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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 42:12 "No," he told them. "You have come to see if our land is vulnerable."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/42-12.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/6/01_Gen_42_12.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 42:12 - Joseph's Brothers Sent to Egypt" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="No, he told them. 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class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/genesis/42.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/genesis/42.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />&#8220No!&#8221 he said to them. &#8220You have come to see where our land is unprotected.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/42.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />“Yes, you are!” Joseph insisted. “You have come to see how vulnerable our land has become.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/42.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He said to them, “No, it is the nakedness of the land that you have come to see.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/42.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />“No,” he told them. “You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/42.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/42.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />But he said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/42.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Yet he said to them, “No, but you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/42.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Yet he said to them, &#8220No, but you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land!&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/42.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Yet he said to them, “No, but you have come to look at the undefended parts of our land!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/42.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And he said to them, “No, but you have come to look at the nakedness of our land!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/42.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Yet he said to them, “No, you have come to see the undefended parts of our land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/42.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />“No,” he said to them. “You have come to see the weakness of the land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/42.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />No,&#8221 he said to them. &#8220You have come to see the weakness of the land.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/42.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/42.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />"That isn't so!" Joseph insisted. "You've come here to find out where our country is weak." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/42.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/42.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He said to them, "No! You've come to find out where our country is unprotected."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/42.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Joseph said to them, "No! You have come to find out where our country is weak." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/42.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />But Joseph kept insisting, "It's just as I've said—you've come here to spy on our unguarded territories!"<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/42.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />?No,? he told them. ?You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/42.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />"No," he insisted, "but you have come to see if our land is vulnerable."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/42.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />But he said to them, "No, but you have come to look for the vulnerabilities of the country."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/42.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he said to them, No, but to see the nakedness of the land have ye come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/42.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He said to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land!” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/42.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and he says to them, “No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land”;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/42.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and he saith unto them, 'No, but the nakedness of the land ye have come to see;'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/42.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he will say to them, Nay, to see the naked places of the land ye came.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/42.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he answered them: It is otherwise: you are come to consider the unfenced parts of this land. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/42.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he answered them: “It is otherwise. You have come to examine the unguarded parts of this land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/42.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />But he answered them: “Not so! It is the weak points of the land that you have come to see.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/42.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />But he said to them, “No, you have come to see the nakedness of the land!”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/42.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And Joseph said to them, It is not so, but to get a report about the land you have come.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/42.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Yoseph said to them, “It is not so; you have come to show the report of the land.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/42.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he said unto them: 'Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/42.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he said to them, Nay, but ye are come to observe the marks of the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/42-12.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=10850" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/genesis/42.htm">Joseph's Brothers Sent to Egypt</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">11</span>We are all sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.” <span class="reftext">12</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">“No,”</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">he told</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ă·lê·hem (Prep:: 3mp) -- To, into, towards. ">them.</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: bā·ṯem (V-Qal-Perf-2mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">“You have come</a> <a href="/hebrew/7200.htm" title="7200: lir·’ō·wṯ (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To see. A primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively.">to see</a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">if our land</a> <a href="/hebrew/6172.htm" title="6172: ‘er·waṯ (N-fsc) -- Nakedness. From arah; nudity, literally or figuratively.">is vulnerable.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">13</span>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.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/37-18.htm">Genesis 37:18-20</a></span><br />Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him. / “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to one another. / “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/37-25.htm">Genesis 37:25-28</a></span><br />And as they sat down to eat a meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt. / Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? / Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/45-3.htm">Genesis 45:3-5</a></span><br />Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence. / Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! / And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/50-15.htm">Genesis 50:15-20</a></span><br />When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.” / So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded, / ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10</a></span><br />Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/13-32.htm">Numbers 13:32-33</a></span><br />So they gave the Israelites a bad report about the land that they had spied out: “The land we explored devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw there are great in stature. / We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_samuel/17-28.htm">1 Samuel 17:28</a></span><br />Now when David’s oldest brother Eliab heard him speaking to the men, his anger burned against David. “Why have you come down here?” he asked. “And with whom did you leave those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and wickedness of heart—you have come down to see the battle!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/6-13.htm">2 Kings 6:13-14</a></span><br />So the king said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send men to capture him.” On receiving the report, “Elisha is in Dothan,” / the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They went there by night and surrounded the city.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/4-11.htm">Nehemiah 4:11</a></span><br />And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/105-16.htm">Psalm 105:16-22</a></span><br />He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food. / He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. / They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons, ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/29-21.htm">Isaiah 29:21</a></span><br />those who indict a man with a word, who ensnare the mediator at the gate, and who with false charges deprive the innocent of justice.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/18-18.htm">Jeremiah 18:18</a></span><br />Then some said, “Come, let us make plans against Jeremiah, for the law will never be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise, nor an oracle to the prophet. Come, let us denounce him and pay no heed to any of his words.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-38.htm">Matthew 21:38</a></span><br />But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-59.htm">Matthew 26:59-61</a></span><br />Now the chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were seeking false testimony against Jesus in order to put Him to death. / But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward / and declared, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/12-7.htm">Mark 12:7</a></span><br />But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he said to them, No, but to see the nakedness of the land you are come.</p><p class="hdg">nakedness.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/42-9.htm">Genesis 42:9</a></b></br> And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye <i>are</i> spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/42-9.htm">Exposed</a> <a href="/genesis/42-9.htm">Nakedness</a> <a href="/genesis/42-9.htm">Parts</a> <a href="/genesis/42-9.htm">Places</a> <a href="/genesis/41-19.htm">Poor</a> <a href="/genesis/42-9.htm">Undefended</a> <a href="/genesis/42-9.htm">Unprotected</a> <a href="/genesis/42-9.htm">Weakness</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/exodus/20-26.htm">Exposed</a> <a href="/exodus/20-26.htm">Nakedness</a> <a href="/genesis/47-24.htm">Parts</a> <a href="/genesis/49-7.htm">Places</a> <a href="/genesis/45-11.htm">Poor</a> <a href="/genesis/42-9.htm">Undefended</a> <a href="/genesis/42-9.htm">Unprotected</a> <a href="/exodus/32-18.htm">Weakness</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 42</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/42-1.htm">Jacob sends his ten sons to buy grain in Egypt.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/42-16.htm">They are imprisoned by Joseph as spies.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/42-18.htm">They are set at liberty, on condition to bring Benjamin.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/42-21.htm">They have remorse for Joseph.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">24. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/42-24.htm">Simeon is kept for a pledge.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">25. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/42-25.htm">They return with grain, and their money.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">29. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/42-29.htm">Their relation to Jacob.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">36. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/genesis/42-36.htm">Jacob refuses to send Benjamin.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/42.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/42.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>“No,” he told them.</b><br>In this passage, Joseph is speaking to his brothers who have come to Egypt to buy grain during a famine. Joseph, now a powerful official in Egypt, recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him. His response is part of a larger strategy to test his brothers' character and intentions. The use of "No" indicates a direct contradiction to the brothers' claim of being honest men. This moment reflects Joseph's authority and the tension between him and his brothers, who had previously sold him into slavery. The narrative highlights themes of reconciliation and divine providence, as Joseph's journey from slavery to power was part of God's plan to preserve his family.<p><b>“You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”</b><br>Joseph accuses his brothers of being spies, suggesting they have come to assess Egypt's defenses. This accusation is strategic, allowing Joseph to test their honesty and integrity. The historical context is significant, as Egypt was a powerful nation with considerable resources, making it a potential target for neighboring regions during times of famine. The accusation of espionage would have been a serious charge, reflecting the political and military concerns of the time. This phrase also foreshadows the eventual revelation of Joseph's identity and the fulfillment of his earlier dreams, where his brothers would bow to him. The theme of vulnerability can be seen as a metaphor for the brothers' moral and spiritual state, which will be tested and ultimately redeemed through their interactions with Joseph.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joseph.htm">Joseph</a></b><br>The son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery by his brothers and rose to become the second most powerful man in Egypt. In this passage, he is testing his brothers who have come to Egypt to buy grain during a famine.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/joseph's_brothers.htm">Joseph's Brothers</a></b><br>The sons of Jacob who have traveled to Egypt to buy grain. They do not recognize Joseph, whom they sold into slavery years earlier.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a></b><br>The land where Joseph has risen to power and where his brothers have come to buy grain due to a severe famine in Canaan.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/f/famine.htm">Famine</a></b><br>A severe shortage of food affecting Canaan and surrounding regions, prompting Joseph's brothers to seek sustenance in Egypt.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/n/nakedness_of_the_land.htm">Nakedness of the Land</a></b><br>A phrase used by Joseph to accuse his brothers of being spies. It refers to the vulnerability or undefended state of the land.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/testing_and_discernment.htm">Testing and Discernment</a></b><br>Joseph's actions remind us of the importance of discernment and testing the sincerity of others, especially when past wrongs are involved.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Joseph's journey from slavery to power illustrates God's sovereign plan and how He can use difficult circumstances for His purposes.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/forgiveness_and_reconciliation.htm">Forgiveness and Reconciliation</a></b><br>Joseph's eventual forgiveness of his brothers is a powerful example of reconciliation and the healing of broken relationships.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/trust_in_god's_timing.htm">Trust in God's Timing</a></b><br>Joseph's account encourages believers to trust in God's timing, even when circumstances seem dire or unjust.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/integrity_in_leadership.htm">Integrity in Leadership</a></b><br>Joseph's integrity and wisdom in leadership serve as a model for believers in positions of authority.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_42.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 42</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/genesis_12_7__proof_of_land_promise.htm">Genesis 12:7: What tangible proof exists for the promise of land to Abram and his descendants?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_there_evidence_of_abram's_famine.htm">Genesis 12:10: Does any external record confirm a famine severe enough to prompt Abram's journey to Egypt?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/could_elimelech's_family's_deaths_be_explained.htm">Could the sudden deaths of Elimelech and his sons in Ruth 1:3-5 be explained by any known historical or cultural cause?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/key_events_in_abraham's_life.htm">What are the key events in Abraham's life?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/42-12.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">“No,”</span><br /><span class="heb">לֹ֕א</span> <span class="translit">(lō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adverb - Negative particle<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> </span><span class="str2">Not, no</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he told</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיֹּ֖אמֶר</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·mer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> </span><span class="str2">To utter, say</span><br /><br /><span class="word">them.</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲלֵהֶ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·lê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near, with, among, to</span><br /><br /><span class="word">“You have come</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּאתֶ֥ם</span> <span class="translit">(bā·ṯem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to see</span><br /><span class="heb">לִרְאֽוֹת׃</span> <span class="translit">(lir·’ō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7200.htm">Strong's 7200: </a> </span><span class="str2">To see</span><br /><br /><span class="word">if our land</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָ֖רֶץ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[is] vulnerable.”</span><br /><span class="heb">עֶרְוַ֥ת</span> <span class="translit">(‘er·waṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6172.htm">Strong's 6172: </a> </span><span class="str2">Nakedness</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/42-12.htm">Genesis 42:12 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/42-12.htm">Genesis 42:12 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/42-12.htm">Genesis 42:12 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/42-12.htm">Genesis 42:12 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/42-12.htm">Genesis 42:12 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/42-12.htm">Genesis 42:12 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/42-12.htm">Genesis 42:12 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/42-12.htm">Genesis 42:12 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/42-12.htm">Genesis 42:12 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/42-12.htm">Genesis 42:12 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/42-12.htm">OT Law: Genesis 42:12 He said to them No but you (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/42-11.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 42:11"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 42:11" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/42-13.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 42:13"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 42:13" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>