King James Version

Genesis 42:23

And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

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Hebrew

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וְהֵם֙vehemand theyהֵםconjunction, pronoun, personal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “and they”H1992they (only used when emphatic)it, like, [idiom] (how, so) many (soever, more as) they (be), (the) same, [idiom] so, [idiom] such, their, them, these, they, those, which, who, whom, withal, ye.לֹ֣אlono , -r,לֹאparticle, negative — “no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…יָֽדְע֔וּyadevknowיָדַעverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “know”, a completed actionH3045to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.)acknowledge, acquaintance(-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, (un-) awares, can(-not), certainly, comprehend, consider, [idiom] could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with…כִּ֥יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…שֹׁמֵ֖עַshomeahearשָׁמַעverb, qal, participle, absolute — “hear”, a verb used as a describing wordH8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)[idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) n…יוֹסֵ֑ףyosefJoseph. Compare H3084יוֹסֵףnoun, proper name — “Joseph. Compare H3084”H3130Joseph, the name of seven IsraelitesJoseph. Compare H3084 (יְהוֹסֵף).כִּ֥יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…הַמֵּלִ֖יץhamelitsthe make a mockלוּץdefinite article, verb, hiphil, participle, absolute — “the make a mock”, a verb used as a describing wordH3887properly, to make mouths at, i.e. to scoff; hence (from the effort to pronounce a foreign language) to interpret, or (generally) intercedeambassador, have in derision, interpreter, make a mock, mocker, scorn(-er, -ful), teacher.בֵּינֹתָֽםbeynotambetweenבֵּיןpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “between”H996between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...oramong, asunder, at, between (-twixt...and), [phrase] from (the widest), [idiom] in, out of, whether (it be...or), within.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for the interpreter was between them.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them.

Young’s Literal Translation

And they have not known that Joseph understandeth, for the interpreter [is] between them;

World English Bible

They didn’t know that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them.

Darby Translation

And they did not know that Joseph understood, for the interpreter was between them.

Douay-Rheims

And they knew not that Joseph understood, because he spoke to them by an interpreter.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for the interpreter was between them.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

But they knew not that Joseph understood them; for there was an interpreter between them.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Αὐτοὶ δὲ οὐκ ᾔδεισαν, ὅτι ἀκούει Ἰωσήφ· ὁ γὰρ ἑρμηνευτὴς ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτῶν ἦν·