Verse Lens · Context pointer
Genesis 42:14 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 14. 14And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Role in This Section
Joseph treats the family disclosure as confirmation of his accusation and repeats that they are spies. The claim sets up the proposed proof involving Benjamin.
Read It With
- Genesis 42:1–17
Read verses 13–17. News of the youngest brother leads Joseph to demand Benjamin, hold the others, and confine all ten during the first version of the test.
Why It Needs Context
Verse 14 does not demonstrate that the brothers are spies or explain Joseph's motive. Verses 15–17 show how he converts the accusation into a coercive test.
Read Genesis 42:14–17 together
Why these verses belong together: Joseph repeats the accusation, demands Benjamin as proof, proposes sending one while holding the rest, and confines all ten for three days.
Verse 14. 14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:
Verse 15. 15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.
Verse 16. 16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.
Verse 17. 17 And he put them all together into ward three days.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 42:1–17 — Joseph Tests the Brothers Who Do Not Recognize HimSources used for this context pointer
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed text, famine movement, dreams, recognition, accusation, family disclosure, test, confinement, later tears, reconciliation, and providential conclusion.
Exact location: Genesis 42:1–17 with 37:2–36, 41:37–57, 42:18–28, 44:1–45:15, and 50:15–21 in the pinned standardized 1769 KJV
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Ruler and grain-distributor titles, bowing, recognition and concealment forms, harsh words, nakedness idiom, honesty language, testing, oath, and ward terminology.
Exact location: WLC Genesis 42:1–17, especially vv. 6–17
Open source ↗