And bring your youngest brother to me: that is, “then bring … to me.”

So your words will be verified: that is, “so that I will know that you [plural] are telling the truth” or “that way I will know … truth.”

And you shall not die: their deaths will happen if Joseph will decide they are spies and have them executed. If they will prove they are honest men, they will not be executed.

And they did so: this appears to mean “They did like so,” or as Anchor Bible says, “They made (the) yes (sign),” which he and others take to mean “They agreed” or “They accepted.” Jacob used the same expression in 29.28, when he agreed with Laban to complete the week of the marriage celebrations with Leah. Bible en français courant translates more fully “The brothers accepted this proposal.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .