Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 42:11/אבן עזרא על בראשית מ״ב:י״א
אנחנו. בלא אלף והוא האמת:
1WE. Nachnu (we) is spelled without an alef. This is the correct form of the word.16 is primary, anachnu secondary, as the alef of anachnu is superfluous (Filwarg, Weiser, Cherez). Cf. I.E. on Lam. 3:42.
בכנים. נאמנים, ויתכן להיותו מגזרת "כן תעשה כאשר דברת" (בראשית יח ה) או מגזרת "כן בנות צלפחד" (במדבר כו ו), כמו האמת:
2UPRIGHT. Kenim means truthful. It is possible that kenim comes from the same root as ken (so) in So (ken) do, as thou hast said (Gen. 18:5).17 (we are upright men) is we are so, we are as we appear, that is, people who came to buy grain. Or kenim comes from the same root18 as ken (truth) in The daughters of Zelophehad speak right (ken) (Num. 27:7).19 means, we are truthful men.