The Meaning of Genesis 42:16 Explained

Genesis 42:16

KJV: 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.

YLT: send one of you, and let him bring your brother, and ye, remain ye bound, and let your words be proved, whether truth be with you: and if not -- Pharaoh liveth! surely ye are spies;'

Darby: Send one of you, that he may fetch your brother, but ye shall be imprisoned, and your words shall be put to the proof, whether the truth is in you; and if not, as Pharaoh lives, ye are spies.

ASV: Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be bound, that your words may be proved, whether there be truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 42:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 42:1-17 - Joseph Sees His Ten Brothers
The true interpretation of Joseph's treatment of his brethren is to be found in the supposition that he repeated toward them, as nearly as possible, the behavior that they had shown to himself at the pit's mouth, and this with no thought of retaliation, but that their consciences might be awakened, and that he might discover if they would deal differently with Benjamin than they had dealt with him. He needed to be sure of their repentance before he could trust himself to them again. His purpose therefore was in part secured when he heard them saying to each other in the dear old home-tongue, which they never expected him to understand, "We are verily guilty because of our brother." So God deals with us. The east wind blows bitterly in our faces, the famine is behind and the harsh governor before. All these things are hard to bear; but behind them is the tenderest love, which struggles with its tears and is only eager to get us right before entrusting itself to us. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 42

1  Jacob sends his ten sons to buy grain in Egypt
16  They are imprisoned by Joseph as spies
18  They are set at liberty, on condition to bring Benjamin
21  They have remorse for Joseph
24  Simeon is kept for a pledge
25  They return with grain, and their money
29  Their relation to Jacob
36  Jacob refuses to send Benjamin

What do the individual words in Genesis 42:16 mean?

Send of you one and let him bring - your brother and you shall be kept in prison that may be tested your words whether truth [is] in you or else not by the life of Pharaoh surely spies you [are]
שִׁלְח֨וּ מִכֶּ֣ם אֶחָד֮ וְיִקַּ֣ח אֶת־ אֲחִיכֶם֒ וְאַתֶּם֙ הֵאָ֣סְר֔וּ וְיִבָּֽחֲנוּ֙ דִּבְרֵיכֶ֔ם הַֽאֱמֶ֖ת אִתְּכֶ֑ם וְאִם־ לֹ֕א חֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה כִּ֥י מְרַגְּלִ֖ים אַתֶּֽם

שִׁלְח֨וּ  Send 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
מִכֶּ֣ם  of  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
אֶחָד֮  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
וְיִקַּ֣ח  and  let  him  bring 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָקַח 
Sense: to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲחִיכֶם֒  your  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
וְאַתֶּם֙  and  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine plural
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
הֵאָ֣סְר֔וּ  shall  be  kept  in  prison 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: אָסַר  
Sense: to tie, bind, imprison.
וְיִבָּֽחֲנוּ֙  that  may  be  tested 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: בָּחַן  
Sense: to examine, try, prove.
דִּבְרֵיכֶ֔ם  your  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
הַֽאֱמֶ֖ת  whether  truth 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֱמֶת  
Sense: firmness, faithfulness, truth.
אִתְּכֶ֑ם  [is]  in  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: אֵת 
Sense: with, near, together with.
וְאִם־  or  else 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
חֵ֣י  by  the  life 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חַי 
Sense: living, alive.
פַרְעֹ֔ה  of  Pharaoh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: פַּרְעֹה  
Sense: the common title of the king of Egypt.
כִּ֥י  surely 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
מְרַגְּלִ֖ים  spies 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רָגַל  
Sense: to go on foot, spy out, foot it, go about, walk along, move the feet.
אַתֶּֽם  you  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine plural
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 42:16?

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