Genesis 42:15

Joseph sets the terms of a test: they must produce their youngest brother to prove their honesty. This requirement targets the heart of the matter, Benjamin.

Cross-references · 17

• 1 Sam 17:55As Saul had watched David going out to confront the Philistine, he said to Abner the commander of the army, “Abner, whose son is this young man?” “As surely as you live, O king,” Abner replied, “I do not know.”
• Jer 5:2Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ they are swearing falsely.”
• Deut 6:13Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name.
• 1 Sam 1:26“Please, my lord,” said Hannah, “as surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD.
• 1 Sam 20:3But David again vowed, “Your father knows very well that I have found favor in your eyes, and he has said, ‘Jonathan must not know of this, or he will be grieved.’ As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, there is but a step between me and death.”
• Jas 5:12Above all, my brothers, do not swear, not by heaven or earth or by any other oath. Simply let your “Yes” be yes, and your “No,” no, so that you will not fall under judgment.
• Gen 42:7And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.”
• Gen 42:30“The man who is lord of the land spoke harshly to us and accused us of spying on the country.
• Gen 42:12“No,” he told them. “You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”
• Gen 44:20–34And we answered, ‘We have an elderly father and a younger brother, the child of his old age. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’
• Gen 42:34But bring your youngest brother back to me so I will know that you are not spies but honest men. Then I will give your brother back to you, and you can trade in the land.’”
• Gen 43:3But Judah replied, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’
• Gen 42:20Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.” And to this they consented.
• Gen 42:16Send one of your number to get your brother; the rest of you will be confined so that the truth of your words may be tested. If they are untrue, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!”
• Matt 5:33–37Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
• Jer 5:7“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.
• Matt 23:16–22Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.