Genesis 44:17
Arabic Bible ERV 2009
فَقالَ يُوسُفُ: «لَيسَ مِنْ شِيمِي أنْ أفْعَلَ هَذا! فَالرَّجُلُ الَّذِي وُجِدَتِ الكَأْسُ فِي حَوْزَتِهِ هُوَ فَقَطْ يَكُونُ عَبْداً لِي. أمّا بَقِيَّتُكُمْ، فَيُمْكِنُكُمْ أنْ تَذْهَبُوا بِسَلامٍ إلَى أبِيكُمْ.»
What Does This Mean?
In this verse, Joseph is speaking to his brothers and saying that whoever is found with the cup will become his servant, and the rest can go home in peace to their father. The key message is about justice and mercy.
Explained for Children
Imagine you're playing hide-and-seek, and someone hides a special toy in the room. If you find it on someone, they have to be the one who hides next time, but everyone else gets to go home safely. That's what Joseph is saying here.
Historical Background
The book of Genesis was written by Moses around 1446-1406 B.C. This part of the story describes events that happened around 1800-1650 B.C. The audience was the Israelites, and the setting was the household of Joseph in Egypt, where he was a high-ranking official.
Living It Out Today
Today, when we face situations where someone in our group makes a mistake, we can show fairness by making sure only the person who did the wrong thing faces the consequences, while the rest of the group remains unaffected.
Topics
justicemercyfamilyhonestyconsequencesforgiveness
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is speaking in Genesis 44:17?
Joseph is speaking to his brothers, enforcing the rule about the missing cup.
Why does Joseph make only the guilty person a servant?
Joseph's decision to make only the person who stole the cup a servant reflects a sense of justice and fairness, showing that he does not punish the innocent along with the guilty.
What can we learn from Joseph's words in this verse?
We can learn that justice and mercy should be balanced, punishing only the guilty and allowing others to go in peace, reflecting fairness and wisdom.
How does this verse relate to the theme of forgiveness?
Although not directly about forgiveness, this verse shows Joseph's fairness, setting a stage for later forgiveness towards his brothers when he reveals himself to them.