King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And 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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Yosef saw his brothers and recognized them; but he acted toward them as if he were a stranger and spoke harshly with them. He asked them, "Where are you from?" They answered, "From the land of Kena'an to buy food."
Berean Standard Bible:
And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”
American Standard Version:
And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly with them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Joseph{H3130} saw{H7200} his brethren{H251}, and he knew{H5234} them, but made himself strange{H5234} unto them, and spake{H1696} roughly{H7186} unto them; and he said{H559} unto them, Whence{H370} come{H935} ye? And they said{H559}, From the land{H776} of Canaan{H3667} to buy{H7666} food{H400}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Genesis 42:30
- The man, [who is] the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.
Matthew 15:23
- But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Matthew 15:26
- But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs.
Genesis 42:14
- And Joseph said unto them, That [is it] that I spake unto you, saying, Ye [are] spies:
Genesis 42:17
- And he put them all together into ward three days.
Genesis 42:9
- And 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.
Genesis 42:12
- And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
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Commentary for Genesis 42:7
Genesis 42:7 is a pivotal verse in the narrative of Joseph, the favored son of Jacob (also known as Israel), who was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. This verse captures a moment of dramatic tension and recognition within the broader context of a family crisis and famine in the ancient Near East.
The historical context of this verse is set in the era when the Hebrew patriarchs were establishing their families in the land of Canaan, as described in the Book of Genesis. During a severe famine, Joseph's brothers travel to Egypt to buy grain, as Egypt had stored surplus during the years of plenty under Joseph's administration. Joseph, who had been elevated to a high position in Egypt, has the opportunity to confront his brothers, who had betrayed him years earlier.
In Genesis 42:7, Joseph sees his brothers for the first time since his enslavement and recognizes them immediately. However, he chooses to disguise his identity and speaks to them harshly, asking, "Whence come ye?" This rough treatment is part of a complex test to see if his brothers have changed since their act of betrayal. Joseph's estrangement from his brothers is a poignant reflection on themes of betrayal, forgiveness, and divine providence. The verse also touches on the idea of God's guiding hand in human affairs, as Joseph's journey from slavery to power sets the stage for a family reconciliation that will ensure the survival of the Israelites during the famine.
Joseph's question, "Whence come ye?" not only serves to conceal his identity but also prompts the brothers to recount their origins and purpose, which is to secure food for their family. This interaction is the beginning of a longer narrative where Joseph will ultimately reveal himself to his brothers and orchestrate a heartfelt reunion with his father, demonstrating his capacity for mercy and fulfilling his role in the unfolding divine plan.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3130
There are 193 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹסֵף
Transliteration: Yôwçêph
Pronunciation: yo-safe'
Description: future of יָסַף; let him add (or perhaps simply active participle adding); Joseph, the name of seven Israelites; Joseph. Compare יְהוֹסֵף. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - Strong's Number: H251
There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָח
Transliteration: ʼâch
Pronunciation: awkh
Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. - Strong's Number: H5234
There are 47 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָכַר
Transliteration: nâkar
Pronunciation: naw-kar'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to scrutinize, i.e. look intently at; hence (with recognition implied), to acknowledge, be acquainted with, care for, respect, revere, or (with suspicion implied), to disregard, ignore, be strange toward, reject, resign, dissimulate (as if ignorant or disowning); acknowledge, [idiom] could, deliver, discern, dissemble, estrange, feign self to be another, know, take knowledge (notice), perceive, regard, (have) respect, behave (make) self strange(-ly). - Strong's Number: H1696
There are 1050 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָבַר
Transliteration: dâbar
Pronunciation: daw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue; answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, [idiom] well, [idiom] work. - Strong's Number: H7186
There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָשֶׁה
Transliteration: qâsheh
Pronunciation: kaw-sheh'
Description: from קָשָׁה; severe (in various applications); churlish, cruel, grievous, hard((-hearted), thing), heavy, [phrase] impudent, obstinate, prevailed, rough(-ly), sore, sorrowful, stiff(necked), stubborn, [phrase] in trouble. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H370
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַיִן
Transliteration: ʼayin
Pronunciation: ah-yin'
Description: probably identical with אַיִן in the sense of query (compare אִיlemma אי missing vowel, corrected to אִי); where? (only in connection with prepositional prefix, whence); whence, where. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H776
There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֶרֶץ
Transliteration: ʼerets
Pronunciation: eh'-rets
Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world. - Strong's Number: H3667
There are 91 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּנַעַן
Transliteration: Kᵉnaʻan
Pronunciation: ken-ah'-an
Description: from כָּנַע; humiliated; Kenaan, a son a Ham; also the country inhabited by him; Canaan, merchant, traffick. - Strong's Number: H7666
There are 20 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁבַר
Transliteration: shâbar
Pronunciation: shaw-bar'
Description: denominative from שֶׁבֶר; to deal in grain; buy, sell. - Strong's Number: H400
There are 84 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֹכֶל
Transliteration: ʼôkel
Pronunciation: o'-kel
Description: from אָכַל; food; eating, food, meal(-time), meat, prey, victuals.