Genesis 9:7

9:7 But as for you, ¹  be fruitful and multiply; increase abundantly on the earth and multiply on it.”

Genesis 26:27

26:27 Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me? You hate me ²  and sent me away from you.”

Genesis 42:19

42:19 If you are honest men, leave one of your brothers confined here in prison ³  while the rest of you go ⁴  and take grain back for your hungry families. ⁵ 

Genesis 44:10

44:10 He replied, “You have suggested your own punishment! ⁶  The one who has it will become my slave, ⁷  but the rest of ⁸  you will go free.” ⁹ 

Genesis 50:20

50:20 As for you, you meant to harm me, ¹⁰  but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day. ¹¹ 

Genesis 42:16

42:16 One of you must go and get ¹²  your brother, while ¹³  the rest of you remain in prison. ¹⁴  In this way your words may be tested to see if ¹⁵  you are telling the truth. ¹⁶  If not, then, as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”

Genesis 44:17

44:17 But Joseph said, “Far be it from me to do this! The man in whose hand the cup was found will become my slave, but the rest of ¹⁷  you may go back ¹⁸  to your father in peace.”

¹ sn The disjunctive clause (conjunction + pronominal subject + verb) here indicates a strong contrast to what has preceded. Against the backdrop of the warnings about taking life, God now instructs the people to produce life, using terms reminiscent of the mandate given to Adam (Gen 1:28).

² tn The disjunctive clause is circumstantial, expressing the reason for his question.

³ tn Heb “bound in the house of your prison.”

⁴ tn The disjunctive clause is circumstantial-temporal.

⁵ tn Heb “[for] the hunger of your households.”

⁴ tn Heb “Also now, according to your words, so it is.” As the next statement indicates, this does mean that he will do exactly as they say. He does agree with them the culprit should be punished, but not as harshly as they suggest. Furthermore, the innocent parties will not be punished.

⁵ tn Heb “The one with whom it is found will become my slave.”

⁶ tn The words “the rest of” have been supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

⁷ tn The Hebrew word נָקִי (naqi) means “acquitted,” that is, free of guilt and the responsibility for it.

⁵ tn Heb “you devised against me evil.”

⁶ tn Heb “God devised it for good in order to do, like this day, to preserve alive a great nation.”

⁶ tn Heb “send from you one and let him take.” After the imperative, the prefixed verbal form with prefixed vav (ו) indicates purpose.

⁷ tn The disjunctive clause is here circumstantial-temporal.

⁸ tn Heb “bound.”

⁹ tn The words “to see” have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

¹⁰ tn Heb “the truth [is] with you.”

⁷ tn The words “the rest of” have been supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

⁸ tn Heb “up” (reflecting directions from their point of view – “up” to Canaan; “down” to Egypt).