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.
When Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he pretended to be a stranger to them and spoke harshly to them. He asked them, 'Where do you come from?' They answered, 'From the land of Canaan to buy food.'
Joseph recognizes his brothers who once sold him into slavery, but he hides his identity and treats them as strangers while they desperately seek food during a famine.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Joseph had been sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and rose to a high position in Egypt as Pharaoh's administrator after interpreting dreams that predicted a famine. Years later, during this famine, his brothers traveled from Canaan to Egypt to buy food, unaware that the Egyptian official they encountered was Joseph himself. Upon recognizing them, Joseph decided to hide his identity and speak harshly to test their intentions and see how they had changed.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.