Gen 42:23 | NET2full | STEP | (Now they did not know that Joseph could understand them, for he was speaking through an interpreter .)

‏ Genesis 42:23

23 (Now ^{▼▼tn The disjunctive clause provides supplemental information that is important to the story.} they did not know that Joseph could understand them, ^{▼▼tn “was listening.” The brothers were not aware that Joseph could understand them as they spoke the preceding words in their native language.} for he was speaking through an interpreter.) ^{▼▼tn Heb “for [there was] an interpreter between them.” On the meaning of the word here translated “interpreter” see HALOT 590 s.v. מֵלִיץ and M. A. Canney, “The Hebrew melis (Prov IX 12; Gen XLII 2-3),” AJSL 40 (1923/24): 135-37.}