The brothers ask rather than simply deny in order to express their genuine bewilderment at the accusation and to emphasize the incongruity between their demonstrated honesty and this charge. The interrogative form allows them to challenge the premise of the accusation while showing deference to authority through the respectful address ‘my lord.’

The brothers did not receive an immediate verbal answer to their question. Instead, they proceeded to declare their innocence by proposing that if the cup were found with any of them, that person should die and the rest become slaves (Genesis 44:9). The steward modified their terms, stating only the guilty party would become a slave while the others went free (Genesis 44:10).

The brothers’ question expresses genuine shock and moral outrage at being accused of theft after their conspicuous honesty. The interrogative form ‘Why does my lord speak such words?’ challenges the very premise of the accusation while maintaining respectful protocol through the honorific ‘my lord.’ The Hebrew chalilah (translated ‘God forbid’ or ‘far be it’) appears throughout Scripture to express moral impossibility, something completely contrary to one’s character or God’s nature. By asking rather than simply declaring their innocence, the brothers invite the steward to reconsider his charge in light of their demonstrated integrity; they had, after all, returned the money found in their sacks on the previous journey. The question format allows them to defend themselves while still showing deference to Egyptian authority. Yet the irony is profound: they protest an accusation of stealing silver while remaining guilty of the far greater crime of selling their own brother. Their genuine bewilderment at being falsely accused will soon be eclipsed by the revelation of their actual guilt, demonstrating how God’s providence uses even false charges to bring about true confession and reconciliation.