The Meaning of Genesis 42:23 Explained

Genesis 42:23

KJV: And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

YLT: And they have not known that Joseph understandeth, for the interpreter is between them;

Darby: And they did not know that Joseph understood, for the interpreter was between them.

ASV: And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And they knew  not that Joseph  understood  [them]; for he spake unto them by an interpreter. 

What does Genesis 42:23 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 42:23 mean?

But they not did know that understood [them] Joseph for through an interpreter he spoke to them
וְהֵם֙ לֹ֣א יָֽדְע֔וּ כִּ֥י שֹׁמֵ֖עַ יוֹסֵ֑ף כִּ֥י הַמֵּלִ֖יץ בֵּינֹתָֽם

וְהֵם֙  But  they 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.
יָֽדְע֔וּ  did  know 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּ֥י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
שֹׁמֵ֖עַ  understood  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
יוֹסֵ֑ף  Joseph 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄוסֵף  
Sense: the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel.
כִּ֥י  for  through 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
הַמֵּלִ֖יץ  an  interpreter 
Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine singular
Root: לִיץ 
Sense: to scorn, make mouths at, talk arrogantly.
בֵּינֹתָֽם  he  spoke  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: בַּיִן 
Sense: between, among, in the midst of (with other preps), from between.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 42:23?

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