Genesis 44:9Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Douay-RheimsHebrew (Masoretic text)

With whomsoever of thy servants shall be found that which thou seekest, let him die, and we will be the bondmen of my lord.
Douay-Rheims

אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִמָּצֵ֥א אִתּ֛וֹ מֵעֲבָדֶ֖יךָ וָמֵ֑ת וְגַם־אֲנַ֕חְנוּ נִֽהְיֶ֥ה לַֽאדֹנִ֖י לַעֲבָדִֽים׃
Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

If you believe this, then let it be that whoever among your servants possesses the vessel you are searching for, may he perish, for those who would take such a risk would become our slaves. Their strong sense of conscience led them to express themselves with such courage.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.

Gen 31:32But, whereas, thou chargest me with theft: with whomsoever thou shalt find thy gods, let him be slain before our brethren. Search, and if thou find any of thy things with me, take them away. Now when he said this, he knew not that Rachel had stolen the idols.
Acts 25:11For if I have injured them or have committed any thing worthy of death, I refuse not to die. But if there be none of these things whereof they accuse me, no man may deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar.
Gen 44:16And Juda said to him: What shall we answer my lord? or what shall we say, or be able justly to allege? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are all bondmen to my lord, both we, and he with whom the cup was found.
Job 31:38If my land cry against me, and with it the furrows thereof mourn:
Job 31:40Let thistles grow up to me instead of wheat, and thorns instead of barley.
Gen 43:18And they being much afraid, said there one to another: Because of the money, which we carried back the first time in our sacks, we are brought in: that he may bring upon us a false accusation, and by violence make slaves of us and our asses.
Ps 7:3Lest at any time he seize upon my soul like a lion, while there is no one to redeem me, nor to save.
Ps 7:5If I have rendered to them that repaid me evils, let me deservedly fall empty before my enemies.