Genesis 42:8

Even though Joseph recognized his brothers, they didn't recognize him.

Free Bible Version

In The King James Version

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

In Context

7Joseph recognized them as soon as he saw them, but he acted like a stranger towards them and spoke to them in a severe way, saying, “Where are you from?” “From the country of Canaan,” they replied. “We've come to buy food.”

9Joseph thought back to the dreams he'd had about them, and told them, “No! You're spies! You've come to discover our country's weaknesses!”

Read all of Genesis 42

Cross References

Luke 24:16But they were kept from recognizing him.

John 21:4When dawn came Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples didn't know it was him.

Matthew Henry on Genesis 42:8-21

Joseph Speaks Roughly to His Brethren. ( b. c. 1706.) 7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. 8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. 9 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. 10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 42:8