Genesis 42

Genesis 42 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Famine

Apparently this famine extended beyond Egypt and encompassed the land of Canaan too. Because of Egypt's size and power, it would not have been unusual for people to go there in times of need. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Joseph's test

Joseph tests his brothers to see if they are good. They treat their brother Benjamin better than they treated Joseph and tried to protect him.

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Genesis 42:1

Now Jacob became

The word "Now" marks a new part of the story. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-newevent)

Why do you look at one another?

Jacob uses a question to scold his sons for not doing anything about the grain. Alternate translation: "Do not just sit here!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)

Genesis 42:2

Go down there

It was common to speak of going from Canaan to Egypt as going "down."

Genesis 42:3

went down

It was common to speak of going from Canaan to Egypt as going "down."

from Egypt

Here "Egypt" refers to the people selling grain. Alternate translation: "from those selling grain in Egypt" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 42:4

Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers

Benjamin and Joseph had the same father and mother; their mother was different from the mothers of the other brothers. Jacob did not want to risk sending Rachel's last son. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 42:5

The sons of Israel came to buy among those who came

The word "came" can be translated as "went." Also, the words "grain" and "Egypt" are understood. Alternate translation: "The sons of Israel went to by grain along with other people who went to Egypt" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-go and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 42:6

Now Joseph

"Now" marks a change from the story to background information about Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)

over the land

Here "land" refers to Egypt. Alternate translation: "over Egypt" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

all the people of the land

Here "land" includes Egypt and other surrounding countries. Alternate translation: "all the people of all the nations that came to buy grain" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Joseph's brothers came

Here "came" can be translated as "went." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-go)

bowed down to him with their faces to the ground

This is a way of showing respect. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)

Genesis 42:7

Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them

"When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them"

he disguised himself to them

"he acted like he was not their brother" or "he did not let them know that he was their brother"

Where have you come from?

This was not a rhetorical question even though Joseph knew the answer. It was part of his choice to keep his identity from his brothers.

Genesis 42:8

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Genesis 42:9

You are spies

Spies are people who secretly try to get information about a country to help another country.

You have come to see the undefended parts of the land

The full meaning can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: "You have come to find out where we are not guarding our land so that you can attack us" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 42:10

my master

This is a way to refer to someone to honor them.

Your servants have

The brothers refer to themselves as "your servants." This is a formal way of speaking to someone with greater authority. Alternate translation: "We, your servants, have" or "We have" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-123person)

Genesis 42:11

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Genesis 42:12

He said to them

"Joseph said to his brothers"

No, you have come to see the undefended parts of the land

The full meaning can be stated explicitly. Alternate translation: "No, you have come to find out where we are not guarding our land so that you can attack us" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 42:13

twelve brothers

"12 brothers" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)

See, the youngest

"Listen to us, the youngest." The word "See" is used to emphasize what they say next.

the youngest is this day with our father

"right now our youngest brother is with our father"

Genesis 42:14

It is what I said to you; you are spies

"like I already said, you are spies." See how you translated "spies" in Genesis 42:9.

Genesis 42:15

By this you will be tested

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "This is how I will test you" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

By the life of Pharaoh

This phrase indicates a solemn oath. Alternate translation: "I swear by the life of Pharaoh"

Genesis 42:16

Send one of yourselves and let him get your brother

"Choose one of you to go get your brother"

You will remain in prison

"The rest of you will remain in prison"

that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "so that I may find out if you are telling the truth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 42:17

in custody

"in prison"

Genesis 42:18

on the third day

The word "third" is an ordinal number. Alternate translation: "after the second day" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-ordinal)

Do this and live

"If you will do what I say, I will let you live"

fear God

This refers to deeply respecting God and showing that respect by obeying him.

Genesis 42:19

let one of your brothers be confined in this prison

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "leave one of your brothers here in prison" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

but you go

Here "you" is plural and refers to all the brothers that will not stay in prison. Alternate translation: "but the rest of you go" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-you)

carry grain for the famine of your houses

Here "houses" stands for families. Alternate translation: "carry grain home to help your family during this famine" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 42:20

so your words will be verified

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "so I may know what you say is true" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

you will not die

This implies that Joseph would have his soldiers execute the brothers if he finds out they are spies. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

Genesis 42:21

in that we saw the distress of his soul

The word "soul" stands for Joseph. Alternate translation: "because we saw how distressed Joseph was" or "because we saw that Joseph was suffering" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

Therefore this distress has come upon us

The abstract noun "distress" can be stated as the verb "suffering." Alternate translation: "That is why we are suffering like this now" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-abstractnouns)

Genesis 42:22

Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy,' but you would not listen?

Reuben uses a question to scold his brothers. Alternate translation: "I told you not to hurt the boy, but you would not listen!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)

Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy,' but

This has a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. Alternate translation: "Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy, but" or "I told you not to harm the boy, but" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)

Now, see

Here "Now" does not mean "at this moment," but both "Now" and "see" are used to draw attention to the important point that follows.

his blood is required of us

Here "blood" stands for Joseph's death. His brothers thought Joseph was dead. The phrase "is required of us" means they must be punished for what they did. Alternate translation: "we are getting what we deserve for his death" or "we are suffering for having killed him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

Genesis 42:23

They did not know ... an interpreter between them

This changes from the main story to background information that explains why the brothers thought Joseph could not understand them. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)

an interpreter

An "interpreter" is someone who translates what one person says into another language. Joseph placed an interpreter between himself and his brothers to make it seem like he did not speak their language.

Genesis 42:24

He turned from them and wept

It is implied that Joseph wept because he was emotional after hearing what his brothers said. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

spoke to them

Joseph was still speaking a different language and using the interpreter to speak to his brothers. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

bound him before their eyes

Here the people are represented by their "eyes" to emphasize what they see. Alternate translation: "bound him in their sight" or "bound him as they watched" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)

Genesis 42:25

to give them provisions

"to give them the supplies they needed"

It was done for them

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "The servants did for them everything that Joseph commanded" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Genesis 42:26

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Genesis 42:27

As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed in the lodging place, he saw his money. Behold, it was in the opening of his sack

"When they stopped at a place for the night, one of the brothers opened his sack to get food for his donkey. In the sack he saw his money!"

Behold

The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.

Genesis 42:28

My money has been put back

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "Someone has put my money back" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)

Look at it

"Look in my sack!"

Their hearts sank

To become afraid is spoken of as if their heart were sinking. Here "hearts" stands for courage. Alternate translation: "They became very afraid" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

Genesis 42:29

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Genesis 42:30

lord of the land

"the lord of Egypt"

spoke roughly

"spoke harshly"

we were spies

Spies are people who secretly try to get information about a country to help another country. See how you translated "spies" in Genesis 42:9.

Genesis 42:31

We said to him, 'We are honest men. We are not spies.

This has a quotation within a quotation. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. "We told him that we are honest men and not spies." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)

Genesis 42:32

We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no longer alive ... land of Canaan.'

The quotation within a quotation that began with the words "We said to him, 'We are honest men ... not spies. It can be stated as an indirect quotation. "We told him that we are honest men ... not spies. We said that we are twelve brothers, sons of our father, and that one brother is no longer alive ... land of Canaan" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)

One is no longer alive

The word "brother" is understood. Alternate translation: "One brother is no longer alive" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-ellipsis)

the youngest is this day with our father

The word "brother" is understood. Alternate translation: "the youngest brother is with our father right now" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-ellipsis)

Genesis 42:33

the lord of the land

"The lord of Egypt"

take grain for the famine in your houses

Here "houses" stands for "family." Alternate translation: "take grain to help your family during the famine" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)

go your way

"go home" or "leave"

Genesis 42:34

you will trade in the land

"I will allow you to buy and sell in this land"

Genesis 42:35

It came about

This phrase is used here to mark an important event in the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.

behold, every

"they were surprised because every"

Genesis 42:36

You have bereaved me of my children

"you have deprived me of my children" or "you have caused me to lose two of my children"

All these things are against me

"all these things hurt me"

Genesis 42:37

Put him in my hands

This is a request for Reuben to take Joseph with him and to care for him on the journey. Alternate translation: "Put me in charge of him" or "Let me take care of him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)

Genesis 42:38

My son will not go down with you

It was common to use the phrase "go down" when speaking of traveling from Canaan to Egypt. Alternate translation: "My son, Benjamin, will not go with you to Egypt"

with you

Here "you" is plural and refers to Jacob's older sons. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-you)

For his brother is dead and he alone is left

The full meaning can be made explicit. Alternate translation: "For my wife, Rachel, only had two children. Joseph is dead and Benjamin is the only one left" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)

on the road in which you go

"while you a traveling to Egypt and back" or "while you are away." Here "road" stands for traveling.

then you will bring down my gray hair with sorrow to Sheol

To "bring down ... to Sheol" is way of saying they will cause him to die and go to Sheol. He uses the word "down" because it was commonly believed sheol is somewhere underground. Alternate translation: "then you will cause me, an old man, to die of sorrow" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)

my gray hair

This stands for Jacob and emphasizes his old age. Alternate translation: "me, an old man" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)