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Genesis 42:37

Reuben

35 As they began emptying their sacks, there in each man’s sack was his bag of silver! And when they and their father saw the bags of silver, they were dismayed.

36 Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is no more. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!”

Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him.”

38 But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

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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
Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him.”
KJV
And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.
WEB
Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons, if I don’t bring him to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him to you again.”
ASV
And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.
DARBY
And Reuben spoke to his father, saying, Slay my two sons if I bring him not back to thee: give him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.
BLB
And Reuben said to his father, saying, “My two sons you will put to death, if I do not bring him [back] to you! Put him in my hand, and I will return him to you.”
ÅB
Da sa Ruben til sin far: Begge mine sønner kan du drepe hvis jeg ikke kommer tilbake til deg med ham; gi ham i min hånd, så vil jeg føre ham tilbake til deg.
OTB
Ruben sa til sin far: "Du kan ta livet av mine to sønner hvis jeg ikke bringer ham tilbake til deg. Overlat ham til min omsorg, så skal jeg bringe ham tilbake til deg."
B1930
Da sa Ruben til sin far: Begge mine sønner kan du drepe hvis jeg ikke kommer tilbake til dig med ham; gi ham i min hånd, så vil jeg føre ham tilbake til dig.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 46:9

    The sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

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  • Micah 6:7

    Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

    Read in context

  • Genesis 43:9

    I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life.

    Read in context

  • Genesis 44:32–34

    Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’

    Read in context