Genesis 42:16

16 One of you must go and get your brother. The rest of you will stay here in prison. We will see if you are telling the truth. If not, as surely as the king lives, you are spies."

Genesis 42:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:16

Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother
He proposes that one of them might be sent by them to their father's house, and bring, Benjamin down to Egypt: and ye shall be kept in prison;
the rest of them till he came: that your words may be proved, whether [there be any] truth in you;
by this it would be seen whether they were men of truth and honesty or not; and should their brother be brought they would appear to be good men and true: or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely ye [are] spies;
should not their brother they spoke of be produced, it would be a plain case that they were not the honest men they pretended to be, nor did they come merely to buy corn, but had an ill intention.

Genesis 42:16 In-Context

14 But Joseph said to them, "I can see I was right! You are spies!
15 But I will give you a way to prove you are telling the truth. As surely as the king lives, you will not leave this place until your youngest brother comes here.
16 One of you must go and get your brother. The rest of you will stay here in prison. We will see if you are telling the truth. If not, as surely as the king lives, you are spies."
17 Then Joseph put them all in prison for three days.
18 On the third day Joseph said to them, "I am a God-fearing man. Do this and I will let you live:
Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 1987, 1988, 1991 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.