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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 a pivotal moment of the Genesis narrative, Joseph, now the powerful governor of Egypt, strategically confined his estranged brothers to "ward" for three days. This calculated act, following his accusation of espionage, served as a crucial test of their character, truthfulness, and remorse. It compelled them towards profound self-reflection, initiating a process that would ultimately facilitate the unfolding of God's sovereign plan to preserve Jacob's family and fulfill Joseph's prophetic dreams.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. Symbolism is evident in the "three days," a recurring motif in biblical literature that often precedes a major turning point, a divine intervention, or a resurrection/deliverance (e.g., Jonah in the fish, Christ's resurrection). Here, it symbolizes a period of intense trial and preparation for the brothers' spiritual transformation and the unfolding of God's plan. There is profound Irony in Joseph, whom his brothers had imprisoned and sold into slavery, now being the one to imprison them. This reversal of fortunes underscores divine justice and the outworking of God's sovereignty. Furthermore, the entire scenario functions as Foreshadowing, hinting at the deeper truths of sin, suffering, repentance, and eventual reconciliation that will define the rest of the Joseph narrative and, ultimately, God's redemptive plan for humanity.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joseph's act of imprisoning his brothers for three days is a profound theological statement on God's sovereign use of difficult circumstances to bring about His purposes. This period of "ward" was a divinely orchestrated crucible, designed not for punishment alone, but for a deeper work of grace. It forced the brothers into a position of helplessness and introspection, compelling them to confront their past sin against Joseph, as evidenced by their subsequent confession in Genesis 42:21. This intense pressure served to humble them, test their integrity, and prepare their hearts for the reconciliation that God intended. It highlights that God often uses trials and discomfort to expose sin, cultivate repentance, and shape His people for His greater redemptive plans, demonstrating His faithfulness even through human suffering and sin.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The experience of Joseph's brothers in "ward" offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. Just as they endured a period of uncertainty, discomfort, and forced introspection, we too may encounter "ward" moments in our lives—periods of confinement, challenge, or waiting that feel restrictive. These are not necessarily punishments, but often divinely appointed opportunities for self-examination, where we can honestly assess our past actions and their impact, leading to genuine repentance and growth. Such times can cultivate patience, humility, and a deeper reliance on God, preparing us for future revelations, reconciliations, or new roles within His sovereign plan. The silence and isolation of these "ward" seasons can be fertile ground for spiritual maturity, allowing us to hear God's voice more clearly and align our hearts with His will. Ultimately, Genesis 42:17 reminds us that even in moments of apparent hardship, God's purposeful hand is at work, guiding events toward His intended outcome for those who are called according to His purpose.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did Joseph imprison his brothers for three days?
Answer: Joseph imprisoned his brothers for three days as a strategic and multi-faceted test, not out of malice, but as part of God's providential plan. First, it was to test their honesty and character after he accused them of being spies. He needed to ascertain if they had truly changed from the cruel young men who sold him into slavery. Second, this period of intense pressure and anxiety was designed to force them into deep introspection, which directly led them to reflect on and confess their past sin against him, as recorded in Genesis 42:21. Third, the three-day period allowed Joseph sufficient time to observe their reactions, assess their current family situation (particularly regarding his father Jacob and full brother Benjamin), and formulate the next steps in his elaborate plan, which included demanding that they bring Benjamin to Egypt. This entire ordeal was a crucial step in God's larger providential plan to humble them, prepare them for genuine reconciliation, and ultimately preserve the family of Jacob, leading to their eventual settlement in Egypt and the growth of the nation of Israel.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of Joseph, particularly his "three days" of testing his brothers, powerfully foreshadows the redemptive work of Christ. Joseph, though innocent of any wrongdoing against his family, suffered at the hands of his brothers, being sold into slavery and effectively "imprisoned" in a pit and then in Egypt. Yet, through his suffering and subsequent exaltation to power, he became the savior of his family, preserving them from famine and death. This mirrors Christ, the ultimate Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, who, though sinless, suffered immensely at the hands of humanity. Just as the brothers' three days in "ward" led to their conviction of sin and eventual reconciliation with Joseph, Christ's three days in the grave culminated in His glorious resurrection, offering humanity the ultimate reconciliation with God. His bodily resurrection on the third day broke the power of sin and death. Through His death and resurrection, Christ, like Joseph, became the means of salvation, not just for a family, but for all who believe, leading them from spiritual famine and condemnation to abundant life and eternal reconciliation with the Father. The "ward" experience for the brothers was a necessary precursor to their freedom and restoration, just as Christ's "ward" in the tomb was the necessary precursor to our spiritual freedom and new life.