The Meaning of Genesis 42:19 Explained

Genesis 42:19

KJV: If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:

YLT: if ye are right men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your ward, and ye, go, carry in corn for the famine of your houses,

Darby: If ye are honest, let one of your brethren remain bound in the house of your prison, but go ye, carry grain for the hunger of your households;

ASV: if ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in your prison-house; but go ye, carry grain for the famine of your houses:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If ye [be] true  [men], let one  of your brethren  be bound  in the house  of your prison:  go  ye, carry  corn  for the famine  of your houses: 

What does Genesis 42:19 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 42:18-38 - Simeon Held The Others Sent Home
The behavior of this great Egyptian official-for so the brethren deemed him-must have seemed very hard and tyrannical to the trembling shepherds from the far land of Canaan. They had no idea that he understood what they said, and turned away to weep. But we can read his inner meaning. He must secure their return, so he kept Simeon bound. He wanted to see the beloved Benjamin, and to test their behavior to him, so he threatened that they should not see his face unless their youngest brother accompanied them. He gave to them of his kindly care in the gift of provisions and the return of their money. It was natural that the old father heard their story with failing-heart-"All these things are against me." Nay, in all these things was the life of the Spirit, and in all these things we are more than conquerors. See Romans 8:37.
"Judge not the Lord with feeble sense,
But trust him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face." [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 42

1  Jacob sends his ten sons to buy grain in Egypt
16  They are imprisoned by Joseph as spies
18  They are set at liberty, on condition to bring Benjamin
21  They have remorse for Joseph
24  Simeon is kept for a pledge
25  They return with grain, and their money
29  Their relation to Jacob
36  Jacob refuses to send Benjamin

What do the individual words in Genesis 42:19 mean?

If honest [men] you [are] of your brothers one let be confined in the house of imprisonment but you go and carry grain for the famine of your houses
אִם־ כֵּנִ֣ים אַתֶּ֔ם אֲחִיכֶ֣ם אֶחָ֔ד יֵאָסֵ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם וְאַתֶּם֙ לְכ֣וּ הָבִ֔יאוּ שֶׁ֖בֶר רַעֲב֥וֹן בָּתֵּיכֶֽם

כֵּנִ֣ים  honest  [men] 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
אַתֶּ֔ם  you  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine plural
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
אֲחִיכֶ֣ם  of  your  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
אֶחָ֔ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
יֵאָסֵ֖ר  let  be  confined 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָסַר  
Sense: to tie, bind, imprison.
בְּבֵ֣ית  in  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
מִשְׁמַרְכֶ֑ם  of  imprisonment 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: מִשְׁמָר 
Sense: place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch, observance.
וְאַתֶּם֙  but  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, second person masculine plural
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
לְכ֣וּ  go 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
הָבִ֔יאוּ  and  carry 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
שֶׁ֖בֶר  grain 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: שֶׁבֶר  
Sense: grain, corn (as foodstuff).
רַעֲב֥וֹן  for  the  famine 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: רְעָבֹון  
Sense: hunger, lack of food, famine.
בָּתֵּיכֶֽם  of  your  houses 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.