And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:
Read it in contextJoseph's Brothers Come to Egypt and Are Tested
Start reading at Genesis 42:1 (Genesis 42:1 to Genesis 42:38).
The narrative unit begins with Jacob sending his sons to Egypt and concludes with Jacob's initial refusal to send Benjamin, encompassing the first encounter between Joseph and his brothers.
42:1Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another?
42:2And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die.
42:3And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt.
42:4But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him.
42:5And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
42:6And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.
42:7And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
42:8And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
42:9And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
42:10And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.
42:11We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.
42:12And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
42:13And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.
42:14And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
42:15Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
42:16Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
42:17And he put them all together into ward three days.
42:18And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:
42:19If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:
42:20But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
42:21And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
42:22And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
42:23And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.
42:24And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.
42:25Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he unto them.
42:26And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.
42:27And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.
42:28And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack: and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us?
42:29And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,
42:30The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.
42:31And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:
42:32We be twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.
42:33And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:
42:34And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.
42:35And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
42:36And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
42:37And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.
42:38And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
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Who
Who wrote the book? Moses is the traditional Jewish and Christian author of Genesis as part of the Pentateuch. Genesis itself does not explicitly identify its writer. Biblical references: John 5:46; Mark 12:26. Historical source: Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 14b–15a (record of Jewish attribution, not contemporary proof). traditionally held
Who was present or being addressed in this passage? In the surrounding chapter context (Genesis 42:1–44:34): Joseph deals with his brothers in Egypt while Jacob remains involved in the family's decisions in Canaan. The brothers do not initially recognize Joseph. stated in the text
Who was the book written to? Israel, the covenant people descended from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were the first community for whom this account of their origins was preserved. An exact first circulation date or named recipient is not established. Biblical references: Genesis 12:1; Genesis 17:7; Genesis 35:10. book background
What
What is the main event or theme? Joseph, as the governor of Egypt, tests his brothers who have come to buy corn, stating that his actions are guided by his fear of God. The brothers begin to acknowledge their guilt concerning Joseph.
What is God revealing? God is revealing His providential hand in Joseph's life, using Joseph's position to test and ultimately reconcile with his family, and demonstrating Joseph's continued fear of God even in power.
What is the literary style? The literary style of Genesis is narrative history.
When
When was it written? The book of Genesis was written approximately 1440 to 1400 B.C.
When does the event take place? This event takes place during a severe famine in the land of Canaan, after Joseph had become governor over all the land of Egypt, and after he had been in Egypt for many years.
Where
Where did it happen? The events described in this passage happened in Egypt, where Joseph was governor.
Where was the author located? The author, Moses, was located in the Wilderness of Sinai when the book was written.
Where does the context start?
This passage sits in Joseph's Brothers Come to Egypt and Are Tested (Genesis 42:1 to Genesis 42:38).
Start reading at Genesis 42:1. The narrative unit begins with Jacob sending his sons to Egypt and concludes with Jacob's initial refusal to send Benjamin, encompassing the first encounter between Joseph and his brothers.
How
How does it fit the broader context? This passage initiates Joseph's plan to test his brothers and bring Benjamin to Egypt, setting the stage for the full revelation of Joseph's identity and the eventual reunion and relocation of Jacob's entire family to Egypt, which is central to God's covenant plan. interpretation
How does it point to Christ? Joseph, having been rejected by his brethren, rises to a position of authority and becomes the means of their preservation and reconciliation, acting out of a fear of God. This foreshadows Christ, who, though rejected by His own, was exalted by God and became the source of life and salvation for His people. interpretation
How do I apply it today? Joseph's declaration, 'I fear God,' demonstrates that even in positions of power, one's actions should be guided by reverence for God, leading to justice tempered with mercy. Believers today are called to live righteously and mercifully, knowing that God sees and judges all actions. interpretation
What Scripture saysThe book does not name its author. Elsewhere Scripture attributes the Law to Moses, and Jesus calls it the book of Moses. Exodus 17:14Joshua 8:31Mark 12:26John 5:46
Early traditionJewish tradition (Talmud, Baba Bathra 14b) and the early church assign the first five books to Moses.
What is debatedSome scholars propose several later sources behind the Pentateuch. A few notes appear to be written after Moses, such as the list of kings in Genesis 36:31.
Stephen summarizes a long history. His summary should not be mistaken for a verse-by-verse duplicate or used to erase details that require further study.
Cross references from CrossReferences-org (CC BY 4.0).
Macro-Structure
See how this passage fits the chapter and the book.
Macro-Structure of Genesis 42
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Genesis introduces creation, the nations, and the ancestral family of Israel. It does not name a recipient or give a composition date. Read the promises to named people in their narrated settings before applying them to later readers. Local headings and stanza divisions are editorial reading aids adapted from public-domain BSB headings; verse boundaries and Scripture links use the KJV. Connections describe the surrounding book movement.
Connection to the wholeThis opening unit introduces the chapter’s movement. Joseph's experiences lead to the preservation of Jacob's family in Egypt. The book closes with confidence about a future return, preparing the setting of Exodus.
Connection to the wholeThis unit closes the chapter’s selected reading divisions. Joseph's experiences lead to the preservation of Jacob's family in Egypt. The book closes with confidence about a future return, preparing the setting of Exodus.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.
Macro-Structure of Genesis
Prefilled outline, not yet reviewed.
Genesis introduces creation, the nations, and the ancestral family of Israel. It does not name a recipient or give a composition date. Read the promises to named people in their narrated settings before applying them to later readers.
Connection to the wholeThe opening establishes God as Creator, describes human rebellion and its consequences, and traces the nations before narrowing the account to Abram's family.
Connection to the wholeThe narrative concentrates on God's promises to Abraham, the birth of Isaac, and the continuation of the family through whom the earlier promise is carried forward.
Connection to the wholeFamily rivalry, journeys, marriages, and reconciliation develop the promised line while also recording the related family of Esau.
Connection to the wholeJoseph's experiences lead to the preservation of Jacob's family in Egypt. The book closes with confidence about a future return, preparing the setting of Exodus.
interpretation
Suggested literary divisions. Headings summarize the passage; they are not part of the biblical text.