The Meaning of Genesis 42:31 Explained

Genesis 42:31

KJV: And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:

YLT: and we say unto him, We are right men, we have not been spies,

Darby: And we said to him, We are honest; we are not spies:

ASV: And we said unto him, We are true men; and we are no spies:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And we said  unto him, We [are] true  [men]; we are no spies: 

What does Genesis 42:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 42:18-38 - Simeon Held The Others Sent Home
The behavior of this great Egyptian official-for so the brethren deemed him-must have seemed very hard and tyrannical to the trembling shepherds from the far land of Canaan. They had no idea that he understood what they said, and turned away to weep. But we can read his inner meaning. He must secure their return, so he kept Simeon bound. He wanted to see the beloved Benjamin, and to test their behavior to him, so he threatened that they should not see his face unless their youngest brother accompanied them. He gave to them of his kindly care in the gift of provisions and the return of their money. It was natural that the old father heard their story with failing-heart-"All these things are against me." Nay, in all these things was the life of the Spirit, and in all these things we are more than conquerors. See Romans 8:37.
"Judge not the Lord with feeble sense,
But trust him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face." [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 42:31 mean?

But we said to him honest [men] we [are] not we are spies
וַנֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ לֹ֥א הָיִ֖ינוּ מְרַגְּלִֽים

וַנֹּ֥אמֶר  But  we  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלָ֖יו  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
כֵּנִ֣ים  honest  [men] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
אֲנָ֑חְנוּ  we  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common plural
Root: אֲנַחְנוּ  
Sense: we (first pers.
הָיִ֖ינוּ  we  are 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
מְרַגְּלִֽים  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.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 42:31?

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