Bible Strands
Genesis 42:15
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.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Joseph addresses his brothers who have arrived in Egypt to purchase grain, declaring they will not be permitted to depart until their youngest sibling arrives.
The words — The Hebrew תִּבָּחֵ֑נוּ (ti.ba.Che.nu) literally means "you will be tested," and the oath formula חֵי פַרְעֹה (chei far.'Oh) translates to "as surely as Pharaoh lives" to anchor the command.
The thread — The text establishes the confinement condition that fulfills Joseph's spy accusation in Genesis 42:14 and sets the verification procedure detailed in Genesis 42:16.
Why it lands — The verse requires the brothers to produce the absent family member as proof of their current claim, forcing them to confront the consequences of their past abandonment.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
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.”
- Genesis 42:7 And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”
- Genesis 42:12 “No,” he told them. “You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”
- 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!”
- Genesis 42:20 Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.” And to this they consented.
- Genesis 42:30 “The man who is lord of the land spoke harshly to us and accused us of spying on the country.
- Genesis 42:34 But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’”
- Genesis 43:3 But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’
- Genesis 44:20 And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’
- Deuteronomy 6:13 Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.