Genesis 42:15

Pharaoh

¹³ But they answered, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

¹⁴ Then Joseph declared, “Just as I said, you are spies!

And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.

¹⁶ Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be confined so that the truth of your words may be tested. If they are untrue, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”

¹⁷ So Joseph imprisoned them for three days,

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you shall not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.
KJV: Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
WEB: By this you shall be tested. By the life of Pharaoh, you shall not go out from here, unless your youngest brother comes here.
ASV: hereby ye shall be proved: by the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
DARBY: By this ye shall be put to the proof: as Pharaoh lives, ye shall not go forth hence, unless your youngest brother come hither!
BLB: By this you⁺ shall be tested: By the life of Pharaoh, you⁺ shall not go forth from this, except if your youngest brother comes here.

ÅB: Men nå skal dere prøves: Så sant Farao lever, skal dere ikke komme herfra før deres yngste bror kommer hit.
OTB: Slik skal dere bli testet: ved faraos liv, dere skal ikke forlate dette stedet med mindre deres yngste bror kommer hit.
B1930: Men nu skal I prøves: Så sant Farao lever, skal I ikke komme herfra før eders yngste bror kommer hit.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 17:55
As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.”
Read in context
Genesis 42:16
Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be confined so that the truth of your words may be tested. If they are untrue, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”
Read in context
Genesis 42:30
“The man who is lord of the land spoke harshly to us and accused us of spying on the country.
Read in context
Matthew 23:16–22
Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’
Read in context
1 Samuel 1:26
“Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.
Read in context
Genesis 42:12
“No,” he told them. “You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”
Read in context
James 5:12
Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.
Read in context
Genesis 43:3
But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’
Read in context