Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

George Haydock's Catholic Commentary

Genesis 42:9

You are spies. This he said by way of examining them, to see what they would answer. (Challoner) --- Aquila translates "vagrants" going from place to place, as if to discover the weakest parts. Joseph was a person in authority. It was his duty to guard against invasion. He knew how his brethren had treated Sichem, and how they had behaved to himself; and though he might not suppose, that they had any evil design upon Egypt, yet he had a right to make them give an account of themselves. (Haydock) --- He wished also to extort from them a true account respecting Jacob and Benjamin. (Menochius)

Continues after advertising

See also Genesis 42:9 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 42:9. _YE ARE SPIES_] מרגלים אתם _meraggelim attem, ye_ are _footmen, trampers about, footpads, vagabonds_, lying in wait for the property of others; persons who, under the pretence of...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Joseph and Ten of His Brethren 1. שׁבר _sheber_, “fragment, crumb, hence, grain.” בר _bar_ “pure,” “winnowed,” hence, “corn” (grain). 6. שׁליט _shallı̂yṭ_, “ruler, governor, hence,” Sultan. Not e...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 42 THE FIRST VISIT OF JOSEPH'S BRETHREN _ 1. Joseph's brethren sent to Egypt (Genesis 42:1)_ 2. Joseph meets his brethren (Genesis 42:6) 3. Put in prison for three days (Genesis 42:17) 4....

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 42. JOSEPH'S BROTHERS COME TO EGYPT TO BUY CORN, AND UNWITTINGLY ENCOUNTER JOSEPH. The greater part is taken from E, but Genesis 42:2; Genesis 42:4_ b_, Genesis 42:5;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The first Interview with Joseph 6. _governor_ The late, and not very common, word here used in the Hebrew (_shâlît_) denotes the position of "Grand Vizier 1 [59] [59] On the "Grand Vizier" of Egypt,...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _Ye are spies_ The pretext for this sudden accusation lies in the constant exposure of the Egyptians, on their eastern border, to raids and attacks from nomad hordes of Asiatics. Joseph's words are th...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    YE ARE SPIES— This might be rendered, _are ye spies?_ or, _are ye not spies?_ are ye not come to spy out the nakedness of the land? by which means, the direct affirmation is removed. _The nakedness of...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    3. _Joseph as Prime Minister of Egypt_ (Genesis 41:46 to Genesis 47:31) 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh,...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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._ Ye are spies, х_ MªRAGªLIYM_ (H7270)] - ye are footing it;...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    42:9 places (f-24) Or 'unfortified places.' lit. 'nakedness;' and so in ver. 12....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE FIRST VISIT OF JOSEPH'S BRETHREN TO EGYPT 1. When Jacob saw] The caravans which travelled from Egypt to Syria would bring the news to Hebron....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    YE _are_ SPIES] Egypt was always liable to attack from Asia, and fortresses were built along that frontier to repel invasion. By suggesting that they were foreigners who were spying out the nakedness...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 42 JACOB SENDS HIS SONS TO EGYPT V1 Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt. So he said to his sons, ‘You look at each other and you do nothing...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    Spies are people who come from a foreign country. They come in order to gather information. Spies may discover how an army could attack the country successfully. Joseph knew that his brothers were not...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    YE ARE SPIES. — This is the suspicion under which every traveller labours in the East; but in those days the whole Semitic race was especially looked upon in Egypt with distrust, and, as we saw in Gen...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יִּזְכֹּ֣ר יֹוסֵ֔ף אֵ֚ת הַ חֲלֹמֹ֔ות אֲשֶׁ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    VISITS OF JOSEPH'S BRETHREN Genesis 42:1; Genesis 43:1; Genesis 44:1 "Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good."-...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JOSEPH SEES HIS TEN BROTHERS Genesis 42:1 The true interpretation of Joseph's treatment of his brethren is to be found in the supposition that he repeated toward them, as nearly as possible, the beha...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    According to the foretelling of Joseph in interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, the famine came; but through Joseph's executive ability Egypt was provided with corn sufficient not only for its own needs, but...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    JOSEPH'S BROTHERS BOW BEFORE HIM Jacob heard of the great supply of grain in Egypt. He sent the ten older brothers to buy grain to sustain them. As the grand vizier, Joseph had complete control over t...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    No doubt this remembrance was a gracious remembrance. Joshua 23:14....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    9._And Joseph remembered the dreams_. When the boy Joseph had spoken of receiving obeisance, the absurdity of the thing impelled his brethren wickedly to devise his death. Now, although they bow down...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 42 THROUGH 47. At the same time another scene presents itself. His brethren, who had rejected him, forced by famine, are brought, by the path of repentance an...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND JOSEPH REMEMBERED THE DREAMS WHICH HE DREAMED OF THEM,.... Their bowing and prostrating themselves before him brought to his remembrance his dreams of their sheaves making obeisance to his, and of...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 9. _And Joseph remembered the dreams._] Event is the...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _He remembered the dreams_ But they had forgotten them. The laying up of God's oracles in our hearts will be of excellent use to us in all our conduct. Joseph had an eye to his dreams, which he knew t...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iacob sendeth his ten sonnes to buy corne in Egypt. 6 They are imprisoned by Ioseph for spies. 18 They are set at libertie, on condition to bring Beniamin. 21 They haue remorse for Ioseph. 24 Si...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    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, the open, unfortified places of the country, where an attack...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    In Prison as Spies...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    SIXTH SECTION _Retributive Discipline. The Famine and the First Journey to Egypt. Joseph’s struggles with himself. The repentance of the Brethren. Joseph and Simeon._ GENESIS 42:1-38. 1Now when Jaco...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB SENDS HIS SONS TO EGYPT The famine reaches to Jacob's land. God makes him and his sons to feel the distress of famine until they hear that Egypt has an abundance of food that is available for s...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-20 Joseph was hard upon his brethren, not from a spirit of revenge, but to bring them to repentance. Not seeing his brother Benjamin, he suspected that they had made away with him, and he gave them...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    This he saith, not because they were so, or he thought them to be so, but that he might search out the truth of their affair, speaking too much like a courtier or politician. THE NAKEDNESS OF THE LAND...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    On which we shall dwell more particularly. There is not in scripture a more perfect and beautiful type of Christ than Joseph. Whether we view Christ as the object of the Father's love, the object of t...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 42:9 Joseph H3130 remembered H2142 (H8799) dreams H2472 dreamed H2492 (H8804) said H559 (H8799) spies...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Joseph remembered the dreams which he had dreamed about them and said to them, “You are spies. You have come to see the nakedness of the land.” He had lessons which he wished to teach them. He re...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Genesis 42:9 Jacob became aware of a fact which his brother had not cared to know a fact for himself and his seed after him. The Being who had made man in His own image told this man that he was made...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Joseph preserves his brethren from the famine. CHARACTERS: Jacob, Joseph, brothers. CONCLUSION: Times of testing await those who are guilty and often prove the effectual means of awakening...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 42:4. _Benjamin._ Jacob wished to reserve him to be heir of the blessing instead of Joseph, who he thought was dead. Hence he let the ten go, for it is highly probable that the Egyptians would...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt_ PROVIDENCE WORKING IN MEN’S LIVES I. The story of Joseph is a good example of what is meant by Providence working for the best in the lives of m...

  • The children's great texts of the Bible by James Hastings

    A STOREHOUSE OF PICTURES And Joseph remembered. Genesis 42:9. There once lived in Edinburgh a little boy about six years old who was a great deal with his mother because he was not strong enough to...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 42:1 Shortage of food in Canaan forces Jacob to send his sons to Egypt, but Benjamin, Joseph’s younger brother, remains at home, for Jacob fears losing him, too. When Joseph en...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 42:6 About 20 years have passed since his brothers last saw Joseph. While Joseph recognizes them, they do not know who he is. BOWED THEMSELVES BEFORE HIM. Joseph interprets the...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 42:6. Governor.] “The word rendered governor, _Shalit_, is, except here, said to be only found in the books contemporary with and following the Captivity. _Salatis_ is given...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 42:1 NOW WHEN JACOB SAW—literally, _and Jacob saw, i.e._ perceived by the preparations of others for buying corn in Egypt (Lange), but more probably learnt by the report which othe...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    The Pharaoh in Egypt had had two dreams with similarities because they had one interpretation. The first dream involved the seven fat cows grazing by the river and seven lean cows rising up and eating...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    remembered. Genesis 37:5 Ye are spies. Genesis 42:9 Genesis 42:16 Genesis 42:30...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN Genesis 42:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS As we enter the Genesis 42:1 of Genesis we find Jacob and Joseph's brethren under the throes of the famine. As we see it from the Divine view...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    He remembered the dreams, but they had forgot them. The laying up of God's oracles in our hearts will be of excellent use to us in all our conduct. Joseph had an eye to his dreams, which he knew to be...

Continues after advertising