Bible Compass
Log inGet started
Back to the chapter

Genesis 37:22

Reuben
Mercy and compassion

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!”

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

“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—

24 and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, with no water in it.

Read the whole chapter

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
“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.
KJV
And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
WEB
Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
ASV
And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him: that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
DARBY
And Reuben said to them, Shed no blood: cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness; but lay no hand upon him in order that he might deliver him out of their hand, to bring him to his father again.
BLB
Reuben said to them, “Do not shed blood; cast him into this pit, which [is] in the wilderness. And do not stretch out a hand against him,”—that he might deliver him out of their hand to return him to his father.
ÅB
Og han sa til dem: Utøs ikke blod, kast ham ned i denne brønn her i ørkenen, men legg ikke hånd på ham - for han ville fri ham ut av deres hånd og føre ham tilbake til hans far.
OTB
"Ikke utøs blod. Kast ham i denne brønnen her i ørkenen, men legg ikke hånd på ham." Ruben sa dette for å redde ham fra dem og bringe ham tilbake til sin far.
B1930
Og han sa til dem: Utøs ikke blod, kast ham ned i denne brønn her i ørkenen, men legg ikke hånd på ham - for han vilde fri ham ut av deres hånd og føre ham tilbake til hans far.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Exodus 24:11

    But God did not lay His hand on the nobles of Israel; they saw Him, and they ate and drank.

    Read in context

  • Matthew 27:24

    When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

    Read in context

  • 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

  • Genesis 22:12

    “Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.”

    Read in context

  • Acts 12:1

    About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church.

    Read in context

  • Deuteronomy 13:9

    Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people.

    Read in context