Genesis - 42:19

  1. Bible
  2. Genesis
  3. 42
  4. 19
  1. In-Depth
  2. Discusion

19 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.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Genesis 42:19.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
If ye be 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:
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:
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.
If ye are honest, let one of your brethren remain bound in the house of your prison, but go ye, carry grain for the hunger of your households;
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:
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,
If you are true men, let one of you be kept in prison, while you go and take grain for the needs of your families;
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;
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.
Si veraces estis, frater vester unus ligetur in domo custodiae vestrae: vos autem ite, auferte alimentum ad abigendam famem e domibus vestris.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

If ye be true men,.... As you say you are:
let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison; agree among yourselves which of you (for one of you must) remain in prison where you are: and the rest being set at liberty:
go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses; Joseph, though he dealt with them after this manner to get what knowledge he could of his family, and to get sight of his brother, yet was concerned for the good of them and theirs, lest they should be in extreme want through the famine, and that they might have a speedy supply of corn, was not willing to detain them any longer.

*More commentary available at chapter level.

Discussion on Genesis 42:19

User discussion of the verse.





*By clicking Submit, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.