Genesis 42:8
New International Version
Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

New Living Translation
Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn’t recognize him.

English Standard Version
And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

Berean Standard Bible
Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

King James Bible
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

New King James Version
So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

New American Standard Bible
But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him.

NASB 1995
But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him.

NASB 1977
But Joseph had recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him.

Legacy Standard Bible
But Joseph recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him.

Amplified Bible
Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

Christian Standard Bible
Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

American Standard Version
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

English Revised Version
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Even though Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn't recognize him.

Good News Translation
Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

International Standard Version
But Joseph had already recognized his brothers, even though they had not recognized him.

Majority Standard Bible
Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.

NET Bible
Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

New Heart English Bible
So Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

World English Bible
Joseph recognized his brothers, but they didn’t recognize him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Joseph discerns his brothers, but they have not discerned him,

Young's Literal Translation
And Joseph discerneth his brethren, but they have not discerned him,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Joseph will know his brethren, and they knew him not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And though he knew his brethren, he was not known by them.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And although he knew his brothers, he was not known by them.

New American Bible
When Joseph recognized his brothers, although they did not recognize him,

New Revised Standard Version
Although Joseph had recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yoseph recognized his brothers and they did not recognize him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew him not.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph's Brothers Sent to Egypt
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. 9Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said, “You are spies! You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”…

Cross References
Genesis 37:5-9
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.” ...

Genesis 45:1-4
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. ...

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.

Acts 7:9-13
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him / and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household. / Then famine and great suffering swept across Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could not find food. ...

Genesis 41:39-44
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. / You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” / Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.” ...

Genesis 43:26-28
When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him. / He asked if they were well, and then he asked, “How is your elderly father you told me about? Is he still alive?” / “Your servant our father is well,” they answered. “He is still alive.” And they bowed down to honor him.

Genesis 44:18-34
Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself. / My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’ / And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’ ...

Genesis 45:14-15
Then Joseph threw his arms around his brother Benjamin and wept, and Benjamin wept as they embraced. / Joseph kissed each of his brothers as he wept over them. And afterward his brothers talked with him.

Genesis 50:15-21
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.” / So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded, / ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. ...

Matthew 25:35-40
For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in, / I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you looked after Me, I was in prison and you visited Me.’ / Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? ...

John 1:10-11
He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. / He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

John 7:5
For even His own brothers did not believe in Him.

Luke 24:16
But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.

Luke 24:31
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight.

Acts 3:17
And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders.


Treasury of Scripture

And Joseph knew his brothers, but they knew not him.

but they knew.

Luke 24:16
But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

John 20:14
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

John 21:4
But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

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Although Discerned Discerneth Idea Joseph Recognize Recognized
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.














Although Joseph recognized his brothers
The Hebrew root for "recognized" is נָכַר (nakar), which means to acknowledge or discern. This word choice highlights Joseph's ability to perceive and understand his brothers' identities despite the passage of time and his own transformation. Joseph's recognition is not merely physical but also emotional and spiritual, as he confronts the memories and past grievances associated with his brothers. This moment is pivotal, as it sets the stage for the unfolding drama of reconciliation and forgiveness. Joseph's recognition signifies his readiness to engage with his past and the divine plan that has brought him to this moment.

they did not recognize him
The brothers' inability to recognize Joseph is rooted in the same Hebrew word, נָכַר (nakar), but here it underscores their lack of perception and understanding. This blindness is both literal and metaphorical. Literally, Joseph's Egyptian attire and position of power obscure his identity. Metaphorically, it reflects their spiritual blindness and the consequences of their past actions. Historically, this moment is rich with irony and divine providence. The brothers, who once sold Joseph into slavery, now stand before him, unaware of his true identity and the role he will play in their survival. This lack of recognition is a testament to the transformative power of God's plan, which can change circumstances and hearts in ways beyond human comprehension.

(8) Joseph knew.--As this is twice repeated, some suppose that Joseph (in Genesis 42:7) had only a suspicion, from their dress and appearance, that these Canaanites were his brethren; but that when they spake the Hebrew tongue (comp. Genesis 42:23), every doubt was removed. They would not recognize him, as he used the Egyptian language, was clad in a white linen dress, and being but seventeen when sold, had during the twenty years of separation changed in appearance much more than they had.

Verse 8. - And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. The lapse of time since the tragedy of Dothan, twenty years before, the high position occupied by Joseph, the Egyptian manners he had by this time assumed, and the strange tongue m which he conversed with them, all conspired to prevent Jacob's sons from recognizing their younger brother; while the facts that Joseph's brethren were all grown men when he had last looked upon them, that he was quite familiar with their appearances, and that he perfectly understood their speech, would account for his almost instantaneous detection of them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Although Joseph
יוֹסֵ֖ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

recognized
וַיַּכֵּ֥ר (way·yak·kêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5234: To regard, recognize

his brothers,
אֶחָ֑יו (’e·ḥāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

they
וְהֵ֖ם (wə·hêm)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1992: They

did not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

recognize him.
הִכִּרֻֽהוּ׃ (hik·ki·ru·hū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5234: To regard, recognize


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OT Law: Genesis 42:8 Joseph recognized his brothers but they didn't (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 42:7
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