“Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me?”
The full verse · Genesis 43:29 · KJV
And he lifted his , and his , his , and , Is this your , of whom ye unto me? And he , be unto thee, my .
Asked by
Asked to
Joseph’s ten older half-brothers who had come to Egypt to buy grain, excluding Benjamin who stands before Joseph.
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJoseph confirms Benjamin’s identity while maintaining his disguise, creating dramatic tension as he verifies the truthfulness of his brothers’ earlier claims and sees his full brother for the first time in over twenty years.
The Response
What Scripture recordsThe text does not record a verbal response from the brothers to this specific question, moving immediately to Joseph’s blessing of Benjamin.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyJoseph’s question serves as both administrative verification and emotional restraint. The Hebrew construction emphasizes ‘this one’ (zeh), drawing attention to Benjamin standing physically present. By asking rather than declaring, Joseph maintains his Egyptian persona while processing overwhelming emotion, seeing his only full brother after decades of separation. The interrogative form allows him to hear his brothers speak Benjamin’s name, confirming their earlier testimony. Theologically, this moment demonstrates how God orchestrates circumstances to test and reveal character transformation, as Joseph evaluates whether his brothers have changed since selling him into slavery.
Sometimes God tests our honesty by asking questions He already knows the answers to. Joseph knew Benjamin’s identity before asking, just as God often poses questions not for His information but for our transformation. When circumstances force us to verify our commitments or prove our integrity, we face opportunities to demonstrate growth. Have you kept the promises you made when times were desperate? Joseph’s brothers had once sold a beloved son; now they protected one. God watches not just our words but whether our actions align with our claims. Trust that even when it feels like interrogation, God is orchestrating reunion (Romans 8:28).
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake?”
“Have ye a father, or a brother?”
“Doth my father yet live?”
“What is your occupation?”