The Meaning of Genesis 42:34 Explained

Genesis 42:34

KJV: And bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffick in the land.

YLT: and bring your young brother unto me, and I know that ye are not spies, but ye are right men; your brother I give to you, and ye trade with the land.'

Darby: and bring your youngest brother to me, and I shall know that ye are not spies, but are honest. Your brother will I give up to you; and ye may trade in the land.

ASV: and bring your youngest brother unto me: then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And bring  your youngest  brother  unto me: then shall I know  that ye [are] no spies,  but [that] ye [are] true  [men: so] will I deliver  you your brother,  and ye shall traffick  in the land. 

What does Genesis 42:34 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 42:34 mean?

And bring - your brother youngest to me So I shall know that not spies you [are] but honest [that] you [are] - your brother I will grant to you and in the land you may trade
וְ֠הָבִיאוּ אֶת־ אֲחִיכֶ֣ם הַקָּטֹן֮ אֵלַי֒ וְאֵֽדְעָ֗ה כִּ֣י לֹ֤א מְרַגְּלִים֙ אַתֶּ֔ם כִּ֥י כֵנִ֖ים אַתֶּ֑ם אֶת־ אֲחִיכֶם֙ אֶתֵּ֣ן לָכֶ֔ם וְאֶת־ הָאָ֖רֶץ תִּסְחָֽרוּ

וְ֠הָבִיאוּ  And  bring 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲחִיכֶ֣ם  your  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
הַקָּטֹן֮  youngest 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: קָטָן 
Sense: young, small, insignificant, unimportant.
אֵלַי֒  to  me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
וְאֵֽדְעָ֗ה  So  I  shall  know 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
כִּ֣י  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
מְרַגְּלִים֙  spies 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: רָגַל  
Sense: to go on foot, spy out, foot it, go about, walk along, move the feet.
אַתֶּ֔ם  you  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine plural
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
כֵנִ֖ים  honest 
Parse: Adjective, masculine plural
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
אַתֶּ֑ם  [that]  you  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, second person masculine plural
Root: אַתְּ 
Sense: you (second pers.
אֶת־    - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲחִיכֶם֙  your  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
אֶתֵּ֣ן  I  will  grant 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, first person common singular
Root: יָתַן 
Sense: to give, put, set.
לָכֶ֔ם  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
הָאָ֖רֶץ  in  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
תִּסְחָֽרוּ  you  may  trade 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: סָחַר  
Sense: to go around, go about, travel about in, go about in trade.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 42:34?

Loading Information...