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Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Genesis 42:15

By the life of Pharaoh— This was a solemn protestation; as he valued the life and honour of his prince, he would do so and so. Judah explains it in this manner to his father, ch. Genesis 43:3. The man did solemnly protest unto us; and certainly Judah, who heard him, must best understand his meaning. Yet the protestation is not to be vindicated in Joseph. There can be no doubt, that it was customary among the heathens to swear, properly speaking, by the life or health of their kings and emperors, as the Jews did by their living God. Joseph used this phrase, the better to conceal himself from his brethren, and to make them think him an AEgyptian.

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See also Genesis 42:15 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Genesis 42:15. _BY THE LIFE OF PHARAOH_] חי פרעה _chey Pharaoh, Pharaoh_ _liveth_. As if he had said, As surely as the king of Egypt lives, so surely shall ye not go hence unless your brother c...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    - Joseph and Ten of His Brethren 1. שׁבר _sheber_, “fragment, crumb, hence, grain.” בר _bar_ “pure,” “winnowed,” hence, “corn” (grain). 6. שׁליט _shallı̂yṭ_, “ruler, governor, hence,” Sultan. Not e...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 42 THE FIRST VISIT OF JOSEPH'S BRETHREN _ 1. Joseph's brethren sent to Egypt (Genesis 42:1)_ 2. Joseph meets his brethren (Genesis 42:6) 3. Put in prison for three days (Genesis 42:17) 4....

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    GENESIS 42. JOSEPH'S BROTHERS COME TO EGYPT TO BUY CORN, AND UNWITTINGLY ENCOUNTER JOSEPH. The greater part is taken from E, but Genesis 42:2; Genesis 42:4_ b_, Genesis 42:5;...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _by the life of Pharaoh_ An Egyptian form of oath, in the sense of "as sure as Pharaoh is alive to punish, or avenge." Dillmann says, "the oath is very suitable here, as the Egyptians honoured their k...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The first Interview with Joseph 6. _governor_ The late, and not very common, word here used in the Hebrew (_shâlît_) denotes the position of "Grand Vizier 1 [59] [59] On the "Grand Vizier" of Egypt,...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    3. _Joseph as Prime Minister of Egypt_ (Genesis 41:46 to Genesis 47:31) 46 And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh,...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND JOSEPH REMEMBERED THE DREAMS WHICH HE DREAMED OF THEM, AND SAID UNTO THEM, YE ARE SPIES; TO SEE THE NAKEDNESS OF THE LAND YE ARE COME._ Ye are spies, х_ MªRAGªLIYM_ (H7270)] - ye are footing it;...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE FIRST VISIT OF JOSEPH'S BRETHREN TO EGYPT 1. When Jacob saw] The caravans which travelled from Egypt to Syria would bring the news to Hebron....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    BY THE LIFE OF PHARAOH] a common Egyptian oath: cp. 'As I live saith the Lord,' also 2 Kings 2:4....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    GOD’S ANCIENT PEOPLE GENESIS _ALUN OWEN_ CHAPTER 42 JACOB SENDS HIS SONS TO EGYPT V1 Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt. So he said to his sons, ‘You look at each other and you do nothing...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    BY THE LIFE OF PHARAOH. — It was common in ancient times to swear by the king’s life (see 1 Samuel 17:55; 2 Samuel 14:19), and even by the life of Jehovah (2 Samuel 15:21;...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    בְּ זֹ֖את תִּבָּחֵ֑נוּ חֵ֤י פַרְעֹה֙ אִם ־תֵּ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    VISITS OF JOSEPH'S BRETHREN Genesis 42:1; Genesis 43:1; Genesis 44:1 "Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good."-...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    JOSEPH SEES HIS TEN BROTHERS Genesis 42:1 The true interpretation of Joseph's treatment of his brethren is to be found in the supposition that he repeated toward them, as nearly as possible, the beha...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    According to the foretelling of Joseph in interpreting Pharaoh's dreams, the famine came; but through Joseph's executive ability Egypt was provided with corn sufficient not only for its own needs, but...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    JOSEPH'S BROTHERS BOW BEFORE HIM Jacob heard of the great supply of grain in Egypt. He sent the ten older brothers to buy grain to sustain them. As the grand vizier, Joseph had complete control over t...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    Hereby ye shall be proved: (d) By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. (d) The Egyptians who were idolaters, used to swear by their king's life:...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Health. This oath implies, that he is willing that even Pharao, whom he so much revered, should perish, if he did not execute what he said: (Haydock) or, as Pharao is now in health, so true it is you...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Observe, in this verse, the effects of conscience: see that scripture: Romans 2:15. Observe the conscious sense of merited punishment also: therefore (say they) is this distress come upon us. Sinners...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    Having already shown the position of Isaac, I resume briefly with the remark that he stands before us clearly as the representative of the Son, and this too as dead, risen, and in heaven. All will und...

  • John Calvin's Bible Commentary

    15._By the life of Pharaoh_. From this formula of swearing a new question is raised; for that which is commanded in the law, that we should swear only by the name of God, had already been engraven on...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 42 THROUGH 47. At the same time another scene presents itself. His brethren, who had rejected him, forced by famine, are brought, by the path of repentance an...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    HEREBY YE SHALL BE PROVED,.... Whether spies, or not, namely, by producing their youngest brother, said to be at home with his father: BY THE LIFE OF PHARAOH YE SHALL NOT GO FORTH HENCE, EXCEPT YOUR...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. Ver. 15. _By the life of Pharaoh._] Joseph, that he might seem enough an Egypt...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _By the life of Pharaoh_ As sure as Pharaoh lives, or as I value the life of Pharaoh. A solemn protestation, as Judah, who heard it, and must have understood its meaning, explains it to his father, Ge...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 Iacob sendeth his ten sonnes to buy corne in Egypt. 6 They are imprisoned by Ioseph for spies. 18 They are set at libertie, on condition to bring Beniamin. 21 They haue remorse for Ioseph. 24 Si...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh, ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither. Joseph, maintaining his role as an Egyptian, demands that they should produce...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    In Prison as Spies...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    SIXTH SECTION _Retributive Discipline. The Famine and the First Journey to Egypt. Joseph’s struggles with himself. The repentance of the Brethren. Joseph and Simeon._ GENESIS 42:1-38. 1Now when Jaco...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    JACOB SENDS HIS SONS TO EGYPT The famine reaches to Jacob's land. God makes him and his sons to feel the distress of famine until they hear that Egypt has an abundance of food that is available for s...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    7-20 Joseph was hard upon his brethren, not from a spirit of revenge, but to bring them to repentance. Not seeing his brother Benjamin, he suspected that they had made away with him, and he gave them...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    BY THE LIFE OF PHARAOH, as sure as Pharaoh lives. It seems to be the form of an oath in use among the Egyptians, as afterwards the Romans used to swear by the name, genius, health, and life of their e...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    On which we shall dwell more particularly. There is not in scripture a more perfect and beautiful type of Christ than Joseph. Whether we view Christ as the object of the Father's love, the object of t...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Genesis 42:15 this H2063 tested H974 (H8735) life H2416 Pharaoh H6547 leave H3318 (H8799) youngest H6996 brother...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    ‘And Joseph said to them, “It is as I said to you, you are spies. You will prove yourselves in this way. By the life of Pharaoh you shall not go forth from here unless your youngest brother comes here...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Joseph preserves his brethren from the famine. CHARACTERS: Jacob, Joseph, brothers. CONCLUSION: Times of testing await those who are guilty and often prove the effectual means of awakening...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Genesis 42:4. _Benjamin._ Jacob wished to reserve him to be heir of the blessing instead of Joseph, who he thought was dead. Hence he let the ten go, for it is highly probable that the Egyptians would...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _We are true men_ TRUE LIFE I. THE MISTAKEN ESTIMATE. “We are true men.” Were they? They spoke for themselves, they spoke for one another; but had they a good report of the truth itself? You know be...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt_ PROVIDENCE WORKING IN MEN’S LIVES I. The story of Joseph is a good example of what is meant by Providence working for the best in the lives of m...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 42:1 Shortage of food in Canaan forces Jacob to send his sons to Egypt, but Benjamin, Joseph’s younger brother, remains at home, for Jacob fears losing him, too. When Joseph en...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 42:10 THIS DAY WITH OUR FATHER (v. Genesis 42:13). Seizing on this reference to Benjamin, Joseph demands that the brothers prove their tr

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Genesis 42:6. Governor.] “The word rendered governor, _Shalit_, is, except here, said to be only found in the books contemporary with and following the Captivity. _Salatis_ is given...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION GENESIS 42:1 NOW WHEN JACOB SAW—literally, _and Jacob saw, i.e._ perceived by the preparations of others for buying corn in Egypt (Lange), but more probably learnt by the report which othe...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    The Pharaoh in Egypt had had two dreams with similarities because they had one interpretation. The first dream involved the seven fat cows grazing by the river and seven lean cows rising up and eating...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    By the life. Genesis 42:7 Genesis 42:12 Genesis 42:16 Genesis 42:30...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN Genesis 42:1 INTRODUCTORY WORDS As we enter the Genesis 42:1 of Genesis we find Jacob and Joseph's brethren under the throes of the famine. As we see it from the Divine view...

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