And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
They said to each other, 'We are truly guilty of what we did to our brother. We saw how deeply distressed he was when he begged us for mercy, but we wouldn't listen to him. That's why this trouble has come upon us now.'
The brothers are finally admitting their guilt over how cruelly they treated Joseph years earlier, recognizing that their current suffering is connected to their past wrongdoing.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Genesis, Joseph was betrayed by his brothers who sold him into slavery due to their jealousy over his favored status. Years later, during a severe famine, Joseph's brothers travel to Egypt to buy grain and unknowingly face Joseph, who has risen to a position of power as the governor. As they experience distress from his accusations, they reflect on their past actions and recognize their guilt as the root of their current troubles.
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