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Genesis 37:21

Reuben
Courage and strengthMercy and compassion

19 “Here comes that dreamer!” they said to one another.

20 “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!”

When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said.

22 “Do not shed his blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this so that he could rescue Joseph from their hands and return him to his father.

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the robe of many colors he was wearing—

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Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said.
KJV
And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
WEB
Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, “Let’s not take his life.”
ASV
And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, Let us not take his life.
DARBY
And Reuben heard [it], and delivered him out of their hand, and said, Let us not take his life.
BLB
And Reuben heard, and he delivered him out of their hand and said, “Let us not take his life.”
ÅB
Da Ruben hørte dette, ville han fri ham ut av deres hender og sa: La oss ikke slå ham ihjel!
OTB
Men Ruben hørte dette og prøvde å redde ham fra deres hender. "La oss ikke ta hans liv," sa han.
B1930
Da Ruben hørte dette, vilde han fri ham ut av deres hender og sa: La oss ikke slå ham ihjel!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 42:22

    And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”

    Read in context

  • Joshua 10:28

    On that day Joshua captured Makkedah and put it to the sword, along with its king. He devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. So he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 35:22

    While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah, and Israel heard about it. Jacob had twelve sons:

    Read in context

  • Matthew 10:28

    Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 9:5

    And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:

    Read in context