Genesis 42:31
 Genesis 42:31 
New International Version (©2011)
But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies.

New Living Translation (©2007)
But we said, 'We are honest men, not spies.

English Standard Version (©2001)
But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we have never been spies.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
But we told him: We are honest and not spies.

International Standard Version (©2012)
But we told him, 'No! We're honest men! We're not spies!

NET Bible (©2006)
But we said to him, 'We are honest men; we are not spies!

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
But we said to him, 'We're honest men, not spies.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And we said unto him, We are honest men; we are no spies:

American King James Version
And we said to him, We are true men; we are no spies:

American Standard Version
And we said unto him, We are true men; and we are no spies:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And we answered him: We are peaceable men, and we mean no plot.

Darby Bible Translation
And we said to him, We are honest; we are not spies:

English Revised Version
And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:

Webster's Bible Translation
And we said to him, We are true men; we are no spies:

World English Bible
We said to him, 'We are honest men. We are no spies.

Young's Literal Translation
and we say unto him, We are right men, we have not been spies,

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

42:29-38 Here is the report Jacob's sons made to their father. It troubled the good man. Even the bundles of money Joseph returned, in kindness, to his father, frightened him. He laid the fault upon his sons; knowing them, he feared they had provoked the Egyptians, and wrongfully brought home their money. Jacob plainly distrusted his sons, remembering that he never saw Joseph since he had been with them. It is bad with a family, when children behave so ill that their parents know not how to trust them. Jacob gives up Joseph for gone, and Simeon and Benjamin as in danger; and concludes, All these things are against me. It proved otherwise, that all these things were for him, were working together for his good, and the good of his family. We often think that to be against us, which is really for us. We are afflicted in body, estate, name, and in our relations; and think all these things are against us, whereas they are really working for us a weight of glory. Thus does the Lord Jesus conceal himself and his favour, thus he rebukes and chastens those for whom he has purposes of love. By sharp corrections and humbling convictions he will break the stoutness and mar the pride of the heart, and bring to true repentance. Yet before sinners fully know him, or taste that he is gracious, he consults their good, and sustains their souls, to wait for him. May we do thus, never yielding to discouragement, determining to seek no other refuge, and humbling ourselves more and more under his mighty hand. In due time he will answer our petitions, and do for us more than we can expect.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And we said unto him, we are true men,.... Honest, upright men, not given to treacherous and treasonable practices, either in the country where they lived, or any other; they came to Egypt with no ill design upon the country, only to buy corn for the relief of their families in necessity:

we are no spies; or never were (e): they had never been guilty of such practices, and never charged with anything of that kind; they denied the charge, and detested the character.

(e) "non fuimus", Montanus; "nunquam fuimus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schmidt.


Genesis 42:31 Parallel Commentaries

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Genesis 42:31 KJV

Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Joseph's Brothers Return to Canaan
30The man, who is the lord of the land, spoke roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country. 31And we said to him, We are true men; we are no spies: 32We be twelve brothers, sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. …

Genesis 42:11 We are all the sons of one man. Your servants are honest men, not spies."
Genesis 42:32 We were twelve brothers, sons of one father. One is no more, and the youngest is now with our father in Canaan.'