Genesis 37:27
25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
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
- Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed.
- KJV
- Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.
- WEB
- Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His brothers listened to him.
- ASV
- Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened unto him.
- DARBY
- Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites; but let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened [to him].
- BLB
- Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let our hand not be upon him, for he [is] our brother, our flesh.” And his brothers listened.
- ÅB
- Kom og la oss selge ham til ismaelittene, men la oss ikke legge hånd på ham, han er jo vår egen kjødelige bror. Og hans brødre gjorde som han sa.
- OTB
- Kom, la oss selge ham til ismaelittene og ikke legge hånd på ham; for han er vår bror, vårt eget kjød." Hans brødre var enige.
- B1930
- Kom og la oss selge ham til ismaelittene, men la oss ikke legge hånd på ham, han er jo vår egen kjødelige bror. Og hans brødre gjorde som han sa.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 16:26
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Read in contextGenesis 42:21
And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
Read in context1 Samuel 18:17
And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the LORD’s battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.
Read in contextGenesis 29:14
And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.
Read in context2 Samuel 12:9
Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.
Read in context2 Samuel 11:14–17
And it came to pass in the morning, that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.
Read in context1 Timothy 1:10
For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
Read in contextMatthew 26:15
And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
Read in context