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.

GENESIS 42:7KJV
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Genesis 42:7 (KJV)

What does Genesis 42:7 mean?

Genesis 42:7 describes how Joseph recognized his brothers when they came to Egypt to buy food, but he acted like a stranger to them and spoke harshly, asking where they came from. The brothers replied that they had come from Canaan to buy food.

Joseph, now a powerful official in Egypt, is approached by his brothers who do not recognize him. He chooses to conceal his identity and treats them sternly, setting the stage for the unfolding story of their reunion and testing. This moment is tense, as Joseph is face-to-face with the very brothers who sold him years before.

The Hebrew behind Genesis 42:7

  • The word "knew" (נָכַר, nakar) is used twice: once for Joseph recognizing his brothers and again for "made himself strange," meaning Joseph deliberately made himself unrecognizable to them. This double use highlights Joseph’s awareness and intentional disguise.
  • "Spake roughly" (קָשֶׁה, qasheh) means Joseph spoke in a harsh or severe manner, showing he was not simply distant but purposefully intimidating, which adds to the drama and suspense of the encounter.

Why Genesis 42:7 matters

  • This verse shows Joseph’s self-control and wisdom; he does not reveal himself immediately, which allows for the testing and eventual reconciliation with his brothers.
  • The use of the same Hebrew word for both recognizing and disguising himself emphasizes the tension between Joseph’s knowledge and his brothers’ ignorance.
  • The harsh treatment sets up the emotional and moral journey that Joseph’s brothers will undergo in the following chapters, deepening the story’s themes of forgiveness and transformation.

Where else these words appear

“Whence” Hebrew H370 · used in 17 verses

  • Genesis 29:4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we.
  • Judges 19:17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou?
  • Job 28:12 But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

“buy” Hebrew H7666 · used in 20 verses

  • Genesis 41:56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
  • Genesis 42:10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come.
  • Genesis 47:14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

“roughly” Hebrew H7186 · used in 36 verses

  • Genesis 42:30 The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly to us, and took us for spies of the country.
  • Deuteronomy 31:27 For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death?
  • 2 Chronicles 10:13 And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,

“food” Hebrew H400 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 14:11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way.
  • Exodus 16:16 This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.
  • Job 38:41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.