Genesis 42:13 kjv

And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.

Genesis 42:13 nkjv

And they said, "Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and in fact, the youngest is with our father today, and one is no more."

Genesis 42:13 niv

But they replied, "Your servants were twelve brothers, the sons of one man, who lives in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more."

Genesis 42:13 esv

And they said, "We, your servants, are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan, and behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is no more."

Genesis 42:13 nlt

"Sir," they said, "there are actually twelve of us. We, your servants, are all brothers, sons of a man living in the land of Canaan. Our youngest brother is back there with our father right now, and one of our brothers is no longer with us."

Genesis 42 verses

Genesis 42 13 Meaning

This verse contains the response of Jacob's ten sons to Joseph, who they do not recognize, when he questions them as spies. They humbly state their identity as twelve brothers from Canaan, emphasizing their shared parentage, and accounting for their youngest brother, Benjamin, being with their father, while tragically stating that one brother (Joseph himself) "is no more," ironically to the very person they refer to.

Genesis 42 13 Context

Genesis 42 begins a crucial narrative of Joseph's encounter with his brothers. The entire Near East is gripped by famine, drawing people to Egypt where Joseph, now the land's governor, oversees grain distribution. His brothers, sent by Jacob, come to Egypt to buy food. Unbeknownst to them, they bow before Joseph, fulfilling his youthful dreams (Gen 37). Joseph immediately recognizes them but maintains his disguise. He speaks harshly, accusing them of being spies, setting the stage for a divine test designed to see if his brothers had truly changed, and to uncover the state of his family, particularly his father Jacob and his full brother Benjamin. This verse is their initial defense, offered as an explanation for their presence and their family situation, intended to assure Joseph they are not a threat. The historical context involves the crucial role of Egypt as an ancient Near Eastern breadbasket during widespread famine and the prevalent practice of regional travel for survival. Family identity and lineage were paramount in ancient Semitic cultures.

Genesis 42 13 Word analysis

• And: Links the brothers' speech to the preceding confrontation. It signals a direct response.
• they said: Refers to the collective response of Joseph's brothers (specifically, the ten who had come). This shows their unity in addressing the powerful Egyptian official.
• "Your servants": Hebrew: עֲבָדֶיךָ (avadeikha). A term of humble respect and submission, commonly used when addressing a superior in the ancient Near East. It highlights their vulnerable position before Joseph, who wields immense power. This also contrasts with their earlier arrogance toward Joseph (Gen 37).
• are twelve brothers: This declarative statement aims to establish their identity and innocence by clarifying their true, non-hostile status as a family unit rather than an invading army. It provides critical information for Joseph.
• we were the sons of one man: Hebrew: בְּנֵי אִישׁ אֶחָד (b'nei ish echad). This further emphasizes their shared heritage from Jacob. In ancient cultures, common paternity signified familial unity and tribal identity. It underscored their connection to a common homeland and loyalty.
• in the land of Canaan: Hebrew: אֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן (eretz K'na'an). This specifies their origin, linking them to their ancestral homeland and confirming Jacob's residence there, thereby giving Joseph further details about his family's whereabouts and current situation during the famine.
• and behold: Hebrew: וְהִנֵּה (v'hineh). An emphatic interjection meaning "look," "lo," or "indeed." It draws attention to the significant detail about to be revealed, emphasizing the crucial points about Benjamin and Joseph.
• the youngest: Hebrew: הַקָּטֹן (hakkaton), "the small one," referring to Benjamin, the only other son of Jacob and Rachel, and thus Joseph's full brother. Benjamin holds a special place in Jacob's heart after Joseph's "death."
• is today with our father: This confirms Benjamin's safety and Jacob's continued existence. "Today" signifies the current reality, giving Joseph up-to-date information about the two individuals he most cares about.
• and one: Refers to the missing eleventh brother in their original group of twelve. This is a deliberate understatement, the "one" being Joseph himself.
• is no more: Hebrew: אֵינֶנּוּ (einennu), literally "he is not." A euphemism for death or disappearance in the Old Testament, avoiding the explicit mention of "dead." This statement is laden with profound dramatic irony, as the brother they believe to be "no more" is the very man they are speaking to. It exposes their own guilt and the lingering belief in Joseph's death.

Genesis 42 13 Bonus section

The brothers' declaration, particularly the statement "one is no more," highlights the theme of deception, which has been prevalent in the Jacob-Esau narrative and in their own actions against Joseph. While they believe they are telling the "truth" from their perspective, it is a truth born of a lie they perpetuated. This sets the stage for Joseph's "testing" (Gen 42:15-20), where he will use their own statements against them to orchestrate events that reveal their character and loyalty, especially towards Benjamin and Jacob, their "old father." The verse thus serves not just as informational exchange but as a psychological trigger for Joseph's plan, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in unfolding events, even through human deception and its eventual unraveling.

Genesis 42 13 Commentary

Genesis 42:13 is a pivotal moment showcasing the profound irony of the narrative and Joseph's psychological mastery. The brothers' humble declaration of their family status—twelve brothers from Canaan, with one missing and the youngest still with their father—provides Joseph with precisely the information he needed to confirm their identity and gauge the condition of Jacob and Benjamin. Their statement, "one is no more," rings with poignant and deeply tragic irony, as Joseph, whom they sold into slavery and presumed dead, now stands before them as the powerful Egyptian governor. This half-truth underscores their ignorance of God's redemptive plan while subtly revealing their internal guilt and Jacob's persistent sorrow. It confirms Joseph's dreams in a powerful, unexpected manner, while simultaneously laying the groundwork for his complex test to assess their repentance and the possibility of family reconciliation. This verse emphasizes the themes of divine providence, disguised identity, and the long, unfolding process of forgiveness and restoration.