Génesis 42:15

15 Y con esto lo vamos a comprobar: Les juro por la vida del faraón, que de aquí no saldrán con vida a menos que traigan a su hermano menor.

Génesis 42:15 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:15

Hereby ye shall be proved
Whether spies, or not, namely, by producing their youngest brother, said to be at home with his father: by the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your
youngest brother come hither:
the phrase, "by the life of Pharaoh", seems to be the form of an oath, as it was common with many nations, especially with the Scythians, who used to swear by the royal throne {a}, and the Romans, in later times, by the life, health, and genius of their emperor; and this custom of swearing by the life of their king, or by his head, continued with the Egyptians, as Aben Ezra says, unto his times; though some take this to be a wish or prayer for the life of Pharaoh, and render it, "may Pharaoh live" ^F2, or, at most, but a strong asseveration, that as dear as the life of Pharaoh was to him, so surely they should not stir from the place where they were, unless their youngest brother Benjamin was brought thither.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Herodot. Melpomene, sive, l. 4. c. 68.
F2 (herp yx) "vivat Parhoh", Montanus, Junius & Tremellius; so Ainsworth and Lightfoot.

Génesis 42:15 In-Context

13 Pero ellos volvieron a responder:—Nosotros, sus siervos, éramos doce hermanos, todos hijos de un mismo padre que vive en Canaán. El menor se ha quedado con nuestro padre, y el otro ya no vive.

14 Pero José los increpó una vez más:—Es tal como les he dicho. ¡Ustedes son espías!

15 Y con esto lo vamos a comprobar: Les juro por la vida del faraón, que de aquí no saldrán con vida a menos que traigan a su hermano menor.

16 Manden a uno de ustedes a buscar a su hermano; los demás se quedarán en la cárcel. Así sabremos si es verdad lo que dicen. Y si no es así, ¡por la vida del faraón, ustedes son espías!

17 José los encerró en la cárcel durante tres días.