Discovery BoxGenesis 44:29 
Context44:29 If you take 1 this one from me too and an accident happens to him, then you will bring down my gray hair 2 in tragedy 3 to the grave.’ 4
Genesis 44:31
Context44:31 When he sees the boy is not with us, 5 he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father in sorrow to the grave.
1 tn The construction uses a perfect verbal form with the vav consecutive to introduce the conditional clause and then another perfect verbal form with a vav consecutive to complete the sentence: “if you take…then you will bring down.”
2 sn The expression bring down my gray hair is figurative, using a part for the whole – they would put Jacob in the grave. But the gray head signifies a long life of worry and trouble. See Gen 42:38.
3 tn Heb “evil/calamity.” The term is different than the one used in the otherwise identical statement recorded in v. 31 (see also 42:38).
4 tn Heb “to Sheol,” the dwelling place of the dead.
5 tn Heb “when he sees that there is no boy.”
