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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 42:19 If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you go and take back grain to relieve the hunger of your households.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/42-19.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/01_Gen_42_19.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 42:19 - Joseph's Brothers Sent to Egypt" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you go and take back grain to relieve the hunger of your households." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/genesis/42-19.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/genesis/42-19.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/genesis/">Genesis</a> > <a href="/genesis/42.htm">Chapter 42</a> > Verse 19</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad19.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/genesis/42-18.htm" title="Genesis 42:18">◄</a> Genesis 42:19 <a href="/genesis/42-20.htm" title="Genesis 42:20">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" 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 />If you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here in prison, while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/genesis/42.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />If you really are honest men, choose one of your brothers to remain in prison. The rest of you may go home with grain for your starving families.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/genesis/42.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />if you are honest men, let one of your brothers remain confined where you are in custody, and let the rest go and carry grain for the famine of your households,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/genesis/42.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you go and take back grain to relieve the hunger of your households.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/genesis/42.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />If ye <i>be</i> true <i>men</i>, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/genesis/42.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />If you <i>are</i> honest <i>men,</i> let one of your brothers be confined to your prison house; but you, go and carry grain for the famine of your houses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/genesis/42.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for <i>the rest of</i> you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/genesis/42.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for the rest of you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/genesis/42.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for <i>the rest of</i> you, go, carry grain for the famine of your households,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/genesis/42.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your prison; but as for <i>the rest of</i> you, go, bring grain for the famine of your households,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/genesis/42.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />if you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in your [place here in] prison; but as for <i>the rest of</i> you, go, carry grain for the famine in your households,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/genesis/42.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you are honest, let one of you be confined to the guardhouse, while the rest of you go and take grain to relieve the hunger of your households.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/genesis/42.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you are honest, let one of you be confined to the guardhouse, while the rest of you go and take grain to relieve the hunger of your households. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/genesis/42.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />if ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in your prison-house; but go ye, carry grain for the famine of your houses:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/genesis/42.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If you are honest men, one of you must stay here in jail, and the rest of you can take the grain back to your starving families. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/genesis/42.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />if ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in your prison house; but go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/genesis/42.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />If you are honest men, you will let one of your brothers stay here in prison. The rest of you will go and take grain back to your starving families.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/genesis/42.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />To prove that you are honest, one of you will stay in the prison where you have been kept; the rest of you may go and take back to your starving families the grain that you have bought. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/genesis/42.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />If you're honest men, leave one of your brothers here in custody, then the rest of you can leave and take some grain with you to alleviate the famine that's affecting your households. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/genesis/42.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you go and take back grain to relieve the hunger of your households.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/genesis/42.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />If you are honest men, leave one of your brothers confined here in prison while the rest of you go and take grain back for your hungry families.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/genesis/42.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />If you are honest, then let one of your brothers remain confined in your prison; but you go and carry grain for the hunger of your households.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/genesis/42.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />If ye are 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:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/genesis/42.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />If you are honest men, then let one of your brothers be bound in your prison; but you go, carry grain for the famine of your houses. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/genesis/42.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />If you [are] right men, let one of your brothers be bound in the house of your confinement, and you, go, carry in grain [for] the famine of your houses,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/genesis/42.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> if ye are right men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your ward, and ye, go, carry in corn for the famine of your houses,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/genesis/42.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />If ye true, one of your brethren shall be bound in the house of your guard, and ye yourselves go carry the selling for the famine of your houses.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/genesis/42.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />If you be peaceable men, let one of your brethren be bound in prison: and go ye your ways and carry the corn that you have bought, unto your houses. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/genesis/42.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />If you are peaceful, let one of your brothers be bound in prison. Then you may go away and carry the grain that you have bought to your houses.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/genesis/42.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in this prison, while the rest of you go and take home grain for your starving families.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/genesis/42.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />if you are honest men, let one of your brothers stay here where you are imprisoned. The rest of you shall go and carry grain for the famine of your households,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/genesis/42.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />If you are pious men, let one of your brothers be bound in your prison; and the rest of you, go and carry grain for the famished who are in your household;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/genesis/42.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />If you are just, your one brother will be bound in your prison house, and you go bring out grain to the hungry that are in your house:<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/genesis/42.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />if ye be upright men, let one of your brethren be bound in your prison-house; but go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/genesis/42.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />If ye be peaceable, let one of your brethren be detained in prison; but go ye, and carry back the corn ye have purchased.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/genesis/42-19.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=10904" 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">18</span>and on the third day he said to them, “I fear God. So do this and you will live: <span class="reftext">19</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">If</a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: ’at·tem (Pro-2mp) -- You (masc. sing.). ">you</a> <a href="/hebrew/251.htm" title="251: ’ă·ḥî·ḵem (N-msc:: 2mp) -- A brother. A primitive word; a brother (like 'ab)."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3651.htm" title="3651: kê·nîm (Adj-mp) -- So, thus. From kuwn; properly, set upright; hence just; but usually rightly or so.">are honest,</a> <a href="/hebrew/259.htm" title="259: ’e·ḥāḏ (Number-ms) -- One. A numeral from 'achad; properly, united, i.e. One; or first.">leave one</a> <a href="/hebrew/631.htm" title="631: yê·’ā·sêr (V-Nifal-Imperf-3ms) -- To tie, bind, imprison. A primitive root; to yoke or hitch; by analogy, to fasten in any sense, to join battle.">of your brothers in custody</a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: bə·ḇêṯ (Prep-b:: N-msc) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4929.htm" title="4929: miš·mar·ḵem (N-msc:: 2mp) -- Place of confinement, jail, prison, guard, watch, observance. From shamar; a guard; a deposit; also a usage, or an example."></a> <a href="/hebrew/859.htm" title="859: wə·’at·tem (Conj-w:: Pro-2mp) -- You (masc. sing.). ">while the rest of you</a> <a href="/hebrew/1980.htm" title="1980: lə·ḵū (V-Qal-Imp-mp) -- To go, come, walk. Akin to yalak; a primitive root; to walk.">go</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: hā·ḇî·’ū (V-Hifil-Imp-mp) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">and take back</a> <a href="/hebrew/7668.htm" title="7668: še·ḇer (N-msc) -- Corn, grain. The same as sheber; grain.">grain</a> <a href="/hebrew/7459.htm" title="7459: ra·‘ă·ḇō·wn (N-msc) -- Hunger, lack of food, famine. From ra'eb; famine.">to relieve the hunger</a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: bāt·tê·ḵem (N-mpc:: 2mp) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">of your households.</a> </span><span class="reftext">20</span>Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.” And to this they consented.…<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/44-33.htm">Genesis 44:33-34</a></span><br />Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers. / For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/43-3.htm">Genesis 43:3-5</a></span><br />But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ / If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you. / But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/45-1.htm">Genesis 45:1-5</a></span><br />Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!” So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. / But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it. / 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. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/50-20.htm">Genesis 50:20</a></span><br />As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/1-8.htm">Exodus 1:8-11</a></span><br />Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. / “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / 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="/exodus/12-40.htm">Exodus 12:40-41</a></span><br />Now the duration of the Israelites’ stay in Egypt was 430 years. / At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the LORD’s divisions went out of the land of Egypt.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-9.htm">Acts 7:9-10</a></span><br />Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him / and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-13.htm">Acts 7:13-14</a></span><br />On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh. / Then Joseph sent for his father Jacob and all his relatives, seventy-five in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/11-22.htm">Hebrews 11:22</a></span><br />By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/8-28.htm">Romans 8:28</a></span><br />And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/5-7.htm">Matthew 5:7</a></span><br />Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/6-14.htm">Matthew 6:14-15</a></span><br />For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. / But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/6-36.htm">Luke 6:36</a></span><br />Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/23-34.htm">Luke 23:34</a></span><br />Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/13-4.htm">1 Corinthians 13:4-7</a></span><br />Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. / It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs. / Love takes no pleasure in evil, but rejoices in the truth. ...</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">If you be true men, let one of your brothers be bound in the house of your prison: go you, carry corn for the famine of your houses:</p><p class="hdg">house.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/40-3.htm">Genesis 40:3</a></b></br> And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph <i>was</i> bound.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/42-7.htm">Isaiah 42:7,22</a></b></br> To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, <i>and</i> them that sit in darkness out of the prison house… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/jeremiah/37-15.htm">Jeremiah 37:15</a></b></br> Wherefore the princes were wroth with Jeremiah, and smote him, and put him in prison in the house of Jonathan the scribe: for they had made that the prison.</p><p class="hdg">carry corn.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/42-1.htm">Genesis 42:1,2,26</a></b></br> Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/41-56.htm">Genesis 41:56</a></b></br> And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/genesis/43-1.htm">Genesis 43:1,2</a></b></br> And the famine <i>was</i> sore in the land… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/42-16.htm">Bound</a> <a href="/genesis/37-25.htm">Carry</a> <a href="/genesis/42-16.htm">Confined</a> <a href="/genesis/42-6.htm">Corn</a> <a href="/genesis/36-40.htm">Families</a> <a href="/genesis/42-5.htm">Famine</a> <a href="/genesis/42-6.htm">Grain</a> <a href="/genesis/42-11.htm">Honest</a> <a href="/genesis/41-51.htm">House</a> <a href="/titus/1-11.htm">Households</a> <a href="/genesis/41-56.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/revelation/7-16.htm">Hunger</a> <a href="/genesis/42-16.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/genesis/31-30.htm">Needs</a> <a href="/genesis/42-17.htm">Prison</a> <a href="/genesis/39-20.htm">Prison-House</a> <a href="/genesis/42-16.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/genesis/42-11.htm">Right</a> <a href="/luke/15-17.htm">Starving</a> <a href="/genesis/42-16.htm">True.</a> <a href="/genesis/42-11.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/genesis/42-17.htm">Ward</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/42-24.htm">Bound</a> <a href="/genesis/43-11.htm">Carry</a> <a href="/exodus/21-18.htm">Confined</a> <a href="/genesis/42-25.htm">Corn</a> <a href="/genesis/42-33.htm">Families</a> <a href="/genesis/42-33.htm">Famine</a> <a href="/genesis/42-25.htm">Grain</a> <a href="/genesis/42-31.htm">Honest</a> <a href="/genesis/43-16.htm">House</a> <a href="/genesis/42-33.htm">Households</a> <a href="/genesis/42-33.htm">Houses</a> <a href="/exodus/16-3.htm">Hunger</a> <a href="/genesis/42-33.htm">Kept</a> <a href="/genesis/42-33.htm">Needs</a> <a href="/genesis/42-30.htm">Prison</a> <a href="/exodus/13-3.htm">Prison-House</a> <a href="/genesis/43-23.htm">Rest</a> <a href="/genesis/42-31.htm">Right</a> <a href="/proverbs/6-30.htm">Starving</a> <a href="/genesis/42-20.htm">True.</a> <a href="/genesis/42-31.htm">Upright</a> <a href="/leviticus/24-12.htm">Ward</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>If you are honest,</b><br>This phrase challenges the integrity of Joseph's brothers. Honesty is a recurring biblical theme, emphasized in the Ten Commandments (<a href="/exodus/20-16.htm">Exodus 20:16</a>) and Proverbs (<a href="/proverbs/12-22.htm">Proverbs 12:22</a>). Joseph tests his brothers' truthfulness, reflecting God's desire for righteousness and integrity among His people.<p><b>leave one of your brothers in custody</b><br>Joseph's demand to leave a brother behind serves as a test of their sincerity and a parallel to his own experience of being sold into slavery. This act foreshadows the concept of substitutionary sacrifice, a theme fulfilled in Christ's atonement (<a href="/isaiah/53-5.htm">Isaiah 53:5</a>). It also highlights the importance of family unity and responsibility.<p><b>while the rest of you go</b><br>This instruction allows the brothers to return home, emphasizing the necessity of providing for their families. It reflects the biblical principle of stewardship and care for one's household, as seen in <a href="/1_timothy/5-8.htm">1 Timothy 5:8</a>.<p><b>and take back grain</b><br>Grain was a staple food in ancient Egypt and Canaan, essential for survival. This reflects the historical context of the famine described in <a href="/genesis/41-54.htm">Genesis 41:54-57</a>. The provision of grain symbolizes God's provision and sustenance, akin to the manna provided in the wilderness (Exodus 16).<p><b>to relieve the hunger of your households.</b><br>The famine's severity necessitates this action, underscoring the dire circumstances faced by Jacob's family. This situation parallels the spiritual hunger that only God can satisfy, as Jesus declares Himself the "bread of life" (<a href="/john/6-35.htm">John 6:35</a>). The physical relief of hunger here points to the deeper spiritual nourishment found in Christ.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/joseph.htm">Joseph</a></b><br>- The governor of Egypt, who was once sold into slavery by his brothers. He is testing his brothers' honesty and integrity.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/joseph's_brothers.htm">Joseph's Brothers</a></b><br>- The sons of Jacob who have come to Egypt to buy grain during a famine. They are unaware that the governor is their brother Joseph.<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.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/p/prison.htm">Prison</a></b><br>- The place where Joseph proposes to keep one brother as a test of the others' honesty.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/f/famine.htm">Famine</a></b><br>- The severe shortage of food affecting the region, prompting Joseph's brothers to seek grain in Egypt.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/i/integrity_and_honesty.htm">Integrity and Honesty</a></b><br>Joseph's test of his brothers highlights the importance of integrity. As believers, we are called to live honestly in all our dealings.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/god's_sovereignty.htm">God's Sovereignty</a></b><br>Despite the brothers' past actions, God used the situation to fulfill His purposes. Trust in God's sovereignty even when circumstances seem dire.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/f/forgiveness_and_reconciliation.htm">Forgiveness and Reconciliation</a></b><br>Joseph's account is a powerful example of forgiveness. We are encouraged to forgive those who have wronged us, following Joseph's example and Christ's command.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/p/provision_in_times_of_need.htm">Provision in Times of Need</a></b><br>Just as Joseph provided for his family during the famine, God provides for us in our times of need. We should trust in His provision and care.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/testing_and_growth.htm">Testing and Growth</a></b><br>Trials and tests can lead to spiritual growth and maturity. Embrace them as opportunities for God to refine your character.<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/how_does_genesis_44_align_with_earlier_chapters.htm">How do the events in Genesis 44 fit coherently with earlier chapters in Genesis, given the discrepancies in character motivations and the sudden moral tension introduced by Joseph's actions?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_did_egypt's_governor_handle_food_sales.htm">Why would the governor of Egypt personally handle these seemingly minor food transactions without delegation (Genesis 42:6)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_didn't_joseph's_brothers_know_him.htm">How could Joseph's brothers fail to recognize him after only about two decades (Genesis 42:7-8)?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_genesis_42_fit_genesis_28_10-15.htm">How does the narrative reconcile with earlier promises of prosperity to Jacob's family (Genesis 28:10-15) when they face such dire circumstances (Genesis 42)?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/genesis/42-19.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">If</span><br /><span class="heb">אִם־</span> <span class="translit">(’im-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> </span><span class="str2">Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you</span><br /><span class="heb">אַתֶּ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(’at·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">are honest,</span><br /><span class="heb">כֵּנִ֣ים</span> <span class="translit">(kê·nîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3651.htm">Strong's 3651: </a> </span><span class="str2">So -- thus</span><br /><br /><span class="word">leave one</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶחָ֔ד</span> <span class="translit">(’e·ḥāḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Number - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_259.htm">Strong's 259: </a> </span><span class="str2">United, one, first</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of your brothers in custody</span><br /><span class="heb">יֵאָסֵ֖ר</span> <span class="translit">(yê·’ā·sêr)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_631.htm">Strong's 631: </a> </span><span class="str2">To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">while the rest of you</span><br /><span class="heb">וְאַתֶּם֙</span> <span class="translit">(wə·’at·tem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_859.htm">Strong's 859: </a> </span><span class="str2">Thou and thee, ye and you</span><br /><br /><span class="word">go</span><br /><span class="heb">לְכ֣וּ</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ḵū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1980.htm">Strong's 1980: </a> </span><span class="str2">To go, come, walk</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and take back</span><br /><span class="heb">הָבִ֔יאוּ</span> <span class="translit">(hā·ḇî·’ū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hifil - Imperative - 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">grain</span><br /><span class="heb">שֶׁ֖בֶר</span> <span class="translit">(še·ḇer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7668.htm">Strong's 7668: </a> </span><span class="str2">Corn, grain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">to relieve the hunger</span><br /><span class="heb">רַעֲב֥וֹן</span> <span class="translit">(ra·‘ă·ḇō·wn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7459.htm">Strong's 7459: </a> </span><span class="str2">Hunger, lack of food, famine</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of your households.</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּתֵּיכֶֽם׃</span> <span class="translit">(bāt·tê·ḵem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> </span><span class="str2">A house</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/42-19.htm">Genesis 42:19 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/genesis/42-19.htm">Genesis 42:19 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/genesis/42-19.htm">Genesis 42:19 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/genesis/42-19.htm">Genesis 42:19 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/genesis/42-19.htm">Genesis 42:19 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/42-19.htm">Genesis 42:19 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/42-19.htm">Genesis 42:19 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/42-19.htm">Genesis 42:19 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/42-19.htm">Genesis 42:19 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/genesis/42-19.htm">Genesis 42:19 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/genesis/42-19.htm">OT Law: Genesis 42:19 If you are honest men then let (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/42-18.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 42:18"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 42:18" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/42-20.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 42:20"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 42:20" /></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>