Genesis 42:11

11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”

Genesis 42:11 in Other Translations

KJV
11 We are all one man's sons; we are true men, thy servants are no spies.
ESV
11 We are all sons of one man. We are honest men. Your servants have never been spies."
NLT
11 We are all brothers—members of the same family. We are honest men, sir! We are not spies!”
MSG
11 We're all the sons of the same man; we're honest men; we'd never think of spying."
CSB
11 "We are all sons of one man. We are honest; your servants are not spies."

Genesis 42:11 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:11

We [are] all one man's sons
Therefore not likely to be spies; it could hardly be thought that a single family should engage in such an affair; or that one man would, send his sons as spies, and especially all of them, it being a dangerous affair, and they being liable to be taken up and put to death; and as more families than one must be concerned in such an enterprise, it is reasonable to suppose, that if they had been spies they would have been of different families, and also not together, but in different parts of the kingdom, to observe the fittest place to enter in at and execute their design: we [are] true [men]:
that spoke truth when they said they came to buy corn; were honest, upright, and sincere in what they said, nor would they, nor durst they, tell a lie: thy servants are no spies;
this they expressed in the strongest terms, and with the fullest assurance they could, detesting the charge and character of being spies.

Genesis 42:11 In-Context

9 Then he remembered his dreams about them and said to them, “You are spies! You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”
10 “No, my lord,” they answered. “Your servants have come to buy food.
11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies.”
12 “No!” he said to them. “You have come to see where our land is unprotected.”
13 But they replied, “Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

Cross References 3

  • 1. ver 13; Ge 44:7,9,16,19,21,31; Genesis 46:34; Genesis 47:3
  • 2. ver 15,16,19,20,34
  • 3. ver 31
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