Genesis 43:22

Genesis 43:22, in plain English

The brothers explain that they've brought new silver to pay for more grain, and they honestly admit they have no idea who put the original money back in their sacks.

Why it's here

The brothers are trying to clear themselves of any suspicion of wrongdoing. By bringing extra money and being transparent about the mystery, they're showing integrity and trying to do business honorably. They're genuinely confused and concerned.

Who's speaking

The brothers of Joseph, continuing their explanation to the steward

Where it sits in the story

Their honesty here matters. They could have kept quiet about the returned silver or pretended they didn't know—instead, they're admitting the strange situation openly. This shows something good about their character developing.

The scholarly reading

The brothers emphasize their honesty by noting they've brought additional money to buy more grain, and they profess their bewilderment about who placed the original payment back in their sacks.

Language and setting

This statement serves as the brothers' complete disclosure—they're laying out all the facts as they understand them, attempting to preempt any accusation of theft or deception. Their language reveals genuine confusion and, implicitly, their growing awareness that something supernatural may be at work, though they frame it in terms of mystery rather than divine intervention.

Voice

The brothers, continuing their explanation to the steward

Significance

Their protestation of innocence and their willingness to pay twice over demonstrates the ethical development the narrative has been tracking since their sale of Joseph. The brothers are no longer the men who casually perpetrated injustice; they've become men concerned with honor and accountability before authority.

20“Please, sir,” they said, “we really did come down here the first time to buy food.

21But when we came to the place we lodged for the night, we opened our sacks and, behold, each of us found his silver in the mouth of his sack! It was the full amount of our silver, and we have brought it back with us.

22We have brought additional silver with us to buy food. We do not know who put our silver in our sacks.”

23“It is fine,” said the steward. “Do not be afraid. Your God, the God of your father, gave you the treasure that was in your sacks. I received your silver.” Then he brought Simeon out to them.

24And the steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet, and provided food for their donkeys.

Read all of Genesis 43 — Joseph's brothers return to Egypt with the youngest. The table is set for a reckoning — and a revelation.