Genesis 42:21 kjv

And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

Genesis 42:21 nkjv

Then they said to one another, "We are truly guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the anguish of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we would not hear; therefore this distress has come upon us."

Genesis 42:21 niv

They said to one another, "Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that's why this distress has come on us."

Genesis 42:21 esv

Then they said to one another, "In truth we are guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us and we did not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us."

Genesis 42:21 nlt

Speaking among themselves, they said, "Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn't listen. That's why we're in this trouble."

Genesis 42 verses

Genesis 42 21 Meaning

Genesis 42:21 describes Joseph's brothers acknowledging their collective guilt over their past cruel treatment of him. Under duress in Egypt, they attribute their current distress to their specific callousness: they vividly recall witnessing Joseph's profound emotional and physical anguish and desperate pleas while in the pit, yet consciously chose to disregard him and offer no mercy. This profound realization directly connects their present predicament and suffering to their past sin, indicating their understanding of divine justice at play.

Genesis 42 21 Context

Genesis chapter 42 opens with Jacob dispatching his ten eldest sons to Egypt to purchase grain, as a severe famine grips the land, forcing people to seek provisions elsewhere. Unknown to them, the powerful Egyptian vizier to whom they must humble themselves is their own brother Joseph, whom they betrayed and sold into slavery two decades prior. Joseph immediately recognizes his brothers but maintains his disguise. He tests them by accusing them of being spies, imprisoning them for three days, and then demanding they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, to prove their innocence. Under immense pressure, facing dire circumstances, and believing the vizier does not understand their language, the brothers turn to each other. In this private conversation, the present distress, mirroring their past act of cruelty against Joseph, finally breaks through their long-held suppression of guilt, leading to their profound confession in verse 21. Their shared confession marks a significant turning point in their understanding of their past actions and the justice of God.

Genesis 42 21 Word analysis

• And they said (vayyo'mru): Signals a shift from external interaction to internal, private communication among the brothers. It introduces a moment of raw truthfulness.
• one to another ('ish 'el 'achiv): Lit. "each man to his brother." This emphasizes the collective and communal nature of their shared guilt and conversation. It underscores their fraternal bond, now burdened by past betrayal.
• We are verily guilty ('akh 'aval 'ashemim 'anakhnu):
  • We: Underscores the shared responsibility and lack of individual blame-shifting.
  • verily ('akh 'aval): These two Hebrew particles intensely reinforce the certainty, expressing "indeed," "certainly," or "truly." It's an unreserved, absolute admission of fault.
  • guilty ('ashemim - אָשֵׁמִים): Signifies being "culpable," "held accountable," or "liable to punishment" for a specific offense. It implies a violation of moral or divine law deserving of consequences, pointing to a profound awareness of their wrong.
• concerning our brother ('al-'achinu): Directly identifies the victim of their transgression as their own flesh and blood. There is no obfuscation; they know exactly who they wronged.
• in that we saw (ki ra'inu): Their guilt is rooted not in ignorance, but in direct, undeniable visual witness. They consciously observed Joseph's profound suffering. "Saw" (רָאִינוּ) means they had clear sensory perception.
• the anguish of his soul (tzarat nafsho - צָרַת נַפְשֹׁו):
  • anguish (tzarat - צָרַת): Denotes extreme distress, trouble, or tribulation, a sense of being hemmed in or crushed. It refers to both external pressure and internal turmoil.
  • of his soul (nafsho - נַפְשֹׁו): Refers to the totality of his being—his life, spirit, breath, deepest emotions, and self. They witnessed not just physical pain but a deep, existential torment.
• when he besought us (b'hitchannenow 'eleinu - בְּהִתְחַנְנֹו אֵלֵינוּ):
  • besought (hithchannenōw - הִתְחַנְנֹו): Describes Joseph pleading for mercy, grace, or favor, often with earnest, humble entreaties. Joseph's plea was not a demand but a desperate, vulnerable appeal.
• and we would not hear (v'lo' shama'nu - וְלֹא שָׁמָעְנוּ):
  • hear (shama'nu): In Hebrew, this term means far more than physical audition; it encompasses "to listen, to heed, to obey, to show compassion or consideration." It highlights their deliberate, callous refusal to respond with empathy, to take action, or to show mercy.
• therefore is this distress come upon us ('al ken ba'ah 'eleinu ha'tzarah hazot - עַל כֵּן בָּאָה אֵלֵינוּ הַצָּרָה הַזֹּאת):
  • therefore ('al ken): Explicitly establishes a direct causal link, "for this reason" or "as a result."
  • distress (ha'tzarah - הַצָּרָה): Shares the exact same root as "anguish" (tzarat) used earlier for Joseph's suffering. This striking repetition powerfully illustrates the concept of lex talionis, where the nature of the punishment directly reflects the nature of the crime.
  • come upon us: Indicates an imposed or unavoidable consequence, a rightful visitation of suffering upon them. It acknowledges divine involvement in their circumstances.

Word-groups Analysis:

• "We are verily guilty concerning our brother": This is a momentous confession, a unified acceptance of deep moral culpability. It points to a corporate sin against kinship and covenant, underscoring the weight of their family's past actions.
• "in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us": This phrase details the exact nature of their transgression. It highlights not merely the act of selling but the active, cruel dispassion displayed by witnessing intense, vulnerable suffering and desperate pleas without intervening.
• "and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us": This links their wilful deafness to compassion directly to their current tribulations. The verbal echo of "anguish" and "distress" vividly portrays retributive justice: the suffering they inflicted is now visited upon them, underscoring God's righteous dealings.

Genesis 42 21 Bonus section

The brothers' internal conversation, unknowingly heard by Joseph, reveals the divine providence at work, bringing to light their long-concealed sin. This instance beautifully illustrates how God uses seemingly adverse circumstances (famine, Joseph's harshness) to expose and deal with unaddressed guilt within His people. The phrase "would not hear" points to a profound hardening of their hearts, a resistance to basic human empathy and brotherly love, which now finds its mirror in their inability to soften their circumstances. This self-realization of their guilt, while borne out of fear and current suffering, is the crucial first step on their path toward true repentance and reconciliation within their family, laying the groundwork for God's larger redemptive plan for Israel. The deep sense of shame and guilt felt by the brothers is often seen by scholars as a necessary component in the spiritual maturation of God's chosen people, moving them towards greater integrity.

Genesis 42 21 Commentary

Genesis 42:21 marks a pivotal moment of conviction for Joseph's brothers. Driven by intense fear and current adversity in Egypt, the burden of their past sin against Joseph, which they suppressed for two decades, finally breaks through their collective conscience. Their unanimous confession, "We are verily guilty concerning our brother," is not merely an admission of fault but a profound recognition that their present distress is directly connected to their former cruelty. They recall precisely the moment of Joseph's intense personal suffering and desperate pleas from the pit, acknowledging their deliberate choice to turn a deaf ear and deny him mercy. This verse highlights the unwavering biblical principle that a just God ensures consequences for unrepented sin, often allowing circumstances to serve as instruments of conviction and judgment. The striking parallelism between Joseph's "anguish" and their current "distress" profoundly illustrates God's principle of "measure for measure," where the suffering inflicted on others is mirrored in one's own experiences, designed to lead towards humility and eventual restoration.