So Joseph imprisoned them for three days
Joseph's decision to imprison his brothers can be seen as a test of their character and repentance. This act of imprisonment is significant in the narrative of Joseph's life, as it mirrors his own experience of being unjustly imprisoned in Egypt. The three-day period is often symbolic in the Bible, representing a time of trial or testing, as seen in other instances such as Jonah in the belly of the fish and Jesus in the tomb.

The act of imprisonment also serves to heighten the tension in the story, as Joseph's brothers are unaware of his true identity and are forced to confront their past actions. This period of confinement allows them to reflect on their treatment of Joseph and the resulting consequences. It is a pivotal moment that sets the stage for their eventual reconciliation.

In a broader biblical context, the number three often signifies completeness or divine intervention. This can be seen in the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day, which brings about redemption and new beginnings. Similarly, Joseph's actions lead to a transformation in his brothers, ultimately resulting in the preservation of the family line through which the Messiah would come.

The geographical setting of Egypt is also significant, as it was a place of both refuge and testing for the Israelites throughout biblical history. Joseph's role as a leader in Egypt foreshadows the future enslavement and eventual exodus of the Israelites, highlighting God's sovereignty and faithfulness in delivering His people.

Overall, this phrase encapsulates themes of justice, repentance, and redemption, which are central to the narrative of Joseph and the overarching story of God's plan for His people.1. Joseph
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.

2. Joseph's Brothers
The ten brothers who initially sold Joseph into slavery. They have come to Egypt to buy grain due to the famine in Canaan.

3. Egypt
The land where Joseph has risen to power and where his brothers have come to seek food.

4. Imprisonment
Joseph's act of imprisoning his brothers for three days as part of his plan to test their character and intentions.

5. Three Days
A significant period often used in the Bible to denote a time of testing, waiting, or preparation.Testing and Transformation
Joseph's actions serve as a test of his brothers' character, mirroring how God often tests us to reveal and refine our hearts.

Divine Timing
The three-day period signifies God's perfect timing in bringing about change and understanding in our lives.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Joseph's eventual forgiveness of his brothers foreshadows the reconciliation that God offers us through Christ.

Providence and Purpose
Even in difficult circumstances, God is working behind the scenes to fulfill His purposes, as seen in Joseph's journey from slavery to leadership.

Reflection and Repentance
The brothers' time in prison provides an opportunity for reflection and repentance, a necessary step in the process of reconciliation.1. What is the meaning of Genesis 42:17?

2. How does Genesis 42:17 demonstrate Joseph's wisdom in testing his brothers' integrity?

3. What can we learn about forgiveness from Joseph's actions in Genesis 42:17?

4. How does Joseph's imprisonment of his brothers connect to God's justice in Scripture?

5. How can we apply Joseph's patience in Genesis 42:17 to our daily conflicts?

6. What role does discernment play in Joseph's decision-making in Genesis 42:17?

7. Why did Joseph imprison his brothers for three days in Genesis 42:17?

8. What is the significance of the three-day period in Genesis 42:17?

9. How does Genesis 42:17 reflect Joseph's character and leadership?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 42?

11. 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?

12. Matthew 12:39–40: If Jesus parallels his time in the tomb to Jonah’s “three days and three nights,” how does the typical Friday-to-Sunday timeline align with a literal 72-hour period?

13. Proverbs 17:15 declares it detestable to acquit the guilty or condemn the innocent. Why, then, do biblical narratives sometimes show God allowing what appears to be unjust suffering?

14. Adam was told that if and when he eats the forbidden fruit he would die the same day (Genesis 2:17) Adam ate the fruit and went on to live to a ripe old age of 930 years (Genesis 5:5)So

- The small word “So” ties Genesis 42:17 directly to what has just happened in the previous verses. Joseph has accused his ten brothers of spying (Genesis 42:9–14), tested the truthfulness of their story, and announced that one brother must stay behind while the rest return home with grain (Genesis 42:15–16).

- By beginning with “So,” Scripture presents the imprisonment as the logical outcome of Joseph’s stated plan. It is the next step in a purposeful sequence, similar to how earlier transitions move events forward—“So Potiphar put him in the house of the captain of the guard” (Genesis 39:20) and “So Pharaoh sent for Joseph” (Genesis 41:14).

- The text therefore invites us to read Joseph’s action not as random anger or revenge but as a deliberate part of God’s unfolding plan, echoing Romans 8:28, where God works through every step for good.

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Joseph imprisoned them

- The phrase is straightforward: Joseph, wielding Egyptian authority, “imprisoned them.” Scripture portrays an actual physical confinement, not merely a metaphor, underscoring the literal truthfulness of the narrative.

- Imprisonment is a striking reversal. Years earlier the brothers confined Joseph in a cistern and sold him (Genesis 37:23–28). Now they feel the weight of bondage, fulfilling Galatians 6:7: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, he will reap.”

- This short captivity serves several purposes:

• It exposes the brothers’ guilt; their later conversation—“Surely we are being punished because of our brother” (Genesis 42:21)—shows conscience awakened.

• It establishes Joseph’s credibility before his servants; Pharaoh’s officials observe his firmness, just as in Genesis 41:44 Joseph acted with full royal authority.

• It positions the brothers, and eventually Jacob’s entire family, for reconciliation, paralleling how God often uses hardship to bring repentance (Hebrews 12:11).

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for three days

- The text specifies a literal duration: “for three days.” Scripture repeatedly uses three-day intervals in redemptive moments.

• Jonah was in the fish “three days and three nights” before deliverance (Jonah 1:17).

• Israel waited three days at Sinai before God’s revelation (Exodus 19:10–11).

• Esther asked the Jews to fast three days before her approach to the king (Esther 4:16).

• Most climactic of all, Christ was in the tomb three days before rising (Matthew 12:40).

- Three days give the brothers time to think, repent, and fear God, mirroring how Joseph had earlier spent time in Pharaoh’s prison pondering God’s purposes (Genesis 40:14–15).

- The duration also builds dramatic tension. Joseph’s next words—“Do this and you will live, for I fear God” (Genesis 42:18)—introduce grace after a measured pause, much like God’s pattern of discipline followed by mercy (Psalm 30:5).

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summary

Genesis 42:17 records a real, purposeful act: “So Joseph imprisoned them for three days.” The conjunction “So” links it to Joseph’s divine strategy, the act of imprisonment confronts the brothers with their past sin, and the three-day span provides space for reflection and sets the stage for mercy. In this brief sentence God’s sovereign hand is evident, turning human wrongdoing toward eventual repentance, family restoration, and the preservation of the covenant line.

Verse 17. - And he put them all together into ward (literally, and he assembled them into prison) three days. Ostensibly in consequence of their unwillingness to agree to his proposal, but in reality to give them an experience of the suffering which they had inflicted on him, their brother, and so to awaken in their hearts a feeling of repentance. Yet the clemency of Joseph appears in this, that whereas he had lain three long years in prison as the result of their inhumanity towards him, he only inflicts on them a confinement of three days.

Parallel Commentaries ...


So Joseph imprisoned them
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף (way·ye·’ĕ·sōp̄)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 622: To gather for, any purpose, to receive, take away, remove

for three
שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת (šə·lō·šeṯ)
Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7969: Three, third, thrice

days,
יָמִֽים׃ (yā·mîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3117: A day


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OT Law: Genesis 42:17 He put them all together into custody (Gen. Ge Gn)