Genesis 42:34

34 But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. Then I will know you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give you back your brother, and you may trade freely in the land.’”

Genesis 42:34 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:34

And, bring your youngest brother unto me
Their brother Benjamin: then shall I know that you [are] no spies, but [that] you [are] true
[men];
he knew they were no spies now, but true, honest, upright men, with respect to any designs upon the country; but then he should own and acknowledge them to be such, having such plain proof that what they said was true: [so] will I deliver your brother;
their brother Simeon, who was left bound; though this circumstance they also here studiously conceal from their father: and ye shall traffic in the land;
not only for corn, but for any other commodity Egypt furnished its neighbours with.

Genesis 42:34 In-Context

32 We are twelve brothers, sons of one father. One brother is no longer with us, and the youngest is at home with our father in the land of Canaan.’

33 “Then the man who is governor of the land told us, ‘This is how I will find out if you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take grain for your starving families and go on home.

34 But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. Then I will know you are honest men and not spies. Then I will give you back your brother, and you may trade freely in the land.’”

35 As they emptied out their sacks, there in each man’s sack was the bag of money he had paid for the grain! The brothers and their father were terrified when they saw the bags of money.

36 Jacob exclaimed, “You are robbing me of my children! Joseph is gone! Simeon is gone! And now you want to take Benjamin, too. Everything is going against me!”