Genesis 42:20
New International Version
But you must bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

New Living Translation
But you must bring your youngest brother back to me. This will prove that you are telling the truth, and you will not die.” To this they agreed.

English Standard Version
and bring your youngest brother to me. So your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so.

Berean Standard Bible
Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.” And to this they consented.

King James Bible
But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

New King James Version
And bring your youngest brother to me; so your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they did so.

New American Standard Bible
and bring your youngest brother to me, so that your words may be verified, and you will not die.” And they did so.

NASB 1995
and bring your youngest brother to me, so your words may be verified, and you will not die.” And they did so.

NASB 1977
and bring your youngest brother to me, so your words may be verified, and you will not die.” And they did so.

Legacy Standard Bible
and bring your youngest brother to me, so your words may be proven true, and you will not die.” And they did so.

Amplified Bible
but bring your youngest brother to me, so your words will be verified and you will not die.” And they did so.

Christian Standard Bible
Bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be confirmed; then you won’t die.” And they consented to this.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be confirmed; then you won’t die.” And they consented to this.

American Standard Version
and bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

Contemporary English Version
But you must bring your youngest brother to me. Then I'll know that you are telling the truth, and you won't be put to death. Joseph's brothers agreed

English Revised Version
and bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But you must bring me your youngest brother. This will show that you've been telling the truth. Then you won't die." So they agreed.

Good News Translation
Then you must bring your youngest brother to me. This will prove that you have been telling the truth, and I will not put you to death." They agreed to this

International Standard Version
Just be sure to bring your youngest brother back to me so what you've claimed can be verified. That way, you won't die."

Majority Standard Bible
Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.” And to this they consented.

NET Bible
But you must bring your youngest brother to me. Then your words will be verified and you will not die." They did as he said.

New Heart English Bible
But bring your youngest brother to me so that your words will be verified, and you won’t die. "To this they agreed.

Webster's Bible Translation
But bring your youngest brother to me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

World English Bible
Bring your youngest brother to me; so will your words be verified, and you won’t die.” They did so.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and you bring your young brother to me, and your words are established, and you do not die”; and they do so.

Young's Literal Translation
and your young brother ye bring unto me, and your words are established, and ye die not;' and they do so.

Smith's Literal Translation
And ye shall bring your little brother to me, and your words shall be believed, and ye shall not die. And they will do so.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And bring your youngest brother to me, that I may find your words to be true, and you may not die. They did as he had said.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And bring your youngest brother to me, so that I may be able to test your words, and you may not die.” They did as he had said,

New American Bible
But you must bring me your youngest brother. Your words will thus be verified, and you will not die.” To this they agreed.

New Revised Standard Version
and bring your youngest brother to me. Thus your words will be verified, and you shall not die.” And they agreed to do so.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But bring your youngest brother to me; so shall your words be verified, and you shall not die. And they did so.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And bring your little brother to me, and your words will be believed, and you shall not die”, and they did so.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die.' And they did so.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And bring your younger brother to me, and your words shall be believed; but, if not, ye shall die. And they did so.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph's Brothers Sent to Egypt
19If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you go and take back grain to relieve the hunger of your households. 20Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.” And to this they consented. 21Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”…

Cross References
Genesis 43:3-5
But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ / If you will send our brother with us, we will go down and buy food for you. / But if you will not send him, we will not go; for the man told us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”

Genesis 44:23
But you said to your servants, ‘Unless your younger brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.’

Genesis 37:21-22
When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said. / “Do not shed his blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this so that he could rescue Joseph from their hands and return him to his father.

Genesis 37:26-28
Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? / Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed. / So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

Genesis 45:3-5
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence. / Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! / And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.

Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.

Exodus 1:8-10
Then a new king, who did not know Joseph, came to power in Egypt. / “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. / Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”

Exodus 4:21
The LORD instructed Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put within your power. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go.

Exodus 10:1-2
Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials, that I may perform these miraculous signs of Mine among them, / and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how severely I dealt with the Egyptians when I performed miraculous signs among them, so that all of you may know that I am the LORD.”

Deuteronomy 8:2
Remember that these forty years the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commandments.

1 Samuel 12:17-19
Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.” / So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. / They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

2 Kings 6:21-23
And when the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” / “Do not kill them,” he replied. “Would you kill those you have captured with your own sword or bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and then return to their master.” / So the king prepared a great feast for them, and after they had finished eating and drinking, he sent them away, and they returned to their master. And the Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.

Psalm 105:16-19
He called down famine on the land and cut off all their supplies of food. / He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. / They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons, ...

Isaiah 55:8-9
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. / “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,


Treasury of Scripture

But bring your youngest brother to me; so shall your words be verified, and you shall not die. And they did so.

bring.

Genesis 42:15,34
Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither…

Genesis 43:5,19
But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down: for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you…

Genesis 44:23
And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more.

And they.

Genesis 42:26
And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence.

Genesis 6:22
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.

John 2:5
His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

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Genesis 42
1. Jacob sends his ten sons to buy grain in Egypt.
16. They are imprisoned by Joseph as spies.
18. They are set at liberty, on condition to bring Benjamin.
21. They have remorse for Joseph.
24. Simeon is kept for a pledge.
25. They return with grain, and their money.
29. Their relation to Jacob.
36. Jacob refuses to send Benjamin.














Then bring your youngest brother to me
This phrase is a directive from Joseph, who is now the governor of Egypt, to his brothers. The Hebrew root for "bring" is "בּוֹא" (bo), which implies a coming or going, often with a sense of purpose or mission. Joseph's command is not merely a request but a test of his brothers' honesty and integrity. Historically, this moment is pivotal as it sets the stage for the eventual reconciliation of Joseph with his family. The mention of the "youngest brother" refers to Benjamin, who is Joseph's only full brother, sharing both the same father, Jacob, and mother, Rachel. This request is laden with emotional and familial significance, as Benjamin represents the last connection to Joseph's beloved mother.

so that your words can be verified
The phrase underscores the importance of truth and integrity. The Hebrew word for "verified" is "אָמַן" (aman), which means to confirm, support, or be faithful. Joseph is testing his brothers' truthfulness, as their past actions had been deceitful when they sold him into slavery. This verification is not just for Joseph's peace of mind but also serves as a moral test for his brothers, challenging them to confront their past sins and demonstrate a change of heart. In a broader scriptural context, this reflects the biblical theme of repentance and redemption, where truth is a pathway to reconciliation and restoration.

and you may not die
This phrase carries a weighty consequence, highlighting the severity of the situation. The Hebrew word for "die" is "מוּת" (muth), which is often used in the Old Testament to denote physical death but can also imply spiritual or moral death. Joseph's statement is a stark reminder of the life-and-death stakes involved in their journey to Egypt. It reflects the harsh realities of the ancient world, where famine and political power could dictate life or death. Spiritually, it serves as a metaphor for the wages of sin, as echoed in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Joseph's ultimatum is a call to repentance, offering his brothers a chance to choose life through truth and integrity.

And to this they consented
The brothers' consent marks a turning point in their journey. The Hebrew root for "consented" is "עָשָׂה" (asah), meaning to do, make, or agree. This agreement signifies their willingness to comply with Joseph's demands, perhaps out of fear, necessity, or a genuine desire to prove their honesty. It is a moment of submission and acknowledgment of their precarious situation. Historically, this consent is crucial as it sets in motion the events leading to the eventual reunion and reconciliation of Joseph with his family. In a spiritual sense, their consent can be seen as an act of humility and a step towards redemption, aligning with the biblical principle that true repentance involves both confession and action.

(20) Bring your youngest brother.--Besides his desire to be re-united to his brother, Joseph reasonably felt that the possession of Benjamin would be the best means of inducing his father also to come to him. While substituting a much milder proposal for his former one, that nine should remain in prison, and the tenth go to fetch Benjamin, Joseph nevertheless takes care to make his brethren feel that he was in earnest.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

bring
תָּבִ֣יאוּ (tā·ḇî·’ū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

your youngest
הַקָּטֹן֙ (haq·qā·ṭōn)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant

brother
אֲחִיכֶ֤ם (’ă·ḥî·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

to me
אֵלַ֔י (’ê·lay)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

so that your words
דִבְרֵיכֶ֖ם (ḏiḇ·rê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

can be verified,
וְיֵאָמְנ֥וּ (wə·yê·’ā·mə·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 539: To confirm, support

that you may not
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

die.”
תָמ֑וּתוּ (ṯā·mū·ṯū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

And to this
כֵֽן׃ (ḵên)
Adverb
Strong's 3651: So -- thus

they consented.
וַיַּעֲשׂוּ־ (way·ya·‘ă·śū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make


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OT Law: Genesis 42:20 Bring your youngest brother to me (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 42:19
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