And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not.
And they said, 'We are your servants - twelve brothers, all sons of one man in the land of Canaan. Our youngest brother is at home with our father today, and one of our brothers is no longer with us.'
The brothers are explaining to Joseph (though they don't recognize him) that they are part of a family of twelve sons, with the youngest at home and one they believe is dead.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Genesis, this verse is part of the story where Joseph's brothers travel to Egypt during a severe famine to buy food, as their homeland of Canaan is suffering from starvation. Unaware that they are speaking to Joseph, whom they had sold into slavery years earlier, they describe their family to the Egyptian official (Joseph) as twelve brothers from one father, with the youngest still at home and one believed to be dead. This moment highlights the ongoing consequences of family betrayal and sets the stage for God's plan of reconciliation.
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