TRV
Translation
King James Version
And 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.
Complete Jewish Bible
They said, "We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Kena'an; the youngest stayed with our father, and another one is gone."
Berean Standard Bible
But they answered, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”
American Standard Version
And they said, We 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.
World English Bible Messianic
They said, “We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more.”
Geneva Bible (1599)
And they said, We thy seruants are twelue brethren, the sonnes of one man in the lande of Canaan: and beholde, the yongest is this day with our father, and one is not.
Young's Literal Translation
and they say, `Thy servants are twelve brethren; we are sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and lo, the young one is with our father to-day, and the one is not.'
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Commentary on Genesis 42 verses 7–20
7 ¶ 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.
8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
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.
10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.
11 We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.
12 And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.
13 And 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.
14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
16 Send 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.
17 And he put them all together into ward three days.
18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:
19 If 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:
20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.
We may well wonder that Joseph, during the twenty years that he had now been in Egypt, especially during the last seven years that he had been in power there, never sent to his father to acquaint him with his circumstances; nay, it is strange that he who so often went throughout all the land of Egypt (Gen 41:45, Gen 41:46) never made an excursion to Canaan, to visit his aged father, when he was in the borders of Egypt, that lay next to Canaan. Perhaps it would not have been above three or four days' journey for him in his chariot. It is a probable conjecture that his whole management of himself in this affair was by special direction from Heaven, that the purpose of God concerning Jacob and his family might be accomplished. When Joseph's brethren came, he knew them by many a satisfactory token, but they knew not him, little thinking to find him there, Gen 42:8. He remembered the dreams (Gen 42:9), but they had forgotten them. The laying up of God's oracles in our hearts will be of excellent use to us in all our conduct. Joseph had an eye to his dreams, which he knew to be divine, in his carriage towards his brethren, and aimed at the accomplishment of them and the bringing of his brethren to repentance for their former sins; and both these points were gained.
I. He showed himself very rigorous and harsh with them. The very manner of his speaking, considering the post he was in, was enough to frighten them; for he spoke roughly to them, Gen 42:7. He charged them with bad designs against the government (Gen 42:9), treated them as dangerous persons, saying, You are spies, and protesting by the life of Pharaoh that they were so, Gen 42:16. Some make this an oath, others make it no more than a vehement asseveration, like that, as thy soul liveth; however it was more than yea, yea, and nay, nay, and therefore came of evil. Note, Bad words are soon learned by converse with those that use them, but not so soon unlearned. Joseph, by being much at court, got the courtier's oath, By the life of Pharaoh, perhaps designing hereby to confirm his brethren in their belief that he was an Egyptian, and not an Israelite. They knew this was not the language of a son of Abraham. When Peter would prove himself no disciple of Christ, he cursed and swore. Now why was Joseph thus hard upon his brethren? We may be sure it was not from a spirit of revenge, that he might now trample upon those who had formerly trampled upon him; he was not a man of that temper. But, 1. It was to enrich his own dreams, and complete the accomplishment of them. 2. It was to bring them to repentance. 3. It was to get out of them an account of the state of their family, which he longed to know: they would have discovered him if he had asked as a friend, therefore he asks as a judge. Not seeing his brother Benjamin with them, perhaps he began to suspect that they had made away with him too, and therefore gives them occasion to speak of their father and brother. Note, God in his providence sometimes seems harsh with those he loves, and speaks roughly to those for whom yet he has great mercy in store.
II. They, hereupon, were very submissive. They spoke to him with all the respect imaginable: Nay, my lord (Gen 42:10) - a great change since they said, Behold, this dreamer comes. They very modestly deny the charge: We are no spies. They tell him their business, that they came to buy food, a justifiable errand, and the same that many strangers came to Egypt upon at this time. They undertake to give a particular account of themselves and their family (Gen 42:13), and this was what they wanted.
III. He clapped them all up in prison for three days, Gen 42:17. Thus God deals with the souls he designs for special comfort and honour; he first humbles them, and terrifies them, and brings them under a spirit of bondage, and then binds up their wounds by the Spirit of adoption.
IV. He concluded with them, at last, that one of them should be left as a hostage, and the rest should go home and fetch Benjamin. It was a very encouraging word he said to them (Gen 42:18): I fear God; as if he had said, "You may assure yourselves I will do you no wrong; I dare not, for I know that, high as I am, there is one higher than I." Note, With those that fear God we have reason to expect fair dealing. The fear of God will be a check upon those that are in power, to restrain them from abusing their power to oppression and tyranny. Those that have no one else to stand in awe of ought to stand in awe of their own consciences. See Neh 5:15, So did not I, because of the fear of God.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 7–20. Public domain.
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John ChrysostomAD 407
HOMILIES ON GENESIS 64.7
O what duplicity! They included in the number even the one sold to merchants and said not “We were twelve” but “We are twelve; see, the youngest is with our father.” This in fact was what Joseph was anxious to learn, whether or not they had treated their brother in the same way. “See, the youngest is with our father, while the other one is no longer alive.” They did not admit their guilt openly but said simply, “He is no longer alive.” From this he arrived at the suspicion that they had done the same thing to Benjamin as well, and so he replied, “That is what I said to you—you are spies. In fact, you are not to leave here until your youngest brother comes here.” I want to see him, I desire to set my eyes on the one who caused the same birth pangs as I. Actually, I suspect the same hatred for your brother as you displayed toward me. So if you are prepared to, “send one of your number and bring him here to me"; as for yourselves, stay in prison until he arrives. You see, when he arrives he will clear you of all suspicion. If in fact this doesn’t happen, it will be clear that you are spies and have come here for that purpose. With these words “he put them in jail.”
Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Genesis 42:13 captures a moment of profound dramatic irony as Joseph's ten elder brothers, standing before the powerful Egyptian governor whom they do not recognize as their long-lost sibling, declare their family's composition. They state, "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." This confession, delivered in a desperate attempt to prove their innocence against an accusation of espionage, inadvertently provides Joseph with critical information, setting in motion the next phase of his intricate divine plan to reunite his family and bring them to Egypt.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is situated within the larger narrative of Joseph's life, specifically during the global famine that forces his family to seek sustenance in Egypt. Joseph, now the second-in-command, has already encountered his brothers, who bowed before him, unknowingly fulfilling his prophetic dreams from decades prior (Genesis 37:5-11). Joseph, recognizing them immediately, orchestrates a series of tests to humble them and bring about their repentance and the eventual relocation of his entire family to Egypt. Their declaration in Genesis 42:13 is a direct response to Joseph's accusation that they are spies, a charge designed to elicit information about their family and to compel them to bring Benjamin, the youngest brother, to Egypt. This interaction is crucial for advancing the plot towards the family's ultimate reunion and reconciliation.
Historical & Cultural Context: The narrative unfolds during a period of severe famine, a common and devastating occurrence in the ancient Near East, particularly in regions dependent on rainfall and river irrigation like Canaan and Egypt. Egypt, with its reliance on the Nile River and its sophisticated storage systems, was often a refuge during such crises, as evidenced by Joseph's prior preparations (Genesis 41:47-49). The cultural expectation of hospitality and the severe penalties for espionage would have made the brothers' situation precarious, compelling them to offer a detailed account of their family to establish their credibility and peaceful intentions. Their journey from Canaan to Egypt for grain reflects the desperate measures people took to survive, highlighting the widespread impact of the famine and the providential foresight of Joseph's administration.
Key Themes: Genesis 42 contributes significantly to several overarching themes in the book of Genesis. The sovereignty of God is paramount, as Joseph's rise to power and the famine itself are revealed to be part of God's overarching plan to preserve the covenant family and prepare them to become a great nation (Genesis 50:20). The theme of reconciliation and redemption is central, as Joseph's actions are designed to bring his brothers to repentance for their past sin of selling him into slavery (Genesis 37:28) and to restore their fractured family. Furthermore, the narrative explores the consequences of sin and the long-term impact of deception, as the brothers' guilt surfaces during their trials in Egypt (Genesis 42:21). Finally, the preservation of the covenant lineage through Jacob's family is a key theological thread, ensuring the continuity of God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse is rich in Dramatic Irony, as the audience, and Joseph, are aware of the truth that the brothers are unknowingly confessing to their long-lost sibling. Their declaration of "one [is] not" is a direct, yet unwitting, acknowledgment of Joseph's presumed death to the very person standing before them. This irony heightens the tension and emotional depth of the encounter. The narrative also employs Foreshadowing, as the mention of "the youngest" brother and his presence with their father directly sets up Joseph's subsequent demand for Benjamin, which will become a pivotal test for the brothers and a catalyst for Jacob's eventual journey to Egypt. Furthermore, the simple, stark phrase "and one [is] not" functions as Poignancy, evoking the deep sorrow and loss that has afflicted Jacob and, to some extent, the brothers themselves, for two decades. The brothers' words, intended to defend, inadvertently reveal the painful truth of their past and the sovereign hand of God at work.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 42:13 powerfully illustrates the intricate workings of God's sovereignty and providence. The brothers' seemingly spontaneous and defensive confession is, in fact, a crucial piece of information that Joseph needs to advance God's plan for the preservation of Jacob's family. Even their past sin of selling Joseph, and their current ignorance of his identity, are woven into a larger tapestry of divine purpose. This passage underscores that God can use human actions, both righteous and sinful, and even the natural course of events like famine, to achieve His ultimate will. It highlights the theme of redemption and reconciliation, as this encounter initiates the process through which the fractured family will be healed, and the brothers will confront their past guilt.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 42:13 serves as a profound reminder of God's meticulous involvement in the unfolding of history and individual lives. The brothers, in their desperation and ignorance, speak words that are perfectly aligned with God's redemptive agenda, even though they cannot perceive it. This should encourage us to cultivate a deep trust in God's providence, recognizing that His plans are often far grander and more intricate than our limited perspectives can grasp. It reminds us that God can use every detail, every conversation, and even the long-term consequences of past mistakes, to bring about His perfect will. This passage also invites us to consider the unseen hand of God at work in our own lives, especially during times of uncertainty or hardship. Just as Joseph was working behind the scenes, God is often orchestrating circumstances for our good and His glory, even when we are unaware. Our words and actions, however mundane or significant, can be instruments in His sovereign hand.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did Joseph's brothers not recognize him, but he recognized them?
Answer: Joseph's appearance had transformed significantly over two decades. He was no longer the young shepherd boy they had known but a powerful Egyptian governor, likely clean-shaven, dressed in Egyptian attire, and speaking through an interpreter, all of which would have obscured his identity. Furthermore, they would have never expected to find their "dead" brother in such a high position. Conversely, Joseph would have easily recognized his brothers, as they likely looked similar to when he last saw them, and he had been actively anticipating their arrival, having interpreted his own prophetic dreams. The power dynamic and the passage of time created a veil for the brothers that did not exist for Joseph.
What is the significance of the phrase "one [is] not"?
Answer: The Hebrew phrase einennu (אֵיןֶנּוּ), meaning "he is not" or "he is no more," is profoundly significant. For the brothers, it was a stark and sorrowful declaration of Joseph's presumed death and absence, a belief they had allowed their father, Jacob, to endure for years. For Joseph, hearing these words from his brothers' lips was a painful confirmation of their deception and his long, lonely separation from his family. This phrase underscores the deep grief Jacob had suffered and the brothers' own suppressed guilt, setting the emotional and moral stage for their eventual repentance and reconciliation. It also provides Joseph with the critical information that Benjamin is still alive and with Jacob, which is essential for his unfolding plan.
How does this verse demonstrate God's providence?
Answer: This verse is a powerful illustration of God's intricate providence. The severe famine, the brothers' desperate journey to Egypt, their encounter with Joseph, and their spontaneous, detailed confession are all orchestrated by God. Their words, intended to prove their innocence as "not spies," unknowingly provide Joseph with the precise information he needs about Benjamin and Jacob. This allows Joseph to proceed with his plan to bring his entire family to Egypt, preserving the covenant lineage and setting the stage for the growth of the nation of Israel, all according to God's pre-ordained purposes, even through human ignorance and past wrongdoing. It exemplifies how God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Joseph, particularly this moment of veiled recognition and the subsequent path to reconciliation, powerfully prefigures the redemptive work of Christ. Just as Joseph, rejected by his brothers (Genesis 37:28) and presumed dead, rose to a position of ultimate power in Egypt to save his family from famine, so too did Christ, rejected by His own people (John 1:11) and crucified, rise to ultimate authority as Lord and Savior (Philippians 2:8-9). The brothers' unknowing confession to Joseph mirrors humanity's initial blindness to Christ's true identity and redemptive purpose, as many did not recognize Him as the Messiah (2 Corinthians 4:4). Ultimately, Joseph's suffering and exaltation led to the preservation of a people and the fulfillment of God's covenant promises, just as Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection secured eternal life and reconciliation with God for all who believe (2 Corinthians 5:18-19), bringing about a greater provision and spiritual nourishment than any earthly grain.