Genesis 42:16

16 Sende therfore one off you and lett him fett youre brother and ye shalbe in preason in the meane season. And thereby shall youre wordes be proued whether there be any trueth in you: or els by the lyfe of Pharao ye are but spies.

Genesis 42:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 42:16

Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother
He proposes that one of them might be sent by them to their father's house, and bring, Benjamin down to Egypt: and ye shall be kept in prison;
the rest of them till he came: that your words may be proved, whether [there be any] truth in you;
by this it would be seen whether they were men of truth and honesty or not; and should their brother be brought they would appear to be good men and true: or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely ye [are] spies;
should not their brother they spoke of be produced, it would be a plain case that they were not the honest men they pretended to be, nor did they come merely to buy corn, but had an ill intention.

Genesis 42:16 In-Context

14 Ioseph sayde vnto them that is it that I sayde vnto you that ye are surelye spies.
15 Here by ye shall be proued. For by the lyfe of Pharao ye shall not goo hence vntyll youre yongest brother be come hither.
16 Sende therfore one off you and lett him fett youre brother and ye shalbe in preason in the meane season. And thereby shall youre wordes be proued whether there be any trueth in you: or els by the lyfe of Pharao ye are but spies.
17 And he put them in warde thre dayes.
18 And Ioseph sayde vnto the the thryd daye: This doo and lyue for I feare Gode
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