Génesis 42:18

18 Y al tercer día díjoles José: Haced esto, y vivid: Yo temo á 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 uno de vosotros, y traiga á vuestro hermano; y vosotros quedad presos, y vuestras palabras serán probadas, si hay verdad con vosotros: y si no, vive Faraón, que sois espías.
17 Y juntólos en la cárcel por tres días.
18 Y al tercer día díjoles José: Haced esto, y vivid: Yo temo á Dios:
19 Si sois hombres de verdad, quede preso en la casa de vuestra cárcel uno de vuestros hermanos; y vosotros id, llevad el alimento para el hambre de vuestra casa:
20 Pero habéis de traerme á vuestro hermano menor, y serán verificadas vuestras palabras, y no moriréis. Y ellos lo hicieron así.
The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.