Genesis 42:31 — Word Study
WLCוַנֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ לֹ֥א הָיִ֖ינוּ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃
BSABut we toldʼâmar▸ himʼêl Weʼănachnûw [truly, as honest men] arehâyâh■ honest menkên [true, right, and faithful] notlôʼ [in no way, absolutely not] spiesrâgal [those who secretly gather information, to spy or explore]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַנֹּ֥אמֶר | and we said | Verb, Qal, sequential imperfect first person common plural |
| אֵלָ֖יו | to him | Preposition, suffix |
| כֵּנִ֣ים | [are] honest | Adj |
| אֲנָ֑חְנוּ | we | Pronoun |
| לֹ֥א | not | Particle |
| הָיִ֖ינוּ | we are | Verb, Qal, perfect first person common plural |
| מְרַגְּלִֽים׃ | spies | Verb, Piel, participle (active) masculine plural |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | But we told him, ‘We are honest men, not spies. |
| KJV | And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies: |
| ASV | And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies: |
| YLT | and we say unto him, We [are] right men, we have not been spies, |
| WEB | We said to him, ‘We are honest men. We are no spies. |
| BBE | And we said to him, We are true men, we have no evil designs; |
Where they part company is כֵּן — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence is structured around a main assertion, followed by a predicate and a negation, clearly delineating the brothers' claim.


3 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאֲנַחְנוּ
verbאָמַר
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 42:31
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's Brothers in Egyptgenerated
Genesis 42:31 recounts how Joseph's brothers, accused of being spies, declare their honesty to the Egyptian ruler. They emphasize their integrity as they navigate a tense situation, revealing their familial ties and the gravity of their circumstances. This moment highlights the themes of trust and deception that run throughout the Joseph narrative.
Cross References
The Key Word — כֵּן, ke.Nimgenerated
The word כֵּן (ken) is an adjective meaning 'honest' or 'right.' It is derived from a root that signifies being set upright, reflecting a state of moral integrity. In this context, it signifies the brothers' claim to be truthful.
As an adjective, it describes the subject אֲנָ֑חְנוּ (anachnu), emphasizing their assertion of honesty in contrast to the accusation of being spies. The use of this word reinforces their position and attempts to establish credibility.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, so the BSB is the wording every comparison below is made against. The BSB has honest, which is also reflected in the KJV and ASV.
Where translations differ is in the rendering of כֵּן — true (ASV, KJV) vs. right (YLT, LSV). This difference highlights the nuance in the concept of honesty and integrity.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb וַנֹּ֥אמֶר (va.No.mer), 'and we said,' governs the main clause, while the subject אֲנָ֑חְנוּ (anachnu) and the predicate כֵּנִ֣ים (ke.Nim) describe the brothers' assertion of honesty. The structure emphasizes their claim in response to the accusation.
The sentence features a straightforward structure, with a main clause followed by a negation לֹ֥א (lo') and the object מְרַגְּלִֽים (me.ra.ge.Lim), 'spies,' reinforcing the contrast between their honesty and the accusation.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates כֵּן as εἰρηνικοί (eirēnikoi), meaning 'peaceful' or 'honest.' This choice indicates a broader interpretation of their honesty, suggesting a peaceful demeanor rather than merely truthful.
This translation reflects a nuanced understanding of the brothers' claim, emphasizing their intention to convey integrity and trustworthiness in a foreign land.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 42:31 tells how Joseph's brothers, when accused of being spies, insist that they are honest men. They emphasize their integrity and family ties, stating that they are not spies, but rather truthful individuals.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
The brothers are asserting their integrity in a moment of accusation, hoping to gain the trust of the Egyptian ruler.
Being accused of spying could lead to severe consequences, including imprisonment or death, as they are in a foreign land.
Their claim highlights their desire to be seen as trustworthy, especially in light of their past actions and the current tense situation.
Their mention of being brothers emphasizes unity and loyalty, which they hope will persuade the ruler of their honesty.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I strive to demonstrate honesty in my own life?
- How can I respond to accusations or misunderstandings with integrity?
- What role do family and community play in establishing trust?
- How do I define honesty, and how does that align with my actions?
Commentators on this verse — 3 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 42:31 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd 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
Read John Gill on Genesis 42 →
Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies: No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 42 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 42:31 And we said unto him, We [are] true [men]; we are no spies: Ver. 31. See Genesis 42:9; Genesis 42:11; Genesis 42:13; Genesis 42:19, &c
Read John Trapp 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
But we told him, ‘We are honest men, not spies.
We said to him, ‘We are honest men. We are no spies.
But we told him, ‘We are honest men, not spies.
But we said to him, ‘We are honest men; we are not spies!
Tyndale line
And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:
And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:
And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:
And we said to him, We are true men; we are no spies:
And we sayd vnto him, We are true men, and are no spies.
Strictly literal
And we said to him, We are honest; we are not spies:
and we say unto him, We [are] right men, we have not been spies,
and we say to him, We [are] right men, we have not been spies,
And we said unto him, We are true men; we have never been spies:
We said to him, 'We are honest men. We are not spies.
From the Latin
And we answered him: We are peaceable men, and we mean no plot.
Simplified
“We told him, ‘We are honest men. We're not spies!
And we said to him, We are true men, we have no evil designs;
Word by word, the decisions they made
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 is matched by the Septuagint and the Samaritan Pentateuch, which agree word for word. This consistency across witnesses suggests a stable transmission of this verse.
וַנֹּ֥אמֶר אֵלָ֖יו כֵּנִ֣ים אֲנָ֑חְנוּ לֹ֥א הָיִ֖ינוּ מְרַגְּלִֽים׃
7 of the 7 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.
ונאמר אליו כנים אנחנו לא היינו מרגלים
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
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 42:31
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.
אָמַר (amar) is a Hebrew verb meaning 'to say' or 'to utter,' with a broad range of uses including to promise, command, or even boast. It appears in various forms, such as in the Qal (to say), Niphal (to be told), and Hiphil (to avow). The entries highlight its versatility in both spoken and internal contexts, though no specific verse is noted.
אָמַר 5287 vb. utter, say
Qal
Say
Say in the heart (= think)
Promise
Command (esp. late)
Niph. be said, told
Hiph. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
Hithp. act proudly, boast
base
H559 אָמַר utter, say .. Say
. Say in the heart (= think)
. Promise
. Command (esp. late)
. be said, told
. avow, avouch (lit. cause to declare)
. act proudly, boast
559 'amar aw-mar'
a primitive root; to say (used with great
latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call,
certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment),
commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X
expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise,
publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X
suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech),
utter, X verily, X yet.
אָמַר (a.mar) — to say.
1) to say, speak, utter
1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend
1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called
1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly
1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch
Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-1cp — Verb · Qal · sequential imperfect first person common pluralHc/Vqw1cp
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)
Prep | Suff — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word כֵּן (*ken*) is built from the root meaning 'set upright.' It functions as an adjective meaning 'right,' 'veritable,' or 'honest,' and as an adverb meaning 'so,' 'therefore,' or 'thus.' It appears in various contexts, often indicating manner or relation, and is used in phrases like 'forasmuch as.'
כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest
right
veritable, true
pl. concr. honest (men)
base
כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as
base
כֵּן adv. so
base
H3651a כֵּן adj. right, veritable, honest H3651b כִּי עַל כֵּן forasmuch as H3651c כֵּן so
3651 ken kane
from 3559; properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as
adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction)
rightly or so (in various applications to manner, time and
relation; often with other particles):--+ after that
(this, -ward, -wards), as ... as, + (for-)asmuch as yet, + be
(for which) cause, + following, howbeit, in (the) like
(manner, -wise), X the more, right, (even) so, state,
straightway, such (thing), surely, + there (where)-fore, this,
thus, true, well, X you.
see HEBREW for 03559
כֵּן (ken) — right.
adv
adj
1) right, just, honest, true, veritable
1a) right, just, honest
1b) correct
1c) true, veritable
[כִּי עַל] כֵּן ([ki al] ken) — as.
adv
forasmuch as, since
כֵּן (ken) — so.
adv
1) so, therefore, thus
1a) thus, so
1b) just so
1c) therefore
1d) so...as (paired with adv)
1e) then
1f) forasmuch as (in phrase)
1g) (with prep)
1g1) therefore, this being so (specific)
1g2) hitherto
1g3) therefore, on this ground (general)
1g4) afterwards
1g5) in such case
Aramaic equivalent: ken (כֵּן "thus" H3652)
Adj — AdjHAampa
אֲנַ֫חְנוּ (anachnuw) is the first-person plural pronoun meaning 'we' or 'ourselves.' It is used for emphasis and is derived from another Hebrew word, אֲנִי (ani), meaning 'I.' The entries consistently define it as a pronoun without significant disagreement.
אֲנַ֫חְנוּ, אֲנָ֑חְנוּ pron. 1pl. comm. we
base
H587 אֲנַ֫חְנוּ, אֲנָ֑חְנוּ we
587 'anachnuw an-akh'-noo
apparently from 595; we:--ourselves, us, we.
see HEBREW for 0595
אֲנַ֫חְנוּ (a.nach.nu) — we.
we (first pers. pl. -usually used for emphasis)
Pron — PronounHPp1bp
לֹא (lo') is a Hebrew word meaning 'not' or 'no.' It serves as a simple negation and can imply absence or prohibition. The word can also be used in various contexts, often combined with other particles for emphasis or clarification. Its Aramaic equivalent is לָא (la), which also means 'not.'
לֹא or לוֹא adv. not
base
H3808 לֹא or לוֹא not
3808 lo' lo
or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle;
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often
used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else,
ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never,
no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out
of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, +
of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.
לֹא (lo) — not.
1) not, no
1a) not (with verb-absolute prohibition)
1b) not (with modifier-negation)
1c) nothing (subst)
1d) without (with particle)
1e) before (of time)
Aramaic equivalent: la (לָא "not" H3809)
Part — ParticleHTn
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
V-Qal-Perf-1cp — Verb · Qal · perfect first person common pluralHVqp1cp
רָגַל (ragal) is a Hebrew verb that primarily means to walk or go about, but it has specific connotations of spying or slandering. It can denote actions like reconnoitering or being a tale-bearer, and it also includes the idea of teaching someone to walk. The entries indicate a range of meanings from casual movement to malicious gossip.
רָגַל vb. denom. foot it, go about
Qal go about (maliciously, as slanderer)
Pi.
slander
go about as explorer, spy
Tiph. I taught Ephr. to walk
base
H7270 רָגַל vb. denom. foot it, go about
7270 ragal raw-gal'
a primitive root; to walk along; but only in specifically,
applications, to reconnoiter, to be a tale-bearer (i.e.
slander); also (as denominative from 7272) to lead
about:--backbite, search, slander, (e-)spy (out), teach to
go, view.
see HEBREW for 07272
רָגַל (ra.gal) — to spy.
1) to go on foot, spy out, foot it, go about, walk along, move the feet
1a) (Qal) to be a tale-bearer, slander, go about
1b) (Piel)
1b1) to slander
1b2) to go about as explorer, spy
1c) (Tiphel) to teach to walk
Also means: tir.gal (תִּרְגַּל "to teach" H8637)
V-Piel — Verb · Piel · participle (active) masculine pluralHVprmpa
Spies
When the Israelites reached Kadesh for the first time, and were encamped there, Moses selected twelve spies from among the chiefs of the divisions of the tribes, and sent them forth to spy the land of Canaan (Num. 13), and to bring back to him a report of its actual condition. They at once proceeded on their important errand, and went through the land as far north as the district round Lake Merom. After about six weeks’ absence they returned. Their report was very discouraging, and the people were greatly alarmed, and in a rebellious spirit proposed to elect a new leader and return to Egypt. Only two of the spies, Caleb and Joshua, showed themselves on this occasion stout-hearted and faithful. All their appeals and remonstrances were in vain. Moses announced that as a punishment for their rebellion they must now wander in the wilderness till a new generation should arise which…
