Genesis 42:19

19 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:

Genesis 42:19 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:19

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.

Genesis 42:19 In-Context

17 And he put them all together into ward three days.

18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live: for I fear God:

19 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:

20 and bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.