TRV
Translation
King James Version
And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
American Standard Version
And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
World English Bible Messianic
Joseph said to them, “It is like I told you, saying, ‘You are spies!’
Geneva Bible (1599)
Againe Ioseph sayde vnto them, This is it that I spake vnto you, saying, Ye are spies.
Young's Literal Translation
And Joseph saith unto them, `This is that which I have spoken unto you, saying, Ye are spies,
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In the KJVVerse 1,267 of 31,102
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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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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
In Joseph, now the powerful vizier of Egypt, confronts his unsuspecting brothers who have traveled from Canaan to purchase grain during a severe regional famine. He delivers a calculated and definitive accusation, declaring, "That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies." This strategic pronouncement is not merely an act of suspicion but a deliberate maneuver designed to test their character, gather crucial information about his family's welfare, and initiate a complex series of events that will ultimately lead to their profound repentance, reconciliation, and the divinely ordained preservation of the nascent Israelite family.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. Irony is prominent, as the accuser, Joseph, is the very person his brothers betrayed and sold into slavery, and he is now accusing them of a crime they did not commit, while they are unknowingly facing the consequences of a past, real betrayal. This creates a powerful sense of dramatic tension. There is also Foreshadowing, as Joseph's calculated accusation and the subsequent trials hint at the deeper, redemptive purpose that will unfold, ultimately leading to reconciliation and the preservation of his family. Furthermore, the narrative uses Dramatic Tension by placing the brothers in a life-threatening situation, forcing them to confront their past and revealing their true character under duress.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joseph's accusation in Genesis 42:14 is a profound testament to God's sovereign hand working through complex human interactions. It demonstrates that even through painful and seemingly unjust circumstances, God can orchestrate events to bring about His perfect will, leading to restoration and the fulfillment of His covenant promises. Joseph's actions, though initially harsh, were not driven by malice but by a divinely inspired purpose to test, refine, and ultimately reconcile his family, ensuring the lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come. This narrative underscores the theme of divine providence, where God uses even human sin and suffering as instruments for His redemptive plan, revealing His faithfulness in preserving His people.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joseph's calculated accusation in Genesis 42:14 provides a rich tapestry for reflection on God's mysterious ways and our response to challenging circumstances. It reminds us that God often works through difficult, even painful, processes to bring about His ultimate good. Just as Joseph's brothers were brought to a place of self-examination and repentance through a divinely orchestrated trial, we too can expect God to use various tests and adversities to refine our character, expose hidden sins, and draw us closer to Him. This narrative encourages us to trust in God's overarching plan, even when we don't understand the immediate circumstances or feel unjustly accused. It prompts us to consider how we respond to pressure, how we seek reconciliation, and how we might participate in God's redemptive work, even when it requires difficult conversations or painful self-reflection. Ultimately, it offers hope that even the deepest family wounds can be healed through repentance, forgiveness, and God's sovereign grace.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did Joseph accuse his brothers of being spies?
Answer: Joseph accused his brothers of being spies as a deliberate and strategic maneuver, not because he genuinely believed they were. His primary objectives were multifaceted: to test their character and moral transformation since they had sold him into slavery, to gather vital information about his father Jacob and his youngest brother Benjamin, and to orchestrate a series of trials that would ultimately lead to their repentance, a profound reconciliation, and the divinely ordained preservation of his family. This accusation was the first step in a complex plan to bring about a redemptive outcome for all involved.
Did Joseph enjoy seeing his brothers suffer?
Answer: While Joseph's actions undoubtedly caused his brothers distress and fear, the biblical text strongly indicates his motivation was not malicious enjoyment or retribution. Joseph's deep emotional turmoil is evident in his frequent weeping throughout this narrative arc (e.g., Genesis 42:24, Genesis 43:30, Genesis 45:1-2). His strategy was a difficult but necessary means to a redemptive end, aimed at spiritual transformation and genuine reconciliation rather than mere punishment. His tears reveal a heart burdened by the past and yearning for true restoration.
What is the significance of Joseph's concealed identity in this chapter?
Answer: Joseph's decision to conceal his identity is crucial for the unfolding narrative and its theological implications. By remaining unrecognized, he could objectively observe and test his brothers' character without their pretense. This concealment allowed him to orchestrate the trials necessary to bring them to a place of repentance and self-awareness regarding their past sin against him. Furthermore, his hidden identity and eventual revelation foreshadow a recurring biblical theme where God's purposes are initially veiled, only to be revealed in His perfect timing and through unexpected means, often leading to greater glory and understanding.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joseph's veiled identity and deliberate accusation in Genesis 42:14, which initiates a process of testing and eventual reconciliation, powerfully prefigures the work of Christ. Like Joseph, who was rejected by his own brothers and seemingly abandoned to suffering, yet rose to a position of ultimate power to save them, Christ was rejected by His own people and suffered death on a cross, yet through His resurrection, He ascended to ultimate authority, becoming the savior of the world (Philippians 2:6-11). He, too, tests the hearts of humanity, not with suspicion, but with a perfect knowledge of our sin and a divine desire for our repentance and transformation (John 2:24-25). Unrecognized by many in His first coming, He brings about a profound reconciliation, offering salvation and restoration to all who acknowledge their spiritual poverty and turn to Him in faith, just as Joseph's brothers were brought to a place of confession and forgiveness (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). His suffering, veiled glory, and subsequent exaltation are the ultimate means by which God preserves His people and brings them into an eternal, reconciled relationship with Himself.