Genesis 42:31

31 and we say unto him, We [are] right men, we have not been 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 And they come in unto Jacob their father, to the land of Canaan, and they declare to him all the things meeting them, saying,

30 `The man, the lord of the land, hath spoken with us sharp things, and maketh us as spies of the land;

31 and we say unto him, We [are] right men, we have not been spies,

32 we [are] twelve brethren, sons of our father, the one is not, and the young one [is] to-day with our father in the land of Canaan.

33 `And the man, the lord of the land, saith unto us, By this I know that ye [are] right men -- one of your brethren leave with me, and [for] the famine of your houses take ye and go,