Genesis 42:34
New International Version
But bring your youngest brother 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.’”

New Living Translation
But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. Then I will know you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give you back your brother, and you may trade freely in the land.’”

English Standard Version
Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I shall know that you are not spies but honest men, and I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’”

Berean Standard Bible
But 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.’”

King James Bible
And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.

New King James Version
And bring your youngest brother to me; so I shall know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. I will grant your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
But bring your youngest brother to me so that I may know that you are not spies, but honest men. I will give your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’”

NASB 1995
‘But bring your youngest brother to me that I may know that you are not spies, but honest men. I will give your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’”

NASB 1977
‘But bring your youngest brother to me that I may know that you are not spies, but honest men. I will give your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
But bring your youngest brother to me that I may know that you are not spies, but honest men. I will give your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’”

Amplified Bible
Bring your youngest brother to me; then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. Then I will return your [imprisoned] brother [back] to you, and you may trade and do business in the land.’”

Christian Standard Bible
Bring back your youngest brother to me, and I will know that you are not spies but honest men. I will then give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the country.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Bring back your youngest brother to me, and I will know that you are not spies but honest men. I will then give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the country.’”

American Standard Version
and bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land..

Contemporary English Version
But bring your youngest brother to me, so I can be certain that you are honest men and not spies. After that, I'll let your other brother go free, and you can stay here and trade."

English Revised Version
and bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But bring me your youngest brother. Then I'll know that you're not spies but honest men. I'll give your brother back to you, and you'll be able to move about freely in this country.'"

Good News Translation
Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but honest men; I will give your brother back to you, and you can stay here and trade.'"

International Standard Version
But bring your youngest brother back to me so I can be sure that you're honest men, and not spies. Then I'll return your brother to you, and you'll be allowed to trade anywhere in the land.'"

Majority Standard Bible
But 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.’”

NET Bible
But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give your brother back to you and you may move about freely in the land.'"

New Heart English Bible
Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. So I will deliver your brother to you, and you may travel in the land.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And bring your youngest brother to me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: then will I deliver to you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.

World English Bible
Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. So I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and bring your young brother to me, and I know that you [are] not spies, but you [are] right men; I give your brother to you, and you trade with the land.”

Young's Literal Translation
and bring your young brother unto me, and I know that ye are not spies, but ye are right men; your brother I give to you, and ye trade with the land.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And bring your little brother to me, and I shall know that ye are not spying, but ye are true: I will give to you your brother and ye shall traffic in the land.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And bring your youngest brother to me, that I may know you are not spies: and you may receive this man again, that is kept in prison: and afterwards may have leave to buy what you will.

Catholic Public Domain Version
and bring your youngest brother to me, so that I may know that you are not scouts. And this one, who is held in chains, you may be able to receive again. And thereafter, you shall have permission to buy what you want.’ ”

New American Bible
When you bring me your youngest brother, and I know that you are not spies but honest men, I will restore your brother to you, and you may move about freely in the land.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
Bring your youngest brother to me, and I shall know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will release your brother to you, and you may trade in the land.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And bring your youngest brother to me; then shall I know that you are not spies, but that you are pious men; so I will deliver your brother to you, and you shall trade in the land.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And bring your little brother to me, and I shall know that you are not spies, but you are good, and I shall give your brother to you and you will do business in the land.’”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And bring your youngest brother unto me; then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are upright men; so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And bring to me your younger brother; then I shall know that ye are not spies, but that ye are men of peace: and I will restore you your brother, and ye shall trade in the land.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph's Brothers Return to 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.’” 35As they began emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his bag of silver! And when they and their father saw the bags of silver, they were dismayed.…

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 45:9-11
Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. / You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. / And there I will provide for you, because there will be five more years of famine. Otherwise, you and your household and everything you own will come to destitution.’

Genesis 46:29-30
Joseph prepared his chariot and went there to meet his father Israel. Joseph presented himself to him, embraced him, and wept profusely. / Then Israel said to Joseph, “Finally I can die, now that I have seen your face and know that you are still alive!”

Genesis 47:12
Joseph also provided his father and brothers and all his father’s household with food for their families.

Genesis 50:20-21
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. / Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

Exodus 1:6-7
Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, / but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.

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 4:29-31
Then Moses and Aaron went and assembled all the elders of the Israelites, / and Aaron relayed everything the LORD had said to Moses. And Moses performed the signs before the people, / and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.

Exodus 6:6-8
Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. / I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. / And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!’”

Acts 7:9-14
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 7:15-16
So Jacob went down to Egypt, where he and our fathers died. / Their bones were carried back to Shechem and placed in the tomb that Abraham had bought from the sons of Hamor at Shechem for a price he paid in silver.

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.’

Acts 7:35-36
This Moses, whom they had rejected with the words, ‘Who made you ruler and judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be their ruler and redeemer through the angel who appeared to him in the bush. / He led them out and performed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, at the Red Sea, and for forty years in the wilderness.


Treasury of Scripture

And bring your youngest brother to me: then shall I know that you are no spies, but that you are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and you shall traffic in the land.

traffick.

Genesis 34:10,21
And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein…

1 Kings 10:15
Beside that he had of the merchantmen, and of the traffick of the spice merchants, and of all the kings of Arabia, and of the governors of the country.

Ezekiel 17:4
He cropped off the top of his young twigs, and carried it into a land of traffick; he set it in a city of merchants.

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Deliver Honest Right Spies Trade Traffic Traffick True. Upright Youngest
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Deliver Honest Right Spies Trade Traffic Traffick True. Upright Youngest
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.














But bring your youngest brother back to me
This phrase is a directive from Joseph, who is testing his brothers' honesty and integrity. The Hebrew word for "bring" (הָבִיאוּ, haví'u) implies a command with an expectation of compliance. Joseph's insistence on seeing Benjamin, the youngest brother, is significant because it serves as a test of the brothers' truthfulness and familial loyalty. Historically, this reflects the importance of family ties and the role of the youngest son in ancient Near Eastern cultures, often seen as a symbol of hope and continuity.

so that I may know that you are not spies
The phrase "so that I may know" (וְאֵדְעָה, ve'edá) indicates Joseph's desire for proof or evidence. In the context of ancient Egypt, espionage was a serious accusation, and Joseph's brothers had to prove their innocence. The term "spies" (מְרַגְּלִים, meraglim) is used here to describe those who would seek to harm or exploit the land. This reflects the political climate of the time, where foreign threats were a constant concern for rulers.

but honest men
The Hebrew word for "honest" (כֵּנִים, kenim) conveys a sense of integrity and truthfulness. Joseph's challenge to his brothers is not just about proving their innocence but also about demonstrating their moral character. In a broader biblical context, honesty is a virtue highly esteemed by God, as seen throughout Scripture, where truth and righteousness are often linked.

Then I will give your brother back to you
This promise from Joseph is a conditional one, hinging on the brothers' ability to prove their honesty. The act of "giving back" (אֶתֵּן, etén) signifies restoration and reconciliation. In the narrative, this is a pivotal moment where Joseph holds the power to reunite the family, foreshadowing the eventual reconciliation and healing of past wounds.

and you can trade in the land
The permission to "trade" (תִּסְחֲרוּ, tisch'ru) in Egypt is significant, as it implies economic opportunity and survival. In the historical context, Egypt was a major center of commerce and trade, and access to its markets would have been crucial for the brothers' livelihood. This phrase also symbolizes acceptance and integration into the land, a theme that resonates with the broader biblical narrative of God's people finding favor and provision in foreign lands.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
But bring
וְ֠הָבִיאוּ (wə·hā·ḇî·’ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

your youngest
הַקָּטֹן֮ (haq·qā·ṭōn)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant

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

back to me
אֵלַי֒ (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

so I will know
וְאֵֽדְעָ֗ה (wə·’ê·ḏə·‘āh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

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

are not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

spies
מְרַגְּלִים֙ (mə·rag·gə·lîm)
Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 7270: To walk along, to reconnoiter, to be a, tale-bearer, to lead about

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

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

Then I will give your brother
אֲחִיכֶם֙ (’ă·ḥî·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

back to you,
אֶתֵּ֣ן (’et·tên)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

and you can trade
תִּסְחָֽרוּ׃ (tis·ḥā·rū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5503: To go around or about, travel about

in the land.’”
הָאָ֖רֶץ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT Law: Genesis 42:34 Bring your youngest brother to me (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 42:33
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