Judah makes his final appeal that he be allowed to take Benjamin’s place and remain as a slave. Judah’s willingness to take the place of Benjamin in order to spare Jacob’s life is clear evidence that a genuine change of heart has taken place. Joseph is about to be overcome again by emotion.

Now therefore, let your servant, I pray you … lord: for Now therefore see verse 30. Judah’s appeal expresses a consequence of all that he has said. “Therefore…,” “For these reasons…,” “Because of all I have said, I beg you, sir, to allow me to take the boy’s place and become your slave.”

Let the lad go back with his brothers: that is, “Let the boy go home with his brothers.”

Another way of translating Judah’s request is “Sir, I am prepared to stay here. I am prepared to take his place and be your slave. Please let him go back with my brothers.” In some languages it is more natural to make the request about Benjamin first: “Please let this boy go back with his brothers. I will take his place. I will be a prisoner and do all your hard work.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .