Definition: Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this passage from Genesis 44:33. It’s a really important part of the story of Joseph, who becomes incredibly important in ancient Egypt! Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, God is telling Joseph to let a young man named Benjamin (the boy) stay with him instead of him. Let's unpack that a little further: “Now therefore, I pray thee…” – This is a formal way of saying "I ask you now..." It’s like a leader speaking to someone. “…let thy servant abide…” - This means “allow him to stay.” It's giving Joseph a new job and responsibility. "...instead of the lad a bondman to my lord." – This is the key part. "Bondman" was a really low-level, unpaid worker in ancient Egypt. So, this means Joseph is letting Benjamin not be just any old worker, but instead, he’s giving him a job as a servant. "...and let the lad go up with his brethren." - This means that Benjamin will travel with his family and become part of Joseph's household. What's the bigger picture? This story is about God’s plan to protect Joseph. Joseph was a young man who was wrongly accused of stealing, but God decided to use him in a way that would ultimately lead to great things for Israel (the people of Jacob). By letting Benjamin stay with Joseph, God is setting the stage for Joseph's future role as a leader and a witness to the events that will eventually lead to the Exodus from Egypt. In short, it’s about God choosing to use someone, even in a difficult situation, to bring good things into the world. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these parts further? Give you an analogy that relates to this story?