So certain are the brothers of their innocence that they are willing to have the culprit killed and the rest made slaves.

With whomever of your servants it be found, let him die: that is, “If you find the cup with any one of us, that person should die [be killed]” or “Let them kill the one of us who has that cup.”

And we also will be my lord’s slaves: that is, “and the rest of us will be your slaves, sir.” Many languages require changing my lord’s to “your.”

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 .