Genesis 42:38

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!”

37 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.”

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.”

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
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.”
KJV
And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
WEB
He said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along the way in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.”
ASV
And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left: if harm befall him by the way in which ye go, then will ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.
DARBY
But he said, My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left; and if mischief should befall him by the way in which ye go, then would ye bring down my grey hairs with sorrow to Sheol.
BLB
And he said, “My son shall not go down with you⁺, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. And if harm should befall him in the way in which you⁺ go, then you⁺ would bring down my gray hair in sorrow to Sheol.”
ÅB
Men han sa: Min sønn skal ikke dra ned med dere; for hans bror er død, og han er alene tilbake, og dersom det møter ham noen ulykke på den vei som dere drar, så kommer dere til å sende mine grå hår med sorg ned i dødsriket.
OTB
Men Jakob sa: "Min sønn skal ikke dra ned med dere; hans bror er død, og han alene er igjen. Hvis det skulle hende ham noe ondt på reisen dere tar, vil dere bringe mitt grå hår ned til Sheol i sorg."
B1930
Men han sa: Min sønn skal ikke dra ned med eder; for hans bror er død, og han er alene tilbake, og dersom det møter ham nogen ulykke på den vei som I drar, så kommer I til å sende mine grå hår med sorg ned i dødsriket.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Genesis 37:35

    All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

    Read in context
  • Genesis 42:4

    But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said, “I am afraid that harm might befall him.”

    Read in context
  • Genesis 37:33

    His father recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”

    Read in context
  • Genesis 42:13

    But they answered, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

    Read in context
  • Genesis 35:16–18

    Later, they set out from Bethel, and while they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel began to give birth, and her labor was difficult.

    Read in context
  • Ecclesiastes 2:26

    To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 2:6

    So act according to your wisdom, and do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

    Read in context
  • Ecclesiastes 1:14

    I have seen all the things that are done under the sun, and have found them all to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

    Read in context