Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied, “to buy food.” New Living Translation Joseph recognized his brothers instantly, but he pretended to be a stranger and spoke harshly to them. “Where are you from?” he demanded. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We have come to buy food.” English Standard Version Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke roughly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” Berean Standard Bible And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.” Berean Literal Bible And Joseph saw his brothers and he recognized them, and he made himself strange to them, and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, “From where have you⁺ come?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” King James Bible And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. New King James Version Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he acted as a stranger to them and spoke roughly to them. Then he said to them, “Where do you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan to buy food.” New American Standard Bible When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. He said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” NASB 1995 When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” NASB 1977 When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” Legacy Standard Bible And Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” Amplified Bible When Joseph saw his brothers he recognized them, but [hiding his identity] he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. He said to them, “Where have you come from?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” Berean Annotated Bible And when Joseph (YHWH has added) saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you⁺ come from? he asked. “From the land of Canaan (lowland), they replied. “We are here to buy food. Christian Standard Bible When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from? ” he asked. “From the land of Canaan to buy food,” they replied. Holman Christian Standard Bible When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them.” Where do you come from?” he asked.” From the land of Canaan to buy food,” they replied. American Standard Version And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly with them; and he said unto them. Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. English Revised Version And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly with them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. GOD'S WORD® Translation As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them. But he acted as if he didn't know them and spoke harshly to them. "Where did you come from?" he asked them. "From Canaan, to buy food," they answered. Good News Translation When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he acted as if he did not know them. He asked them harshly, "Where do you come from?" "We have come from Canaan to buy food," they answered. International Standard Version As soon as Joseph saw his brothers, he knew who they were, but he remained disguised and asked them gruffly, "Where are you from?" "From the land of Canaan," they replied. "We're here to buy food." NET Bible When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger to them and spoke to them harshly. He asked, "Where do you come from?" They answered, "From the land of Canaan, to buy grain for food." New Heart English Bible Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but he acted like he did not know them, and spoke harshly with them. And he said to them, "Where do you come from?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food." Webster's Bible Translation And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange to them, and spoke roughly to them; and he said to them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAnd when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.” World English Bible Joseph saw his brothers, and he recognized them, but acted like a stranger to them, and spoke roughly with them. He said to them, “Where did you come from?” They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Joseph sees his brothers, and discerns them, and makes himself strange to them, and speaks sharp things with them, and says to them, “From where have you come?” And they say, “From the land of Canaan—to buy food.” Berean Literal Bible And Joseph saw his brothers and he recognized them, and he made himself strange to them, and spoke to them harshly. And he said to them, “From where have you⁺ come?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” Young's Literal Translation And Joseph seeth his brethren, and discerneth them, and maketh himself strange unto them, and speaketh with them sharp things, and saith unto them, 'From whence have ye come?' and they say, 'From the land of Canaan -- to buy food.' Smith's Literal Translation And Joseph will see his brethren, and will know them, and he will not let himself be known to them. And will speak with them hard things: and he will say to them, From whence came ye? And they will say, From the land of Canaan to buy food. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he knew them, he spoke as it were to strangers somewhat roughly, asking them: Whence came you? They answered: From the land of Chanaan, to buy necessaries of life. Catholic Public Domain Version and he had recognized them, he spoke harshly, as if to foreigners, questioning them: “Where did you come from?” And they responded, “From the land of Canaan, to buy necessary provisions.” New American Bible He recognized them as soon as he saw them. But he concealed his own identity from them and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he asked them. They answered, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” New Revised Standard Version When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them like strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where do you come from?” he said. They said, “From the land of Canaan, to buy food.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he deceived them and spoke harshly to them; and he said to them, Where have you come from? And they said, We came from the land of Canaan to buy grain. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Yoseph saw his brothers and he recognized them, and he acted deceitfully toward them and he spoke with them harshly and said to them, “From where are you?” And they said, “From the land of Canaan; we come to buy grain.” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spoke roughly with them; and he said unto them: 'Whence come ye?' And they said: 'From the land of Canaan to buy food.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And when Joseph saw his brethren, he knew them, and estranged himself from them, and spoke hard words to them; and said to them, Whence are ye come? And they said, Out of the land of Chanaan, to buy food. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Joseph's Brothers Sent to Egypt…6Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. 7And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.” 8Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.… Cross References And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, Genesis 45:1-3 Then Joseph could no longer control himself before all his attendants, and he cried out, “Send everyone away from me!” So none of them were with Joseph when he made himself known to his brothers. / But he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household soon heard of it. / 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. Acts 7:13 On their second visit, Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers, and his family became known to Pharaoh. Genesis 37:18 Now Joseph’s brothers saw him in the distance, and before he arrived, they plotted to kill him. but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 1 Samuel 25:10-11 But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters. / Why should I take my bread and water and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give them to these men whose origin I do not know?” Psalm 69:8 I have become a stranger to my brothers and a foreigner to my mother’s sons, “Where have you come from?” he asked. Genesis 16:8 “Hagar, servant of Sarai,” he said, “where have you come from, and where are you going?” “I am running away from my mistress Sarai,” she replied. Judges 19:17 When he looked up and saw the traveler in the city square, the old man asked, “Where are you going, and where have you come from?” 1 Samuel 30:13 Then David asked him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?” “I am an Egyptian,” he replied, “the slave of an Amalekite. My master abandoned me three days ago when I fell ill. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. Genesis 37:1 Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had resided, the land of Canaan. Genesis 23:2 She died in Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham went out to mourn and to weep for her. Joshua 24:3 But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I multiplied his descendants. I gave him Isaac, “We are here to buy food.” Genesis 41:56-57 When the famine had spread over all the land, Joseph opened up all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians; for the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. / And every nation came to Joseph in Egypt to buy grain, because the famine was severe over all the earth. Genesis 43:1-2 Now the famine was still severe in the land. / So when Jacob’s sons had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.” Genesis 47:14-15 Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were buying, and he brought it into Pharaoh’s palace. / When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our funds have run out!” Genesis 37:5-8 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. / He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: / We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to mine.” … Treasury of Scripture And Joseph saw his brothers, and he knew them, but made himself strange to them, and spoke roughly to them; and he said to them, From where come you? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. roughly unto them. Genesis 42:9-12,14-17,19,20 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come… Matthew 15:23-26 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us… Jump to Previous Acted Buy Canaan Clear Discerneth Disguised Food Harshly Joseph Maketh Pretended Recognized Roughly Soon Speaketh Strange Stranger Strangers Talking WhenceJump to Next Acted Buy Canaan Clear Discerneth Disguised Food Harshly Joseph Maketh Pretended Recognized Roughly Soon Speaketh Strange Stranger Strangers Talking WhenceGenesis 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. And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them Joseph's recognition of his brothers is significant, as it highlights his position of power and authority in Egypt, contrasting with his earlier vulnerability when they sold him into slavery. This moment fulfills the dreams Joseph had in Genesis 37, where his brothers' sheaves bowed to his. The recognition also sets the stage for the unfolding of God's providential plan for the family of Israel. but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them “Where have you come from?” he asked “From the land of Canaan,” they replied “We are here to buy food.” Persons / Places / Events 1. JosephThe son of Jacob, who was sold into slavery by his brothers and rose to become the second most powerful man in Egypt. In this verse, he encounters his brothers for the first time since they sold him. 2. Joseph's Brothers The sons of Jacob who come to Egypt to buy food during a famine. They do not recognize Joseph, whom they sold into slavery years earlier. 3. Egypt The land where Joseph has risen to power and where his brothers come to buy grain during the famine. 4. Canaan The land where Joseph's family resides and from which his brothers travel to Egypt to purchase food. 5. Famine A severe shortage of food that affects the entire region, prompting Joseph's brothers to travel to Egypt. Teaching Points Recognition and TestingJoseph recognizes his brothers, but they do not recognize him. This can symbolize how God often sees and knows us even when we do not recognize His work in our lives. Joseph's testing of his brothers can be seen as a way to discern their character and repentance. Forgiveness and Reconciliation Although Joseph initially speaks harshly, his actions ultimately lead to reconciliation. This teaches us the importance of forgiveness and the process of healing broken relationships. Providence and Sovereignty Joseph's rise to power in Egypt and his encounter with his brothers highlight God's providential plan. Despite human actions, God's purposes prevail, reminding us to trust in His sovereignty. The Role of Conscience The brothers' guilt over their past actions is evident in their interactions with Joseph. This serves as a reminder of the role of conscience in leading us to repentance and restoration. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Genesis 42:7?2. How does Joseph's recognition of his brothers in Genesis 42:7 demonstrate God's providence? 3. What can we learn from Joseph's initial harshness towards his brothers? 4. How does Genesis 42:7 connect to Joseph's earlier dreams in Genesis 37? 5. How should we respond when encountering those who wronged us, as Joseph did? 6. What does Joseph's encounter with his brothers teach about forgiveness and reconciliation? 7. Why did Joseph disguise himself when meeting his brothers in Genesis 42:7? 8. What does Joseph's harsh treatment of his brothers reveal about his character in Genesis 42:7? 9. How does Genesis 42:7 reflect themes of forgiveness and reconciliation? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Genesis 42? 11. How could Joseph’s brothers fail to recognize him after only about two decades (Genesis 42:7–8)? 12. How are Joshua and Jesus similar? 13. What are Jacob's prophetic blessings for his sons? 14. How does the elaborate scheme in Genesis 44:6–13 align with ethical principles, and why would a righteous figure like Joseph resort to deception rather than straightforward communication? What Does Genesis 42:7 Mean When Joseph saw his brothers“And when Joseph saw his brothers…” • Context matters: Joseph, once the seventeen-year-old victim of his brothers’ jealousy (Genesis 37:18-28), is now governor of Egypt during a severe famine (Genesis 41:55-57; 42:6). • Their arrival fulfills the prophetic dreams Joseph had years earlier (Genesis 37:5-11). God’s providence is operating openly; what the brothers meant for evil, the Lord is weaving into good (foreshadowing Genesis 50:20). • Like the prodigal’s first steps home in Luke 15:20, the scene drips with anticipation—yet it is Joseph, not the brothers, who notices first. He recognized them “…he recognized them…” • Joseph’s appearance has been radically altered by culture, power, and years—yet his brothers remain familiar to him (Genesis 42:8). • Recognition underscores God’s faithfulness: years have not blurred the promises entrusted to Joseph (Acts 7:13, where Stephen highlights this same moment). • Typologically, the rejected one sees his own long before they see him (John 1:11). He treated them as strangers “…but he treated them as strangers…” • Joseph’s concealment is deliberate, not deceitful—designed to test hearts (Genesis 42:15-16; cf. 42:30). • Scripture shows other righteous figures employing disguise for protection or discernment (1 Samuel 21:13; 1 Kings 14:2-6). Here it protects the unfolding plan of reconciliation. • The “stranger” posture mirrors how Israel will later perceive its own Messiah (Luke 24:16). He spoke harshly to them “…and spoke harshly to them.” • The severity jolts guilty consciences awake (Genesis 42:21-22). • God sometimes uses stern providences to bring conviction (Psalm 119:67; Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:6). • Yet Joseph’s heart is tender; the harsh tone masks tears he will soon shed in private (Genesis 42:24; 43:30). Mercy is already in motion behind the severity. Where have you come from? “‘Where have you come from?’ he asked.” • The question is investigative, echoing divine probes that draw confession—“Where are you?” to Adam (Genesis 3:9) or “Where have you come from?” to Hagar (Genesis 16:8). • Joseph presses them to verbalize their situation, opening the path to truth. From the land of Canaan “‘From the land of Canaan,’ they replied.” • Their answer links the covenant family to the Promised Land (Genesis 12:5; 46:31). • Egypt and Canaan now intersect; God’s global plan is unfolding (Genesis 28:14). • Ironically, the land once flowing with abundance has driven them to the very brother they rejected. We are here to buy food “‘We are here to buy food.’” • The famine (Genesis 41:54-57) forces them to seek sustenance from the one appointed by God. • Physical hunger mirrors spiritual need; only Joseph can supply both, prefiguring Christ who meets material and eternal hunger (John 6:35). • Their simple request will bloom into redemption, family reunion, and national preservation (Genesis 45:7-8; 50:20-21). summary Genesis 42:7 captures the pivot of divine providence: Joseph recognizes his brothers, conceals his identity, and speaks firmly to expose their hearts. Though the surface shows distance and severity, underneath flows mercy, fulfillment of prophetic dreams, and the preservation of God’s covenant line. The verse reminds us that God’s purposes often advance through unexpected severity that ultimately serves saving grace. (7) Joseph . . . spake roughly unto them.--Joseph has been accused of harshness in his treatment of his brethren, and still more so of his father in forcing him to send away Benjamin. The latter was, no doubt, the result of his great longing to see his only brother, and he may not have known how dear he was to Jacob, or have reflected upon the pain which his father would feel in parting with him. Still it was but a temporary separation, to prepare for a happy re-union. As regards his half-brethren, Joseph was obliged to prove them, and he did nothing to them which they did not richly deserve. From the first he probably wished to have his father and Benjamin to dwell with him, and share his good fortune; but if his brethren were still the cruel and heartless wretches which they had shown themselves to have been in their conduct to him twenty years before, we may well suppose that he would justly have left them to their fate. Possibly his first emotion towards them was one of indignation, but it melted away, when, even in but one of them, he saw proof that they were not entirely destitute of better feeling (see Genesis 42:22; Genesis 42:24).Verse 7. - And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but (literally, and) made himself strange unto them. The root נָכַר, to be marked, signed, by indentation, hence to be foreign (Furst), or simply to be strange (Gesenius), in the Hiphil signifies to press strongly into a thing (Furst), to look at a thing as strange (Gesenius), or to recognize, and in the Hithpael has the sense of representing one's self as strange, i.e. of feigning one's self to be a foreigner. And spake roughly unto them - literally, spake hard things unto them; not from a feeling of revenge which still struggled in his breast with his brotherly affection (Kurtz), or in a spirit of duplicity (Kaliseh), but in order to get at their hearts, and discover the exact state of mind in which they then were with regard to himself and Benjamin, whose absence it is apparent had arrested his attention, and perhaps roused his suspicions (Keil, Murphy, Wordsworth, 'Speaker's Commentary' And he said unto them, - speaking through an interpreter (ver. 23) - Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan (adding, as if they feared Joseph's suspicions, and wished to deprecate his anger) to buy food (i.e. corn for food).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew When Josephיוֹסֵ֛ף (yō·w·sêp̄) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites saw וַיַּ֥רְא (way·yar) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 7200: To see his brothers, אֶחָ֖יו (’e·ḥāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 251: A brother, ) he recognized them, וַיַּכִּרֵ֑ם (way·yak·ki·rêm) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural Strong's 5234: To regard, recognize but he treated them as strangers וַיִּתְנַכֵּ֨ר (way·yiṯ·nak·kêr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5234: To regard, recognize and spoke וַיְדַבֵּ֧ר (way·ḏab·bêr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue harshly קָשׁ֗וֹת (qā·šō·wṯ) Adjective - feminine plural Strong's 7186: Hard, severe to them. אִתָּ֣ם (’it·tām) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among “Where מֵאַ֣יִן (mê·’a·yin) Preposition-m | Adverb Strong's 370: Whence? have you come from?” בָּאתֶ֔ם (bā·ṯem) Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go he asked. וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “From the land מֵאֶ֥רֶץ (mê·’e·reṣ) Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 776: Earth, land of Canaan,” כְּנַ֖עַן (kə·na·‘an) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3667: Canaan -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their land West of the Jordan they replied. וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say “[We are here] to buy לִשְׁבָּר־ (liš·bār-) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7666: To deal in grain food.” אֹֽכֶל׃ (’ō·ḵel) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 400: Food Links Genesis 42:7 NIVGenesis 42:7 NLT Genesis 42:7 ESV Genesis 42:7 NASB Genesis 42:7 KJV Genesis 42:7 BibleApps.com Genesis 42:7 Biblia Paralela Genesis 42:7 Chinese Bible Genesis 42:7 French Bible Genesis 42:7 Catholic Bible OT Law: Genesis 42:7 Joseph saw his brothers and he recognized (Gen. 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