John Gill Commentary Genesis 42:31

"And we said unto him, We are true men; and we are no spies:" — Genesis 42:31 (ASV)

And we said to him, we are true men
Honest, upright men, not given to treacherous and treasonable practices, either in the country where they lived, or any other; they came to Egypt with no ill design upon the country, only to buy corn for the relief of their families in necessity: we are no spies ;
or never were ^F5 : they had never been guilty of such practices, and never charged with anything of that kind; they denied the charge, and detested the character.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F5: (wnyyh al) "non fuimus", Montanus; "nunquam fuimus", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator, Schmidt.