲ ἡνίκα ἤλθομεν εἰς τὸ καταλῦσαι καὶ ἠνοίξαμεν τοὺς μαρσίππους ἡμῶν, καὶ τόδε τὸ ἀργύριον ἑκάστου ἐν τῷ μαρσίππῳ αὐτοῦ· τὸ ἀργύριον ἡμῶν ἐν σταθμῷ ἀπεστρέψαμεν νῦν ἐν ταῖς χερσὶν ἡμῶν

Genesis 43:21 (NETS)

Genesis 43:20 (English Elpenor)

Now it came about when we came to the lodging and opened our bags, that then there was the money of each one in his bag! Our money by weight we have now brought back in our hands, And it came to pass, when we came to unlade, and opened our sacks, [there was] also this money of each in his sack; we have now brought back our money by weight in our hands.

Genesis 43:22 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:22 (KJV)

Genesis 43:22 (NET)

And other money have we brought down in our hand to buy food. We know not who put our money in our sacks.’ And other money have we brought down in our hands to buy food: we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. We have brought additional money with us to buy food. We do not know who put the money in our sacks!”

Genesis 43:22 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:21 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ ἀργύριον ἕτερον ἠνέγκαμεν μεθ᾽ ἑαυτῶν ἀγοράσαι βρώματα οὐκ οἴδαμεν τίς ἐνέβαλεν τὸ ἀργύριον εἰς τοὺς μαρσίππους ἡμῶν καὶ ἀργύριον ἕτερον ἠνέγκαμεν μεθ᾿ ἑαυτῶν ἀγοράσαι βρώματα· οὐκ οἴδαμεν, τίς ἐνέβαλε τὸ ἀργύριον εἰς τοὺς μαρσίππους ἡμῶν

Genesis 43:22 (NETS)

Genesis 43:21 (English Elpenor)

and we have brought with ourselves other money to buy provisions. We do not know who put our money into our bags.” And we have brought other money with us to buy food; we know not who put the money into our sacks.

Genesis 43:23 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:23 (KJV)

Genesis 43:23 (NET)

And he said: ‘Peace be to you, fear not; your G-d, and the G-d of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.’ And he brought Simeon out unto them. And he said, Peace be to you, fear not: your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money. And he brought Simeon out unto them. “Everything is fine,” the man in charge of Joseph’s household told them. “Don’t be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has given you treasure in your sacks. I had your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

Genesis 43:23 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:22 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἶπεν δὲ αὐτοῖς ἵλεως ὑμῖν μὴ φοβεῖσθε ὁ θεὸς ὑμῶν καὶ ὁ θεὸς τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν τοῖς μαρσίπποις ὑμῶν τὸ δὲ ἀργύριον ὑμῶν εὐδοκιμοῦν ἀπέχω καὶ ἐξήγαγεν πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸν Συμεων εἶπε δὲ αὐτοῖς· ἵλεως ὑμῖν, μὴ φοβεῖσθε· ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῶν καὶ ὁ Θεὸς τῶν πατέρων ὑμῶν ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν θησαυροὺς ἐν τοῖς μαρσίπποις ὑμῶν, καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον ὑμῶν εὐδοκιμοῦν ἀπέχω. καὶ ἐξήγαγε πρὸς αὐτοὺς τὸν Συμεὼν

Genesis 43:23 (NETS)

Genesis 43:22 (English Elpenor)

But he said to them, “May he be gracious to you; do not be afraid; your God and the God of your fathers gave you treasures in your bags, but I have your good money in full.” And he brought Symeon out to them. And he said to them, [God deal] mercifully with you; be not afraid; your God, and the God of your fathers, has given you treasures in your sacks, and I have enough of your good money. And he brought Symeon out to them.

Genesis 43:34 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:34 (KJV)

Genesis 43:34 (NET)

And portions were taken unto them from before him; but Benjamin’s portion was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him. And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin’s mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him. He gave them portions of the food set before him, but the portion for Benjamin was five times greater than the portions for any of the others. They drank with Joseph until they all became drunk.

Genesis 43:34 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:33 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἦραν δὲ μερίδας παρ᾽ αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτούς ἐμεγαλύνθη δὲ ἡ μερὶς Βενιαμιν παρὰ τὰς μερίδας πάντων πενταπλασίως πρὸς τὰς ἐκείνων ἔπιον δὲ καὶ ἐμεθύσθησαν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ ᾖραν δὲ μερίδας παρ᾿ αὐτοῦ πρὸς αὐτούς· ἐμεγαλύνθη δὲ ἡ μερὶς Βενιαμὶν παρὰ τὰς μερίδας πάντων πενταπλασίως πρὸς τὰς ἐκείνων, ἔπιον δὲ καὶ ἐμεθύσθησαν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ

Genesis 43:34 (NETS)

Genesis 43:33 (English Elpenor)

And they carried portions to them from him, but Beniamin’s portion was magnified beyond the portions of all, five-fold in comparison to the ones of those. And they drank and became intoxicated with him. And they took their portions from him to themselves; but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as the portions of [the others]. And they drank and were filled with drink with him.

Genesis 44:4 (Tanakh)

Genesis 44:4 (KJV)

Genesis 44:4 (NET)

And when they were gone out of the city, and were not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward: ‘Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them: Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? They had not gone very far from the city when Joseph said to the servant who was over his household, “Pursue the men at once! When you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?

Genesis 44:4, 5a (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 44:4 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐξελθόντων δὲ αὐτῶν τὴν πόλιν οὐκ ἀπέσχον μακράν καὶ Ιωσηφ εἶπεν τῷ ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ ἀναστὰς ἐπιδίωξον ὀπίσω τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ καταλήμψῃ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐρεῖς αὐτοῖς τί ὅτι ἀνταπεδώκατε πονηρὰ ἀντὶ καλῶν (44:5a) ἵνα τί ἐκλέψατέ μου τὸ κόνδυ τὸ ἀργυροῦν ἐξελθόντων δὲ αὐτῶν τὴν πόλιν, οὐκ ἀπέσχον μακράν, καὶ ᾿Ιωσὴφ εἶπε τῷ ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκίας αὐτοῦ· ἀναστὰς ἐπιδίωξον ὀπίσω τῶν ἀνθρώπων καὶ καταλήψῃ αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐρεῖς αὐτοῖς· τί ὅτι ἀνταπεδώκατε πονηρὰ ἀντὶ καλῶν; ἱνατί ἐκλέψατέ μου τὸ κόνδυ τὸ ἀργυροῦν

Genesis 44:4 (NETS)

Genesis 44:4, 5a (English Elpenor)

Now when they had gone from the city, they were not far off, and Ioseph said to the one in charge of his household, “Rise, pursue after the men, and you shall overtake them and say to them, ‘Why is it that you returned evil for good? Why did you steal my silver cup? And when they had gone out of the city, [and] were not far off, then Joseph said to his steward, Arise, and pursue after the men; and thou shalt overtake them, and say to them, Why have ye returned evil for good? (5a) Why have ye stolen my silver cup?

Genesis 44:7 (Tanakh)

Genesis 44:7 (KJV)

Genesis 44:7 (NET)

And they said unto him: ‘Wherefore speaketh my lord such words as these? Far be it from thy servants that they should do such a thing. And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing: They answered him, “Why does my lord say such things? Far be it from your servants to do such a thing!

Genesis 44:7 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 44:7 (Septuagint Elpenor)

οἱ δὲ εἶπον αὐτῷ ἵνα τί λαλεῖ ὁ κύριος κατὰ τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα μὴ γένοιτο τοῖς παισίν σου ποιῆσαι κατὰ τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦτο οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ· ἱνατί λαλεῖ ὁ κύριος κατὰ τὰ ρήματα ταῦτα; μὴ γένοιτο τοῖς παισί σου ποιῆσαι κατὰ τὸ ρῆμα τοῦτο

Genesis 44:7 (NETS)

Genesis 44:7 (English Elpenor)

Then they said to him, “Why does our lord speak according to these words? Heaven forbid for your servants to do according to this word! And they said to him, Why does our lord speak according to these words? far be it from thy servants to do according to this word.

Genesis 44:8 (Tanakh)

Genesis 44:8 (KJV)

Genesis 44:8 (NET)

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? 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? 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?

Genesis 44:8 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 44:8 (Septuagint Elpenor)

εἰ τὸ μὲν ἀργύριον ὃ εὕρομεν ἐν τοῖς μαρσίπποις ἡμῶν ἀπεστρέψαμεν πρὸς σὲ ἐκ γῆς Χανααν πῶς ἂν κλέψαιμεν ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ κυρίου σου ἀργύριον ἢ χρυσίον εἰ τὸ μὲν ἀργύριον, ὁ εὕρομεν ἐν τοῖς μαρσίπποις ἡμῶν, ἀπεστρέψαμεν πρὸς σὲ ἐκ γῆς Χαναάν, πῶς ἂν κλέψαιμεν ἐκ τοῦ οἴκου τοῦ κυρίου σου ἀργύριον ἢ χρυσίον

Genesis 44:8 (NETS)

Genesis 44:8 (English Elpenor)

If indeed the money that we found in our bags we brought back to you from the land of Chanaan, how would we steal silver or gold from your lord’s house? 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?

Genesis 44:9 (Tanakh)

Genesis 44:9 (KJV)

Genesis 44:9 (NET)

With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen.’ With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen. If one of us has it, he will die, and the rest of us will become my lord’s slaves!”

Genesis 44:9 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 44:9 (Septuagint Elpenor)

παρ᾽ ᾧ ἂν εὑρεθῇ τὸ κόνδυ τῶν παίδων σου ἀποθνῃσκέτω καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ ἐσόμεθα παῖδες τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν παρ᾿ ᾧ ἂν εὕρῃς τὸ κόνδυ τῶν παίδων σου, ἀποθνησκέτω· καὶ ἡμεῖς δὲ ἐσόμεθα παῖδες τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν

Genesis 44:9 (NETS)

Genesis 44:9 (English Elpenor)

As for the one among your servants with whom the cup should be found, let him die, but as for us, we will be slaves to our lord.” With whomsoever of thy servants thou shalt find the cup, let him die; and, moreover, we will be servants to our lord.

Genesis 44:10 (Tanakh)

Genesis 44:10 (KJV)

Genesis 44:10 (NET)

And he said: ‘Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my bondman; and ye shall be blameless.’ And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. He replied, “You have suggested your own punishment! The one who has it will become my slave, but the rest of you will go free.”

Genesis 44:10 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 44:10 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ὁ δὲ εἶπεν καὶ νῦν ὡς λέγετε οὕτως ἔσται ἄνθρωπος παρ᾽ ᾧ ἂν εὑρεθῇ τὸ κόνδυ αὐτὸς ἔσται μου παῖς ὑμεῖς δὲ ἔσεσθε καθαροί ὁ δὲ εἶπε· καὶ νῦν ὡς λέγετε, οὕτως ἔσται· παρ᾿ ᾧ ἂν εὑρεθῇ τὸ κόνδυ, ἔσται μου παῖς, ὑμεῖς δὲ ἔσεσθε καθαροί

Genesis 44:10 (NETS)

Genesis 44:10 (English Elpenor)

And he said, “Even now, as you say thus it shall be: the one with whom the cup should be found shall be my slave, but as for you, you shall be clear.” And he said, Now then it shall be as ye say; with whomsoever the cup shall be found, he shall be my servant, and ye shall be clear.

Genesis 43:30 (Tanakh)

Genesis 43:30 (KJV)

Genesis 43:30 (NET)

And Joseph made haste; for his heart yearned toward his brother; and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. Joseph hurried out, for he was overcome by affection for his brother and was at the point of tears. So he went to his room and wept there.

Genesis 43:30 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 43:29 (Septuagint Elpenor)

ἐταράχθη δὲ Ιωσηφ συνεστρέφετο γὰρ τὰ ἔντερα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐζήτει κλαῦσαι εἰσελθὼν δὲ εἰς τὸ ταμιεῖον ἔκλαυσεν ἐκεῖ ἐταράχθη δὲ ᾿Ιωσήφ, συνεστρέφετο γὰρ τὰ ἔγκατα αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐζήτει κλαῦσαι· εἰσελθὼν δὲ εἰς τὸ ταμεῖον ἔκλαυσεν ἐκεῖ

Genesis 43:30 (NETS)

Genesis 43:29 (English Elpenor)

Abd Ioseph was troubled, for his insides were twisting up over his brother, and he was seeking to weep. And going into the chamber he wept there. And Joseph was troubled, for his bowels yearned over his brother, and he sought to weep; and he went into his chamber, and wept there.

Genesis 45:6 (Tanakh)

Genesis 45:6 (KJV)

Genesis 45:6 (NET)

For these two years hath the famine been in the land; and there are yet five years, in which there shall be neither plowing nor harvest. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. For these past two years there has been famine in the land and for five more years there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

Genesis 45:6 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 45:6 (Septuagint Elpenor)

τοῦτο γὰρ δεύτερον ἔτος λιμὸς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς καὶ ἔτι λοιπὰ πέντε ἔτη ἐν οἷς οὐκ ἔσται ἀροτρίασις οὐδὲ ἄμητος τοῦτο γὰρ δεύτερον ἔτος λιμὸς ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, καὶ ἔτι λοιπὰ πέντε ἔτη, ἐν οἷς οὐκ ἔστιν ἀροτρίασις οὐδὲ ἄμητος

Genesis 45:6 (NETS)

Genesis 45:6 (English Elpenor)

For famine is on the earth this second year, and there are still five years remaining in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. For this second year there is famine on the earth, and there are yet five years remaining, in which there is to be neither ploughing, nor mowing.

Genesis 44:13 (Tanakh)

Genesis 44:13 (KJV)

Genesis 44:13 (NET)

And they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. They all tore their clothes! Then each man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.

Genesis 44:13 (Septuagint BLB)

Genesis 44:13 (Septuagint Elpenor)

καὶ διέρρηξαν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπέθηκαν ἕκαστος τὸν μάρσιππον αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὸν ὄνον αὐτοῦ καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν καὶ διέρρηξαν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν καὶ ἐπέθηκαν ἕκαστος τὸν μάρσιππον αὐτοῦ ἐπί τὸν ὄνον αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐπέστρεψαν εἰς τὴν πόλιν

Genesis 44:13 (NETS)

Genesis 44:13 (English Elpenor)

And they tore their clothes, and each one put his bag on his donkey, and they returned to the city. And they rent their garments, and laid each man his sack on his ass, and returned to the city.

Matthew 10:31 (Septuagint BLB)

Matthew 10:31 (Septuagint Elpenor)

So do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Matthew 10:31 (Tanakh)

Matthew 10:31 (KJV)

Matthew 10:31 (NET)

μὴ οὖν φοβεῖσθε· πολλῶν στρουθίων διαφέρετε ὑμεῖς μη ουν φοβηθητε πολλων στρουθιων διαφερετε υμεις μη ουν φοβηθητε πολλων στρουθιων διαφερετε υμεις

1 Genesis 43:2b-5 (NET)

2 Genesis 43:11, 12 (NET)

4 Genesis 43:13, 14 (NET)

5 Genesis 42:36 (NET) Table

6 Galatians 5:17 (NET) Table

7 Genesis 43:16, 17 (NET)

8 Genesis 43:18 (NET)

9 Genesis 43:19-22 (NET)

10 Genesis 43:23 (NET)

12 Matthew 10:28 (NET) Table

13 John 5:20-23 (NET)

14 Matthew 28:18-20 (NET)

15 Matthew 10:28b (NET) Table

17 Matthew 10:29-31 (NET)

18 Genesis 42:21 (NET)

19 Genesis 43:23a (NET)

20 Genesis 43:34b (NET)

21 Genesis 44:4 (NET)

22 Genesis 44:7-9 (NET)

23 Genesis 44:10 (NET)

24 Genesis 43:30 (NET)

25 Genesis 45:6 (NET)

26 Genesis 44:13 (NET)