Genesis 44:6 — Word Study
WLCוַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑ם וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
BSAWhen [the steward] overtook themnâsag▸ [servant, attendant, caught up with, reached] he relayeddâbar▸ [spoke, communicated] theseʼêl-leh wordsdâbâr [things, matters] to themʼêl [toward, with, the brothers, the men]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑ם | and he overtook them | Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular, suffix |
| וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר | and he spoke | Verb, Piel, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אֲלֵהֶ֔ם | to them | Preposition, suffix |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| הַדְּבָרִ֖ים | the words | Particle, noun common masculine plural absolute |
| הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ | these | Particle, particle |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them. |
| KJV | ¶ And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. |
| ASV | And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these words. |
| YLT | And he overtaketh them, and speaketh unto them these words, |
| WEB | He overtook them, and he spoke these words to them. |
| BBE | So he overtook them and said these words to them. |
Where they part company is in the translation of the actions of the steward — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main action followed by a direct consequence, indicating a clear sequence of events.
3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbדָבַר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 44:6
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Steward's Encounter with the Brothersgenerated
Genesis 44:6 describes the moment when the steward catches up with Joseph's brothers to relay important words to them. This encounter is part of the larger narrative where the brothers are confronted about the silver cup. The steward's role is crucial as he communicates the master's intentions and concerns, reflecting the ongoing tension in the story.
Cross References
The Key Word — וַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑ם, vai.ya.si.Gemgenerated
The verb נָשַׂג (nasag) is in the Hiphil form, indicating causation or an active sense of reaching or overtaking. It can refer to both physical and metaphorical pursuits, suggesting the idea of catching up or attaining something. The parsing as a sequential imperfect third person masculine singular indicates it is describing an action that is ongoing or incomplete in the narrative context.
This verb implies not just the act of overtaking but also the significance of the steward's role in the story. He is not merely a passive observer; he actively engages with the brothers, communicating the master's words and intentions.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb, וַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑ם (he overtook), governs the sentence, with a following verb phrase וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר (he spoke) that describes what the steward did after overtaking the brothers. The structure indicates a sequence of actions where the overtaking leads directly to the speaking.
The sentence includes a prepositional phrase אֲלֵהֶ֔ם (to them), indicating the direction of the speech, and an object phrase אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֖ים (the words), which clarifies what was communicated.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
In the Septuagint, the steward's actions are rendered with the Greek word αὐτοὺς (them), which aligns with the Hebrew אֲלֵהֶ֔ם. This choice emphasizes the direct communication from the steward to the brothers.
The use of εἶπεν (he said) for וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר shows a straightforward translation of the action of speaking, maintaining the focus on the steward's role in conveying the master's message.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 44:6 tells us that the steward caught up with Joseph's brothers and spoke to them. This moment is crucial as it shows the steward's role in communicating the master's words about the silver cup, highlighting the tension in their situation.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that the steward caught up with the brothers, indicating urgency and the importance of the message he was about to deliver.
He relayed words concerning the situation with the silver cup, which was critical to the ongoing narrative.
The steward acts as a messenger, bridging the gap between Joseph and his brothers, and his actions drive the narrative forward.
This verse is part of the unfolding drama where Joseph tests his brothers, and the steward's communication is key to revealing their guilt and the truth of their situation.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What does the steward's action of overtaking the brothers reveal about his character and role in the story?
- How do the words communicated by the steward impact the brothers' understanding of their situation?
- In what ways can we see parallels between the steward's communication and how we share important messages today?
- What lessons can we learn from the steward's role in conveying messages in difficult situations?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 44:6 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd he overtook them,.... Their asses being laden with corn could not travel very fast, and he and his attendants being mounted on swift horses: and he spake unto them these same words; that Joseph
Read John Gill on Genesis 44 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. He overtook them, and ... spake ... these ... words.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 44 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 44:6 And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.Ver. 6. And he spake.]
Read John Trapp on Genesis 44 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them.
He overtook them, and he spoke these words to them.
When the steward overtook them, he relayed these words to them.
When the man overtook them, he spoke these words to them.
Tyndale line
¶ And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words.
And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these words.
And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these words.
And he overtook them, and he spoke to them these same words.
And when he ouertooke them, he sayde those wordes vnto them.
Strictly literal
And he overtook them, and he spoke to them these words.
And he overtaketh them, and speaketh unto them these words,
And he overtakes them, and speaks to them these words,
And he overtook them, and he spoke unto them these same words.
The steward overtook them and spoke these words to them.
From the Latin
He did as he had commanded him. And having overtaken them, he spoke to them the same words.
Simplified
When he caught up with them, he told them what Joseph had said.
So he overtook them and said these words to them.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads: וַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑ם וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃. The Septuagint matches five of the six words but presents them in a different order, while the Samaritan Pentateuch differs by one word, using אליהם instead of אֲלֵהֶ֔ם.
וַֽיַּשִּׂגֵ֑ם וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אֶת־ הַדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
וישׂגם וידבר אליהם את הדברים האלה
1 word differs from the Masoretic Text: אליהם (to)
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 44:6
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
נָשַׂג (nasag) is a Hebrew verb primarily found in the Hiphil form, meaning to reach or overtake. It encompasses a range of meanings including the ability to attain or secure something, as well as the literal act of reaching or taking hold. The entries consistently highlight its figurative use, indicating sufficiency or capability.
[נָשַׂג] vb. only Hiph. reach, overtake
Hiph.
overtake
reach, attain
cause to reach, bring, put
fig. one’s hand has reached, i.e. one is able, or has enough
base
H5381 נָשַׂג only Hiph. reach, overtake
5381 nasag naw-sag'
a primitive root; to reach (literally or
figuratively):--ability, be able, attain (unto), (be able to,
can) get, lay at, put, reach, remove, wax rich, X surely,
(over-)take (hold of, on, upon).
נָשַׂג (na.sag) — to overtake.
1) to reach, overtake, take hold upon
1a) (Hiphil)
1a1) to overtake
1a2) to reach, attain to, cause to reach
1a3) to be able to secure, reach, have enough
Conj | V-Hiphil-ConsecImperf-3ms | Suff — Verb hiphil sequential imperfect third person masculine singular · suffixHc/Vhw3ms/Sp3mp
דָבַר (dabar) is a Hebrew verb primarily meaning 'to speak.' It encompasses a range of actions including declaring, commanding, and conversing. The root suggests a figurative use of words, with some entries noting a rare destructive sense of subduing. Various forms of the verb indicate different nuances, such as speaking with one another or making promises.
[דָבַר] 1142 vb. speak (original mng. dub.)
Qal speak
Niph. reciprocal sense, speak with one another, talk
Pi. speak
Pu. in the day when she may be spoken for
Hithp. speaking this word
Hiph. either leads subject, or puts to flight, fig. for subdues
base
H1696 דָבַר speak (original mng. dub.)
1696 dabar daw-bar'
a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used
figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive
sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune,
declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse,
say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think,
use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: speak.
: speak/tell/command
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: subdue.
: subdue
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
1f) (Hiphil) to lead away, put to flight
דָבַר (da.var) — to speak: promise.
: promise/declare
1) to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing
1a) (Qal) to speak
1b) (Niphal) to speak with one another, talk
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to speak
1c2) to promise
1d) (Pual) to be spoken
1e) (Hithpael) to speak
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vpw3ms
spok (1Ki 7:33).
See SEA, THE MOLTEN.
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHR/Sp3mp
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word
sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
sg. a word, words
sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
base
H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
. sg. a word, words
. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
1697 dabar daw-baw'
from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or
thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X
any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,
cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X
commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +
dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +
eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,
+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,
message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +
please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,
question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,
sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),
somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,
X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,
what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.
see HEBREW for 01696
דָּבָר (da.var) — word.
: word/speech/command
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.
: speaking
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.
: thing/matter
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.
: promised/duty
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.
: deed
Art | N-mp — Particle · noun common masculine plural absoluteHTd/Ncmpa
אֵ֫לֶּה (el-leh) means 'these' and is used in various grammatical contexts, often in apposition to a noun with a pronoun suffix. It can appear with or without the definite article and is sometimes paired with other terms like וְאֵלֶּה (and these). The word conveys a sense of proximity or specification, referring to particular items or people.
אֵ֫לֶּה pr.pl.m. & f. these
in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
with preps.
base
H428 אֵ֫לֶּה these . in appos. to a subst. with a pron. suff. (always without the article)
. repeated, אלה … ואלה, these … those
. with the art. (but only after a subst. determined likewise by the art.)
. with preps.
428 'el-leh ale'-leh
prolonged from 411; these or those:--an- (the) other; one
sort, so, some, such, them, these (same), they, this, those,
thus, which, who(-m).
see HEBREW for 0411
אֵ֫לֶּה (el.leh) — these.
1) these
1a) used before antecedent
1b) used following antecedent
Aramaic equivalent: el.leh (אֵלֶּה "these" H0429)
Art | Pron — Particle · particleHTd/Tm