Genesis 42:23

Plain English Version

Joseph listened to his brothers, and he understood what they said, because he knew their language. But Joseph’s brothers didn’t know that he understood them. You see, Joseph always talked to his brothers in the Egypt language, then somebody else talked to them in their own language and told them what Joseph said. So they thought he only talked the Egypt language.

Cross References

Genesis 11:7

Come on, let’s go down to these people, and we will make them talk in different languages. Then they will not understand each other, and they will be all mixed up. They will not work things out with each other, so they will not keep on building this city.”

Genesis 42:22

Then Joseph’s oldest brother Reuben, he said to the others, “You know, I told you mob not to hurt Joseph, but you didn’t listen to me. And look, now God is doing payback to us.”

Genesis 42:24

When Joseph heard his brothers say those things, he wanted to cry. So he went to a place where they couldn’t see him, and he cried. After a while, Joseph stopped crying. Then he went back to his brothers, and he talked to them in the Egypt language again. And Joseph picked his brother Simeon to stay in Egypt country. He told his men to tie up Simeon, and they tied him up in front of his brothers.

Genesis 45:12

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Now you mob know that I really am Joseph. And my brother Benjamin, he knows that too.