Bible Strands

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.’”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joseph, speaking through his Egyptian steward, addresses his ten brothers during their second grain procurement trip, demanding the return of their youngest brother to verify their honesty.

The words — The Hebrew phrase וְאֵֽדְעָה (ve./'e.de.'Ah) literally translates to "so let me know," establishing the conditional requirement for the brothers' next action.

The thread — The promise that the brothers may "trade in the land" appears in Genesis 34:10 and 34:21, and aligns with the commercial revenue described in 1 Kings 10:15.

Why it lands — The text records a political verification that simultaneously secures family reunion and grants foreign merchants legal economic status.

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

וְ֠הָבִיאוּVe./ha.vi.'uand/ bringאֶת־'et-<obj.>אֲחִיכֶ֣ם'a.chi./Khembrother/ yourהַקָּטֹן֮ha./ka.Ton<the>/ youngאֵלַי֒'e.La/ito/ meוְאֵֽדְעָ֗הve./'e.de.'Ahso/ let me knowכִּ֣יkithatלֹ֤אlo'notמְרַגְּלִים֙me.ra.ge.Lim[are] spiesאַתֶּ֔ם'a.Temyouכִּ֥יkithatכֵנִ֖יםkhe.Nim[are] honestאַתֶּ֑ם'a.Temyouאֶת־'et-<obj.>אֲחִיכֶם֙'a.chi./Khembrother/ yourאֶתֵּ֣ן'e.TenI will giveלָכֶ֔םla./Khemto <the>/ youוְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הָאָ֖רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ landתִּסְחָֽרוּ׃tis.Cha.ruyou will go about in

King James Version

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.

Cross-references