29-32 When they got back to their father Jacob, back in the land of Canaan, they told him everything that had happened, saying, “The man who runs the country spoke to us roughly and accused us of being spies. We told him, ‘We are honest men and in no way spies. There were twelve of us brothers, sons of one father; one is gone and the youngest is with our father in Canaan.’

33-34 “But the master of the country said, ‘Leave one of your brothers with me, take food for your starving families, and go. Bring your youngest brother back to me, proving that you’re honest men and not spies. And then I’ll give your brother back to you and you’ll be free to come and go in this country.’”

Read full chapter

32 We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.’(A)

33 “Then the man who is lord over the land said to us, ‘This is how I will know whether you are honest men: Leave one of your brothers here with me, and take food for your starving households and go.(B) 34 But bring your youngest brother to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men.(C) Then I will give your brother back to you,(D) and you can trade[a] in the land.(E)’”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 42:34 Or move about freely