Genesis 42:21
19 If you are honest, leave one of your brothers in custody while the rest of you go and take back grain to relieve the hunger of your households.
20 Then bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be verified, that you may not die.” And to this they consented.
Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”
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!”
23 They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.”
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- They said to one another, “We are certainly guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he begged us, and we wouldn’t listen. Therefore this distress has come upon us.”
- ASV
- And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.
- DARBY
- Then they said one to another, We are indeed guilty concerning our brother, whose anguish of soul we saw when he besought us, and we did not hearken; therefore this distress is come upon us.
- BLB
- And they said each man to his brother, “Truly we [are] guilty concerning our brother, for we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us, and we did not listen. Upon thus, this distress has come upon us.”
- ÅB
- Og de sa seg imellom: Sannelig, vi har skyld på oss for vår bror. Vi så hans sjeleangst da han bønnfalt oss, og vi ville ikke høre; derfor er denne nød kommet over oss.
- OTB
- De sa til hverandre: "Sannelig, vi blir straffet på grunn av vår bror. Vi så hans nød da han tryglet oss, men vi ville ikke høre; derfor har denne ulykken kommet over oss."
- B1930
- Og de sa sig imellem: Sannelig, vi har skyld på oss for vår bror. Vi så hans sjeleangst da han bønnfalt oss, og vi vilde ikke høre; derfor er denne nød kommet over oss.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Hosea 5:15
Then I will return to My place until they admit their guilt and seek My face; in their affliction they will earnestly seek Me.”
Read in contextGenesis 37:23–28
So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the robe of many colors he was wearing—
Read in contextJob 36:8–9
And if men are bound with chains, caught in cords of affliction,
Read in contextMark 9:43–45
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two hands and go into hell, into the unquenchable fire.
Read in context1 Kings 17:18
“O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”
Read in contextJob 34:31–32
Suppose someone says to God, ‘I have endured my punishment; I will offend no more.
Read in contextMatthew 7:2
For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Read in contextProverbs 21:13
Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
Read in context