Genesis 42:31

31 But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies.

Genesis 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.

Genesis 42:31 In-Context

29 Then they went to Jacob their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them, saying:

30 "The man who is lord of the land spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.

31 But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies.

32 We are twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is no more, and the youngest is with our father this day in the land of Canaan.'

33 Then the man, the lord of the country, said to us, 'By this I will know that you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, take food for the famine of your households, and be gone.