Genesis 42:33

WEB

The man, the lord of the land, said to us, 'By this I will know that you are honest men: leave one of your brothers with me, and take grain for the famine of your houses, and go your way.

KJV

And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:

Commentary

And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, hereby shall I know that you are true men,.... This wi ll be a proof and demonstration of it: leave one of your brethren here with me; as an hostage; they do not say "bound in the prison", Gen 42:19 , as Joseph did, because they would not grieve their father, at least would not tell him of it at once, lest it should too much affect him: and take food for the famine of your household, and be gone; that is, corn for the relief of their families, being distressed with a famine.