Genesis 43:3

3 Then Judah said to him, "The man solemnly admonished us, saying, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother [is] with you.'

Genesis 43:3 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 43:3

And Judah spake unto him
Reuben the eldest son had met with a repulse already, ( Genesis 42:36 ) ; Simeon the next was now in Egypt, ( Genesis 42:24 ) , and Levi, perhaps on account of the affair of Shechem, ( Genesis 34:25-31 ) , did not yet stand well in his father's favour and affection; wherefore Judah being next, with the consent of his brethren, undertakes to manage the affair with him, who had doubtless an interest in him, as well as authority among his brethren, and was a prudent man, and could speak well: saying, the man did solemnly protest unto us;
meaning Joseph, though he then knew not that it was he; whom he calls "the man", not by way of contempt, or as thinking and speaking meanly of him, but the reverse, the great man, the honourable man, the governor of Egypt; and so the Septuagint version adds, "the man, the lord of the land"; he in the strongest terms, and in the most solemn manner, protested by the life of Pharaoh: saying, ye shall not see my face;
with acceptance, should not be admitted to come near him, or treat with him, and purchase any corn of him: except your brother [be] with you;
their youngest brother Benjamin.

Genesis 43:3 In-Context

1 Now the famine in the land [was] severe.

2 And it happened [that] as they finished eating the grain which they had brought from Egypt their father said to them, "Return and buy a little food for us."

3 Then Judah said to him, "The man solemnly admonished us, saying, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother [is] with you.'

4 {If you will send} our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you,

5 but {if you will not send} [him], we will not go down, for the man said to us, 'You shall not see my face unless your brother [is] with you.'"