Genesis 44:16

Authorized King James Version

And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants: behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
נֹּאמַר֙
What shall we say
to say (used with great latitude)
#2
יְהוּדָ֗ה
And Judah
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
#3
מַה
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
#4
נֹּאמַר֙
What shall we say
to say (used with great latitude)
#5
לַֽאדֹנִ֔י
behold we are my lord's
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
#6
מַה
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
#7
נְּדַבֵּ֖ר
what shall we speak
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
#8
וּמַה
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
#9
נִּצְטַדָּ֑ק
or how shall we clear ourselves
to be (causatively, make) right (in a moral or forensic sense)
#10
הָֽאֱלֹהִ֗ים
God
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
#11
נִמְצָ֥א
hath found out
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
#12
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#13
עֲוֹ֣ן
the iniquity
perversity, i.e., (moral) evil
#14
עֲבָדִים֙
of thy servants
a servant
#15
הִנֶּנּ֤וּ
lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if
#16
עֲבָדִים֙
of thy servants
a servant
#17
לַֽאדֹנִ֔י
behold we are my lord's
sovereign, i.e., controller (human or divine)
#18
גַּ֛ם
both we and he also
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
#19
אֲנַ֕חְנוּ
we
#20
גַּ֛ם
both we and he also
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
#21
אֲשֶׁר
with whom
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
#22
נִמְצָ֥א
hath found out
properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present
#23
הַגָּבִ֖יעַ
the cup
a goblet; by analogy, the calyx of a flower
#24
בְּיָדֽוֹ׃
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

Analysis

The creation and providence theme here intersects with the broader canonical witness to God's character and purposes. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of progressive revelation that finds its culmination in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's consistent character and purposes.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of ancient Near Eastern narrative literature addressing origins and identity shapes this text's meaning. The development from creation to divine election established God's sovereign care over history Understanding a worldview where divine beings actively governed natural and historical processes helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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