Génesis 42:18

18 Y José les dijo al tercer día: Haced esto y viviréis, pues yo temo a Dios:

Génesis 42:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:18

And Joseph said unto them the third day
His heart yearning towards them, though he put on such an appearance; finding they could not come to an agreement among themselves who should go on the errand, he thought fit to recede from his former order, and to give them another: this do, and live:
meaning what he was about to say to them, which if they punctually observed and performed, it would be the means of saving their lives: [for] I fear God;
and therefore would not do either an unjust or cruel thing. This might have given them an him who he was: but there being among the Gentiles, in all nations, some few that feared God, they took no further notice of it than this, that they might expect just and equitable dealings by him; since, though he was in such an high place, he knew and owned there was one higher than he, to whom he was accountable.

Génesis 42:18 In-Context

16 Enviad a uno de vosotros y que traiga a vuestro hermano, mientras vosotros quedáis presos, para que sean probadas vuestras palabras, a ver si hay verdad en vosotros. Y si no, ¡por vida de Faraón!, ciertamente sois espías.

17 Y los puso a todos juntos bajo custodia por tres días.

18 Y José les dijo al tercer día: Haced esto y viviréis, pues yo temo a Dios:

19 si sois hombres honrados, que uno de vuestros hermanos quede encarcelado en vuestra prisión; y el resto de vosotros, id, llevad grano para el hambre de vuestras casas;

20 y traedme a vuestro hermano menor, para que vuestras palabras sean verificadas, y no moriréis. Y así lo hicieron.