Genesis 42:20

20 But you have to bring your youngest brother back to me, confirming the truth of your speech - and not one of you will die." They agreed.

Genesis 42:20 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:20

But bring your youngest brother unto me
Upon their return for more corn: so shall your words be verified;
that they were true men, and had no ill design upon the land, but were come only to buy corn: and ye shall not die;
as spies, which they were otherwise threatened with; and as it is customary in all nations to put such to death when found out: and they did so;
they left one of their brethren behind; they carried corn to their houses or families in Canaan, and brought their brother Benjamin with them when they returned to Egypt.

Genesis 42:20 In-Context

18 On the third day, Joseph spoke to them. "Do this and you'll live. I'm a God-fearing man.

19 If you're as honest as you say you are, one of your brothers will stay here in jail while the rest of you take the food back to your hungry families.

20 But you have to bring your youngest brother back to me, confirming the truth of your speech - and not one of you will die." They agreed.

21 Then they started talking among themselves. "Now we're paying for what we did to our brother - we saw how terrified he was when he was begging us for mercy. We wouldn't listen to him and now we're the ones in trouble."

22 Reuben broke in. "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't hurt the boy'? But no, you wouldn't listen. And now we're paying for his murder."