Genesis 42:17 — Word Study
WLCוַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף אֹתָ֛ם אֶל־ מִשְׁמָ֖ר שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃
BSASo Joseph imprisoned themʼâçaph▸ [the ruler of Egypt, put them in custody, confined, his brothers, the sons of Jacob] for threeshâlôwsh [a period of] daysyôwm [a time of testing]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף | and he removed | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect third person masculine singular |
| אֹתָ֛ם | the object marker them | Particle, suffix |
| אֶל־ | to | Preposition |
| מִשְׁמָ֖ר | custody | Noun common, masculine singular absolute |
| שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת | three | Adj |
| יָמִֽים׃ | days | Noun common, masculine plural absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | So Joseph imprisoned them for three days, |
| KJV | And he put them all together into ward three days. |
| ASV | And he put them all together into ward three days. |
| YLT | and he removeth them unto charge three days. |
| WEB | He put them all together into custody for three days. |
| BBE | So he put them in prison for three days. |
Where they part company is in the translation of אֶל־ — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is straightforward, with a main action followed by a duration, emphasizing the confinement aspect.




5 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp, Cambridge & more — read them ›
clause
verbאָסַף
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 42:17
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — Joseph Tests His Brothersgenerated
Genesis 42:17 describes how Joseph, after accusing his brothers of being spies, imprisoned them for three days. This period of confinement serves as a test of their integrity and honesty regarding their family situation. The narrative emphasizes Joseph's authority and the seriousness of the situation, as he seeks to discern the truth about his brothers' intentions and their treatment of their younger brother, Benjamin.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isaiah 24:22 | They will be gathered together like prisoners in a pit. They will be confined to a dungeon and punished after many days. |
| 2 | Acts 5:18 | and arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. |
| 3 | Genesis 40:4–7 | The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he became their personal attendant. After they had been in custody for some time, |
| 4 | Genesis 41:10 | Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he put me and the chief baker in the custody of the captain of the guard. |
| 5 | Leviticus 24:12 | They placed him in custody until the will of the LORD should be made clear to them. |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 8 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — אֶל־, 'el-generated
The verb אָסַף (asaf) means to gather or remove. It reflects actions of bringing together or taking away, which in this context indicates Joseph's decision to confine his brothers. The parsing as a sequential imperfect third person masculine singular shows that this action is ongoing and authoritative, emphasizing Joseph's control over the situation.
The use of this verb in the narrative highlights Joseph's role as a ruler who is both testing and managing his brothers' fate. The act of imprisonment is not merely punitive but serves a deeper purpose in the unfolding story of reconciliation.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses the term imprisoned, a choice shared by the KJV and ASV, emphasizing the confinement aspect of Joseph's action.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The main verb of the verse is וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף, and he imprisoned, which governs the entire clause. The structure follows a straightforward narrative style, with the action clearly stated first, followed by the object and the circumstances of the action.
The phrase אֶל־ מִשְׁמָ֖ר indicates the direction of the action (to custody), while שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים specifies the duration, creating a clear and concise statement of Joseph's actions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
אֶל־ is translated in the Septuagint as ἐν, which means 'in' or 'within.' This choice suggests a broader interpretation of Joseph's action, indicating not just the direction but the state of being confined.
The Greek term φυλακῇ for 'custody' aligns closely with the Hebrew מִשְׁמָ֖ר, reinforcing the idea of a guarded or protected state, which is consistent with the context of imprisonment.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 42:17 tells us that Joseph imprisoned his brothers for three days. This action was part of a test to see if they were telling the truth about their family situation. Joseph's authority as the ruler of Egypt is evident as he manages the situation with his brothers.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
Joseph imprisoned his brothers to test their honesty and to see how they would react under pressure, especially concerning their younger brother, Benjamin.
The three days serve as a period of testing, allowing Joseph to assess his brothers' character and intentions.
This event is crucial in the narrative as it sets the stage for eventual reconciliation and reveals the transformation in Joseph's brothers.
The term 'custody' implies a state of confinement under watch, indicating that Joseph was not just punishing them but also seeking to understand their true nature.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What can we learn about honesty from Joseph's treatment of his brothers?
- How does the theme of testing appear in other parts of the Bible?
- In what ways can we reflect on our own actions when faced with difficult situations?
- How does Joseph's authority influence the dynamics between him and his brothers?
Commentators on this verse — 5 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 42:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd he put them all together into ward three days. In order to consult together, and agree who should be sent to fetch their brother; and which it seems probable in this length of time they could not
Read John Gill on Genesis 42 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he put them all together into ward three days. Put them all together into ward three days. Their confinement had been designed to bring them to salutary reflection.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 42 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 42:17 And he put them all together into ward three days.Ver. 17. And he put them all together into ward three days.] Not into close prison, but into some chamber, or private room, where they might have opportunity of reflecting upon themselves, and repenting. I have heard of a grave divine, lately living, that did much good upon many that came to him to crave alms, by shutting them up in a room by themselves, having first taken great pains with them by way of direction what to do to be saved, joining in prayer, setting them in a course of better living, and then providing for them fit services. In conclave aliquod, ubi custodiebantur. - Pisc. Dr Chetwind, Dean of Brist.
Read John Trapp on Genesis 42 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17. put them … into ward] i.e. “in charge, or safe keeping”; as in Genesis 40:3. Not “in prison,” as in Genesis 39:20. Joseph’s treatment sounds to us harsh and cruel. Arbitrary confinement, however, was, and is, only too common in the East. The brethren would be a prey to the sickening dread either of being brought out only to be executed, or of being prevented from returning to their homes. Joseph himself had endured a long experience of captive life in Egypt.
Read Cambridge on Genesis 42 →
Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible17. Put them all together — Hebrews, Gathered, or, assembled them to prison. He huddled them together in one cell. This might remind them of their casting Joseph into the pit. Genesis 37:24.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 42 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
So Joseph imprisoned them for three days,
He put them all together into custody for three days.
So Joseph imprisoned them for three days,
He imprisoned them all for three days.
Tyndale line
And he put them all together into ward three days.
And he put them all together into ward three days.
And he put them all together into ward three days.
And he put them all together into custody three days.
So he put them in warde three dayes.
Strictly literal
And he put them in custody three days.
and he removeth them unto charge three days.
and he gathers them into confinement [for] three days.
And he put them together into ward three days.
He put them all in custody for three days.
From the Latin
So he put them in prison three days.
Simplified
So Joseph put all of them in prison for three days.
So he put them in prison for three days.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text reads וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף אֹתָ֛ם אֶל־ מִשְׁמָ֖ר שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃, and this is closely matched by the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agrees word for word. The Dead Sea Scrolls contain partial restorations but align with the Masoretic Text in meaning.
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֥ף אֹתָ֛ם אֶל־ מִשְׁמָ֖ר שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃
5 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויאסף אתם אל משׁמר שׁלשׁת ימים
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
[ויאסף] את׳ם אל משמר [שלשת] ימים
nothing on the leather here — 4 partly restored, 2 supplied entire by an editor.
[את׳ם] [אל] [משמר] שלשת [ימים]
5 words of the verse are on this fragment — 4 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 42:17
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
אָסַף (acaph) is a Hebrew verb meaning to gather or remove. It encompasses a range of actions including collecting, assembling, and withdrawing. The verb appears in various forms, such as Qal, Niphal, Piel, and Hithpael, indicating different nuances like gathering individuals or being gathered. There is no significant disagreement among the lexicons regarding its meanings.
אָסַף 209 vb. gather, remove
Qal
gather, collect
gather an individual into company of others
bring up the rear of
gather and take away, remove, withdraw
Niph.
assemble, be gathered, reflex.
pass. of Qal 2
Pass. of Qal 4; be taken away, removed, perish
Pi.
gather harvest
take in, receive into
as subst. rearguard, rearward
Pu. be gathered, of men
Hithp. gather themselves
base
H622 אָסַף gather, remove
622 'acaph aw-saf'
a primitive root; to gather for any purpose; hence, to
receive, take away, i.e. remove (destroy, leave behind, put
up, restore, etc.):--assemble, bring, consume, destroy,
felch, gather (in, together, up again), X generally, get
(him), lose, put all together, receive, recover (another from
leprosy), (be) rereward, X surely, take (away, into, up), X
utterly, withdraw.
אָסַף (a.saph) — to gather.
1) to gather, receive, remove, gather in
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to gather, collect
1a2) to gather (an individual into company of others)
1a3) to bring up the rear
1a4) to gather and take away, remove, withdraw
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to assemble, be gathered
1b2) (pass of Qal 1a2)
1b2a) to be gathered to one's fathers
1b2b) to be brought in or into (association with others)
1b3) (pass of Qal 1a4)
1b3a) to be taken away, removed, perish
1c) (Piel)
1c1) to gather (harvest)
1c2) to take in, receive into
1c3) rearguard, rearward (subst)
1d) (Pual) to be gathered
1e) (Hithpael) to gather oneself or themselves
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqw3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo/Sp3mp — Particle · suffixHTo/Sp3mp
The Hebrew word אֶל (el) is primarily a preposition indicating motion towards or direction to a person or place. It can also imply entering a limit, presence at a location, or a hostile direction (against). Additionally, it may express concepts such as concerning, in addition to, or according to. The entries highlight its versatility in both physical and metaphorical contexts.
אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph),
prep. denoting motion to or direction towards (whether physical or mental).of motion to or unto a person or place
Where the limit is actually entered, into
Of direction towards anything
Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
Of rule or standard according to (rare)
Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
base
H413 אֶל (nearly always followed by Makkeph), . of motion to or unto a person or place
. Where the limit is actually entered, into
. Of direction towards anything
. Where the motion or direction implied appears from the context to be of a hostile character, אֶל = against
. Unto sometimes acquires from the context the sense of in addition to
. Metaph. in regard to, concerning, on account of
. Of rule or standard according to (rare)
. Expressing presence at a spot, against, at, by, not merely after verbs implying motion
. Prefixed to other preps. it combines with them the idea of motion or direction to
413 'el ale
(but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el});
a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but
occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or
among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after,
against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and,
by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of,
over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether,
with(-in).
אֶל (el) — to(wards).
1) to, toward, unto (of motion)
2) into (limit is actually entered)
2a) in among
3) toward (of direction, not necessarily physical motion)
4) against (motion or direction of a hostile character)
5) in addition to, to
6) concerning, in regard to, in reference to, on account of
7) according to (rule or standard)
8) at, by, against (of one's presence)
9) in between, in within, to within, unto (idea of motion to)
HR — PrepositionHR
מִשְׁמָר (mishmar) refers to a place of confinement, such as a prison or jail, and also denotes a guard or watch. It can imply both a physical location for custody and the act of guarding or observing. The word is derived from a root meaning to guard, and it encompasses concepts of diligence and observance.
מִשְׁמָר n.[m.] place of confinement, gaol, prison; late, guard, watch, observance
base
H4929 מִשְׁמָר place of confinement, gaol, prison; late, guard, watch, observance
4929 mishmar mish-mawr'
from 8104; a guard (the man, the post or the prison); a
deposit (fig.); also (as observed) a usage (abstr.), or an
example (concr.):--diligence, guard, office, prison, ward,
watch.
see HEBREW for 08104
מִשְׁמָר (mish.mar) — custody.
1) place of confinement, prison, guard, jail, guard post, watch, observance
1a) jail, prison, guard-house
1b) guard, guard post, act of guarding
1c) observances
HNcmsa — Noun common · masculine singular absoluteHNcmsa
The Hebrew word שָׁלֹשׁ (*shalosh*) means 'three' or 'triad.' It can also refer to the ordinal 'third' and is used in various contexts, including multiplication as 'thrice.' The entries consistently define it as a primitive number without significant disagreement.
שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה 430 n.m. et f. a three, triad
base
H7969 שָׁלֹשׁ, שָׁלוֹשׁ, שְׁלֹשָׁה a three, triad
7969 shalowsh shaw-loshe'
or shalosh {shaw-loshe'}; masculine shlowshah {shel-o-shaw'};
or shloshah {shel-o-shaw'}; a primitive number; three;
occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multipl.) thrice:--+ fork,
+ often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, + thrice.
Compare 7991.
see HEBREW for 07991
שָׁלֹשׁ (sha.losh) — three.
1) three, triad
1a) 3, 300, third
Aramaic equivalent: te.lat (תְּלָת "three" H8532)
Adj — AdjHAcbsc
(shalosh; treis).
See NUMBER.
The phrase "three days and three nights," Mt 12:40, was equivalent in Hebrew to the English "three days;" the Jews employing the expression "a day and a night" to denote our "day" of twentyfour hours. Nor did "three days," 1Sa 30:13, literally "this third day," according to their usage, necessarily include the whole of three days, but a part of three days, a continuous period including one whole day of twenty-four hours, and a portion of the day preceding it and the day following it. Compare Ge 7:12,17 1Sa 30:12-13.
יוֹם (yowm) means 'day' and refers to a division of time, contrasting with night. It can denote a literal 24-hour period, a general time span, or even a year. The term is used in various contexts, including the 'day of Yahweh,' which signifies a time of divine judgment. It also appears in phrases indicating temporal references like today, yesterday, and tomorrow.
יוֹם 2285 n.m. day
day, opp. night
Day as division of time
יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
Pl. days of anyone
Days
יוֹם = time
Phrases
base
H3117 יוֹם day . day, opp. night
. Day as division of time
. יוֹם י׳ day of Yahweh, chiefly as time of his coming in judgment, involving often blessedness for righteous
. Pl. days of anyone
. Days
. יוֹם = time
. Phrases
3117 yowm yome
from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm
hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one
sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by
an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, +
chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to)
day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, +
(for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as
(... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually,
presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space,
then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble,
weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole
(+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.
יוֹם (yom) — day.
: day/when/time/period
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
1b2a) a working day, a day's journey
1c) days, lifetime (pl.)
1d) time, period (general)
1e) year
1f) temporal references
1f1) today
1f2) yesterday
1f3) tomorrow
יוֹם (yom) — day: old.
: old/(full/many)[days]
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
1b2a) a working day, a day's journey
1c) days, lifetime (pl.)
1d) time, period (general)
1e) year
1f) temporal references
1f1) today
1f2) yesterday
1f3) tomorrow
יוֹם (yom) — day: year.
: year[of_days]
1) day, time, year
1a) day (as opposed to night)
1b) day (24 hour period)
1b1) as defined by evening and morning in Genesis 1
1b2) as a division of time
N-mp — Noun common · masculine plural absoluteHNcmpa
