Bereshis 42:31

31 And we said unto him, We are truthful ones; we are no meragelim;

Bereshis 42:31 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:31

And we said unto him, we [are] true [men]
Honest, upright men, not given to treacherous and treasonable practices, either in the country where they lived, or any other; they came to Egypt with no ill design upon the country, only to buy corn for the relief of their families in necessity: we are no spies;
or never were ^F5: they had never been guilty of such practices, and never charged with anything of that kind; they denied the charge, and detested the character.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 (wnyyh al) "non fuimus", Montanus; "nunquam fuimus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schmidt.

Bereshis 42:31 In-Context

29 And they came unto Ya’akov Avihem in Eretz Kena’an, and told him all that befell unto them; saying,

30 The ish, who is adonei HaAretz, spoke roughly to us, and took us for meragelim HaAretz.

31 And we said unto him, We are truthful ones; we are no meragelim;

32 We are Shneym Asar Achim, Bnei Avinu; one is not, and the katon is today with Avinu in Eretz Kena’an.

33 And the ish, adonei HaAretz, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are truthful ones; leave one of your achim here with me, and that which is needful for the ra’avon bateichem (famine of your houses), take and be gone;