Definition: Then Judah came near unto him, and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou [art] even as Pharaoh.

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Genesis 44:18. It’s a really important passage about a young man named Judah being in the presence of God and pleading with him to help him. Here’s what it means in simple terms: The Basic Situation: Judah is in trouble: Judah, a man from Judah (a tribe in Israel), was captured by Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. This meant he was being held captive and facing a difficult situation. He's begging for help: He’s desperately pleading with God to speak to Pharaoh and prevent his anger from burning against him. Let’s unpack the details: “Then Judah came near unto him…” – This means Judah was approaching or seeking God's presence. “…and said, Oh my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord’s ears…” - He’s speaking to God as if he were asking him to directly communicate with him. He’s hoping for a direct message from God. "...and let not thine anger burn against thy servant: for thou [art] even as Pharaoh." – This is the crucial part. It's saying that God is feeling very angry at Pharaoh. The word “even as” means "like" or "as." So, God is feeling just as angry as Pharaoh does. He’s expressing that Pharaoh's anger is a significant problem for God. Overall Meaning: Judah is in a precarious situation where he’s being treated unfairly by Pharaoh, and his suffering is causing God to feel deeply troubled. He's begging for a way to stop Pharaoh from punishing him unjustly. It highlights the idea of divine justice – that God will ultimately deliver those who are wronged. Why it’s significant: This verse shows how God can be involved in even the most difficult situations and that His presence is powerful enough to intervene. It's a moment where God is actively listening and responding to Judah’s plea. --- Do you want me to: Explain any of these points further? Connect it to a larger story or theme in the Bible? Give you another verse from Genesis 44?