Genesis 47:25
Context47:25 They replied, “You have saved our lives! You are showing us favor, 1 and we will be Pharaoh’s slaves.” 2
Genesis 44:16-17
Context44:16 Judah replied, “What can we say 3 to my lord? What can we speak? How can we clear ourselves? 4 God has exposed the sin of your servants! 5 We are now my lord’s slaves, we and the one in whose possession the cup was found.”
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 6 you may go back 7 to your father in peace.”


[47:25] 1 tn Heb “we find favor in the eyes of my lord.” Some interpret this as a request, “may we find favor in the eyes of my lord.”
[47:25] 2 sn Slaves. See the note on this word in v. 21.
[44:16] 3 tn The imperfect verbal form here indicates the subject’s potential.
[44:16] 4 tn The Hitpael form of the verb צָדֵק (tsadeq) here means “to prove ourselves just, to declare ourselves righteous, to prove our innocence.”
[44:16] 5 sn God has exposed the sin of your servants. The first three questions are rhetorical; Judah is stating that there is nothing they can say to clear themselves. He therefore must conclude that they have been found guilty.
[44:17] 5 tn The words “the rest of” have been supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[44:17] 6 tn Heb “up” (reflecting directions from their point of view – “up” to Canaan; “down” to Egypt).