And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
Joseph recognized his brothers, but they didn't recognize him.
This verse shows that Joseph could identify his brothers when they came to Egypt, but they had no idea who he was.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Joseph had been sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and ended up in Egypt, where he rose to become the Pharaoh's second-in-command through his ability to interpret dreams. Years later, a severe famine in Canaan forced his brothers to travel to Egypt to buy grain, unaware that the Egyptian official overseeing the grain distribution was Joseph himself. Joseph recognized them immediately, but they did not recognize him due to his transformed appearance, Egyptian attire, and the passage of time.
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