Genesis 44:3
New International Version
As morning dawned, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.

New Living Translation
The brothers were up at dawn and were sent on their journey with their loaded donkeys.

English Standard Version
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys.

Berean Standard Bible
At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.

King James Bible
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

New King James Version
As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.

New American Standard Bible
As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys.

NASB 1995
As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys.

NASB 1977
As soon as it was light, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys.

Legacy Standard Bible
As the morning light broke, the men were sent away, they with their donkeys.

Amplified Bible
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.

Christian Standard Bible
At morning light, the men were sent off with their donkeys.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
At morning light, the men were sent off with their donkeys.

American Standard Version
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

Contemporary English Version
Early the next morning, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.

English Revised Version
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
At dawn the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.

Good News Translation
Early in the morning the brothers were sent on their way with their donkeys.

International Standard Version
Early the next morning, the men were sent on their way, along with their donkeys.

Majority Standard Bible
At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys.

NET Bible
When morning came, the men and their donkeys were sent off.

New Heart English Bible
As soon as the morning dawned, the men were sent off along with their donkeys.

Webster's Bible Translation
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they, and their asses.

World English Bible
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their donkeys.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
The morning is bright, and the men have been sent away, they and their donkeys—

Young's Literal Translation
The morning is bright, and the men have been sent away, they and their asses --

Smith's Literal Translation
The morning shone, and the men were sent away, they and their asses.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the morning arose, they were sent away with their asses.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when morning arose, they were sent away with their donkeys.

New American Bible
At daybreak the men and their donkeys were sent off.

New Revised Standard Version
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away with their donkeys.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
As soon as the morning was light, the men started on their way, together with their asses.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And when it was dawn, the men had started to go, they and their donkeys.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The morning dawned, and the men were sent away, they and their asses.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Benjamin and the Silver Cup
2Put my cup, the silver one, in the mouth of the youngest one’s sack, along with the silver for his grain.” So the steward did as Joseph had instructed. 3At daybreak, the men were sent on their way with their donkeys. 4They had not gone far from the city when Joseph told his steward, “Pursue the men at once, and when you overtake them, ask, ‘Why have you repaid good with evil?…

Cross References
Genesis 42:25
Then Joseph gave orders to fill their bags with grain, to return each man’s silver to his sack, and to give them provisions for their journey. This order was carried out,

Genesis 43:16
When Joseph saw Benjamin with his brothers, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house. Slaughter an animal and prepare it, for they shall dine with me at noon.”

Genesis 43:24
And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.

Genesis 45:1-2
Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!” So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. / But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it.

Genesis 42:27-28
At the place where they lodged for the night, one of them opened his sack to get feed for his donkey, and he saw his silver in the mouth of the sack. / “My silver has been returned!” he said to his brothers. “It is here in my sack.” Their hearts sank, and trembling, they turned to one another and said, “What is this that God has done to us?”

Genesis 43:2
So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”

Genesis 45:14-15
Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced. / Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.

Genesis 50:17-18
‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. / His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”

Exodus 12:35-36
Furthermore, the Israelites acted on Moses’ word and asked the Egyptians for articles of silver and gold, and for clothing. / And the LORD gave the people such favor in the sight of the Egyptians that they granted their request. In this way they plundered the Egyptians.

1 Kings 3:16-28
At that time two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. / One woman said, “Please, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth while she was in the house. / On the third day after I gave birth, this woman also had a baby. We were alone, with no one in the house but the two of us. ...

2 Kings 5:23
But Naaman insisted, “Please, take two talents.” And he urged Gehazi to accept them. Then he tied up two talents of silver in two bags along with two sets of clothing and gave them to two of his servants, who carried them ahead of Gehazi.

Matthew 5:39-42
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also; / if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well; / and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. ...

Matthew 6:19-21
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. / But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. / For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 25:14-30
For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. / To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. / The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. ...

Luke 6:30-38
Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. / Do to others as you would have them do to you. / If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ...


Treasury of Scripture

As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses.

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Asses Bright Dawn Dawned Donkeys Light Morning Soon Way
Genesis 44
1. Joseph's policy to stay his brothers.
6. The silver cup is found in Benjamin's sack.
14. They are brought before Joseph.
18. Judah's humble supplication to Joseph.














As morning dawned
This phrase signifies a new beginning, a fresh start, and the unfolding of God's plan. In the Hebrew context, "morning" (בֹּקֶר, boqer) often symbolizes hope and renewal. The dawning of the morning in this narrative marks a pivotal moment in Joseph's dealings with his brothers. It is a reminder of God's mercies, which are "new every morning" (Lamentations 3:23), and sets the stage for the unfolding of divine providence.

the men
Referring to Joseph's brothers, this phrase highlights their role in the unfolding drama. These men, the sons of Jacob, are central figures in the narrative of Israel's history. Their journey is not just physical but also spiritual, as they are unknowingly part of God's redemptive plan. Historically, these men represent the twelve tribes of Israel, and their actions have far-reaching implications for the future of God's chosen people.

were sent on their way
This phrase indicates a deliberate action, suggesting that their departure was orchestrated. In the Hebrew text, the verb "sent" (שָׁלַח, shalach) often implies a mission or purpose. Joseph, acting under divine wisdom, sends his brothers away, setting in motion a series of events that will lead to reconciliation and the fulfillment of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

with their donkeys
The mention of donkeys is not merely a detail of transportation but carries deeper significance. In ancient Near Eastern culture, donkeys were valuable assets, symbolizing wealth and status. The brothers' departure with their donkeys underscores their return to normalcy after the famine-driven journey to Egypt. It also foreshadows the impending test Joseph has set for them, as the donkeys will soon carry the grain and the silver cup that will catalyze the next phase of God's plan.

Verses 3-5. - As soon as the morning was light (literally, the morning became bright), the men (literally, and the men) were sent away, they and their asses. That Joseph did not make himself known to his brothers at the repast was not due to unnatural callousness which caused his heart to remain cold and steeled (Kalisch), or to a fear lest he should thereby destroy the character of his mission which made him the medium of retribution for his brothers (Kalisch), but to the fact that in his judgment either his brothers had not been sufficiently tested, or the time did not appear convenient for the disclosure of his secret. And when they were gone out of the city (literally, they went forth out of the city), and not yet far off (literally, they had not gone far), Joseph (literally, and Joseph) said unto his steward (or man over his house), Up, follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them (literally, and overtake them, and say to them), Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good? The interpolation at this point of the words, "Why did you steal my silver goblet?" (LXX., Vulgate, Syriac) is superfluous. Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth? - literally, and divining he divineth, or maketh trial, in it, the verb נָחַשׁ (from which is derived nachash, a serpent: vide Genesis 3:1) originally signifying to hiss or whisper, and hence to mutter incantations, to practice ophiomancy, and generally to divine. The special form of divination here referred to (κυλικομαντεία, or divining out of cups) was practiced by the ancient Egyptians (Hengstenberg's 'Egypt and the Books of Moses,' p. 39). "Small pieces of gold or silver, together with precious stones, marked with strange figures and signs, were thrown into the vessel; after which certain incantations were pronounced, and the evil demon was invoked; the latter was then supposed to give the answer either by intelligible words, or by pointing to some of the characters on the precious stones, or in some other more mysterious manner. Sometimes the goblet was filled with pure water, upon which the sun was allowed to play; and the figures which were thus formed, or which a lively imagination fancied it saw, were interpreted as the desired omen" (Kalisch). Traces of this ancient practice of soothsaying have been detected by some writers in the magnificent vase of turquoise belonging to Jam-shoed, the Solomon of Persia. Like Merlin's cup, described by Spenser ('Faery Queens,' 3:2, 19) -

"It vertue had to show in perfect sight
Whatever thing was in the world contained
Betwixt the lowest earth and heven's hight,
So that it to the looker appertaynd."
A similar account is given by Homer of the cup of Nestor; and Alexander the Great is reported to have possessed a mystic goblet of a like kind. It is said that in the storming of Seringapatam the unfortunate Tippeo Saib retired to gaze on his divining cup, and that after standing awhile absorbed in it he returned to the fight and fell (vide Kitto's 'Cyclopedia,' art. Divination). Ye have done evil in so doing.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
At daybreak,
הַבֹּ֖קֶר (hab·bō·qer)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1242: Dawn, morning

the men
וְהָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים (wə·hā·’ă·nā·šîm)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

were sent on their way
שֻׁלְּח֔וּ (šul·lə·ḥū)
Verb - Pual - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

with their donkeys.
וַחֲמֹרֵיהֶֽם׃ (wa·ḥă·mō·rê·hem)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 2543: A male ass


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OT Law: Genesis 44:3 As soon as the morning was light (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 44:2
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