Genesis 42:33
New International Version
“Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go.

New Living Translation
“Then the man who is governor of the land told us, ‘This is how I will find out if you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take grain for your starving families and go on home.

English Standard Version
Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way.

Berean Standard Bible
Then the man who is lord of the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest: Leave one brother with me, take food to relieve the hunger of your households, and go.

King James Bible
And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:

New King James Version
Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone.

New American Standard Bible
But the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go.

NASB 1995
“The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go.

NASB 1977
“And the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me and take grain for the famine of your households, and go.

Amplified Bible
And the man, the lord of the country, said to us, ‘By this [test] I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers here with me and take grain for your starving households and go.

Christian Standard Bible
The man who is the lord of the country said to us, ‘This is how I will know if you are honest: Leave one brother with me, take food to relieve the hunger of your households, and go.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The man who is the lord of the country said to us, ‘This is how I will know if you are honest: Leave one brother with me, take food to relieve the hunger of your households, and go.

American Standard Version
And the man, the lord of the land, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men: leave one of your brethren with me, and take grain for the famine of your houses, and go your way;

Contemporary English Version
Then the governor of Egypt told us, "I'll find out if you really are honest. Leave one of your brothers here with me, while you take the grain to your starving families.

English Revised Version
And the man, the lord of the land, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren with me, and take corn for the famine of your houses, and go your way:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Then the governor of that land said to us, 'This is how I'll know that you're honest men: Leave one of your brothers with me. Take food for your starving families and go.

Good News Translation
The man answered, 'This is how I will find out if you are honest men: One of you will stay with me; the rest will take grain for your starving families and leave.

International Standard Version
But the man who was in charge of the land responded, 'I'm going to test your honesty. Leave one of your brothers with me, take some grain for the famine that's afflicting your households, and leave.

Majority Standard Bible
Then the man who is lord of the land said to us, ?This is how I will know whether you are honest: Leave one brother with me, take food to relieve the hunger of your households, and go.

NET Bible
"Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, 'This is how I will find out if you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for your hungry households and go.

New Heart English Bible
The man, the lord of the country, said to us, ?By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the hunger of your households, and go your way.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the man, the lord of the country, said to us, By this shall I know that ye are true men: leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and depart:

World English Bible
The man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your houses, and go your way.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the man, the lord of the land, says to us, By this I know that you [are] right men—leave one of your brothers with me, and take [for] the famine of your houses and go,

Young's Literal Translation
And the man, the lord of the land, saith unto us, By this I know that ye are right men -- one of your brethren leave with me, and for the famine of your houses take ye and go,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the man, the lord of the land, will say to us, In this I shall know that ye are true; leave one of your brethren with me, and take for the famine of your houses and go.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to us: Hereby shall I know that you are peaceable men: Leave one of your brethren with me, and take ye necessary provision for your houses, and go your ways.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to us: ‘Thus will I prove that you are peaceful. Release one of your brothers to me, and take necessary provisions for your houses, and go away,

New American Bible
Then the man who is lord of the land said to us: ‘This is how I will know if you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, then take grain for your starving families and go.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the man, the lord of the land, said to us, ‘By this I shall know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, take grain for the famine of your households, and go your way.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the man, the lord of the land, said to us, By this shall I know that you are pious men; leave one of your brothers here with me, and take wheat for the famished who are in your households, and go your way;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the man, the Lord of the land, said to us, ‘In this I shall know that you are righteous: leave your one brother with me and take the grain for the hungry that are in your house and go:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the man, the lord of the land, said unto us: Hereby shall I know that ye are upright men: leave one of your brethren with me, and take corn for the famine of your houses, and go your way.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the man, the lord of the land, said to us, Herein shall I know that ye are peaceable; leave one brother here with me, and having taken the corn ye have purchased for your family, depart.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph's Brothers Return to Canaan
32We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in the land of Canaan.’ 33Then the man who is lord of the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest: Leave one brother with me, take food to relieve the hunger of your households, and go. 34But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’ ”…

Cross References
Genesis 43:3-5
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.’”

Genesis 44:23
But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’

Genesis 45:19-20
You are also directed to tell them: ‘Take wagons from the land of Egypt for your young children and your wives, and bring your father and come back. / But pay no regard to your belongings, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.’”

Genesis 47:29-31
When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, / but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.” / “Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.

Genesis 50:24-25
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” / And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

Exodus 1:8-11
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.” ...

Exodus 3:16-17
Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—has appeared to me and said: I have surely attended to you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. / And I have promised to bring you up out of your affliction in Egypt, into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—a land flowing with milk and honey.’

Exodus 13:19
Moses took the bones of Joseph with him because Joseph had made the sons of Israel swear a solemn oath when he said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones with you from this place.”

Numbers 14:30-31
Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. / But I will bring your children, whom you said would become plunder, into the land you have rejected—and they will enjoy it.

Deuteronomy 31:23
Then the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun and said, “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land that I swore to give them, and I will be with you.”

Joshua 24:32
And the bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up out of Egypt, were buried at Shechem in the plot of land that Jacob had purchased from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver. So it became an inheritance for Joseph’s descendants.

Acts 7:9-16
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. / Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food. ...

Acts 7:18-19
Then another king, who knew nothing of Joseph, arose over Egypt. / He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.

Acts 7:34
I have indeed seen the oppression of My people in Egypt. I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you back to Egypt.’

Hebrews 11:22
By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.


Treasury of Scripture

And the man, the lord of the country, said to us, Hereby shall I know that you are true men; leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:

Genesis 42:15,19,20
Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither…

Jump to Previous
Corn Country Depart Families Famine Food Grain Hereby Honest Households Houses Kept Leave Needs Ruler True. Upright Way Whether
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Corn Country Depart Families Famine Food Grain Hereby Honest Households Houses Kept Leave Needs Ruler True. Upright Way Whether
Genesis 42
1. Jacob sends his ten sons to buy grain in Egypt.
16. They are imprisoned by Joseph as spies.
18. They are set at liberty, on condition to bring Benjamin.
21. They have remorse for Joseph.
24. Simeon is kept for a pledge.
25. They return with grain, and their money.
29. Their relation to Jacob.
36. Jacob refuses to send Benjamin.














Then the man who is lord of the land
This phrase refers to Joseph, who, unbeknownst to his brothers, has risen to a position of great power in Egypt. The Hebrew word for "lord" is "adon," which signifies a master or ruler. Joseph's authority is divinely orchestrated, fulfilling the dreams he had as a youth. His position as "lord" is a testament to God's providence and the unfolding of His plan, even through human suffering and betrayal.

said to us
The communication here is direct and authoritative. Joseph's words carry weight, not just because of his position, but because they are part of a larger divine narrative. The brothers are being tested, and their response will reveal their character and integrity. This moment is pivotal, as it sets the stage for reconciliation and redemption.

This is how I will know whether you are honest
Honesty is a central theme in this narrative. The Hebrew word for "honest" is "ken," meaning true or right. Joseph's test is not merely about verifying their account but is a deeper probe into their moral fiber. This echoes the biblical principle that God desires truth in the inward parts (Psalm 51:6). The brothers' honesty is crucial for the restoration of their family.

Leave one brother with me
This command is both a test and a provision. By leaving one brother, the others are compelled to return, ensuring the continuation of the narrative. It also mirrors the earlier betrayal of Joseph, where he was left behind by his brothers. This act of leaving one behind serves as a catalyst for reflection and repentance.

take food for your starving households
The provision of food is a recurring theme in Joseph's story, symbolizing God's provision and care. The Hebrew word for "starving" is "ra'eb," indicating severe hunger. This physical need underscores the urgency and desperation of the situation. Joseph's provision of food is an act of grace, reflecting God's compassion and mercy.

and go
The instruction to "go" is both practical and symbolic. It signifies a journey, not just in the physical sense, but also a journey of transformation and reconciliation. The brothers must return to their father, face their past, and ultimately, come back to Egypt for the fulfillment of God's plan. This command propels the narrative forward, emphasizing the themes of obedience and faith in God's unfolding plan.

(33) Leave one of your brethren.--While acknowledging that the lord of Egypt had spoken "hard things" with them, they do not mention that Simeon was left in bonds, nor even the harsher part of the treatment which they had met with, lest Jacob should be afraid to send Benjamin on their next visit.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then the man
הָאִישׁ֙ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

who is the lord
אֲדֹנֵ֣י (’ă·ḏō·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

of the land
הָאָ֔רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to us,
אֵלֵ֗ינוּ (’ê·lê·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

‘This is how
בְּזֹ֣את (bə·zōṯ)
Preposition-b | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

I will know
אֵדַ֔ע (’ê·ḏa‘)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

whether
כִּ֥י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you
אַתֶּ֑ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are honest:
כֵנִ֖ים (ḵê·nîm)
Adjective - masculine plural
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

Leave
הַנִּ֣יחוּ (han·nî·ḥū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3240: Bestow, cast down, lay down, up, leave off, let alone remain, pacify, place,

one
הָֽאֶחָד֙ (hā·’e·ḥāḏ)
Article | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

brother
אֲחִיכֶ֤ם (’ă·ḥî·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

with me,
אִתִּ֔י (’it·tî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

take
קְח֥וּ (qə·ḥū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

food to relieve the hunger
רַעֲב֥וֹן (ra·‘ă·ḇō·wn)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 7459: Hunger, lack of food, famine

of your households,
בָּתֵּיכֶ֖ם (bāt·tê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1004: A house

and go.
וָלֵֽכוּ׃ (wā·lê·ḵū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk


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OT Law: Genesis 42:33 The man the lord of the land (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 42:32
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