Genesis 42:12

12 Then he said to them, "No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land."

Genesis 42:12 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:12

And he said unto them, nay
This argument will not do, I am not to be put off with such words as these; if you can produce no better proof of your being honest men than this, or give no better account of yourselves, I must abide by it, that, to see the nakedness of the land ye are come;
this he urged in order to get a further account from them of their family and the state of it, which he was anxious to know.

Genesis 42:12 In-Context

10 And they said to him, "No, my lord, but your servants have come to buy food.

11 We all are sons of one man. We [are] honest [men]. We, your servants, are not spies."

12 Then he said to them, "No, but you have come to see the nakedness of the land."

13 Then they said, "We, your servants, [are] twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, but behold, the youngest [is] with our father today, and one is no more."

14 But Joseph said to them, "It [is] what I said to you--you [are] spies.