Genesis 37:19-29

19 They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer.
20 Come now, 1let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits.[a] Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams."
21 But when 2Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, "Let us not take his life."
22 And Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him"--3that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father.
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, 4the robe of many colors that he wore.
24 And they took him and 5threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a 6caravan of 7Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing 8gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt.
26 Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it 9if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and 10let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." And his brothers listened to him.
28 Then 11Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and 12sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels[b] of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he 13tore his clothes

Genesis 37:19-29 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 37

In this chapter begins the history of Joseph, with whom the remaining part of this book is chiefly concerned; and here are related the hatred of his brethren to him, because he brought an ill report of them to his father, and because his father loved him, and which was increased by the dream he dreamed, and told them of, Ge 37:1-11; a visit of his to his brethren in the fields, whom he found after a long search of them, Ge 37:12-17; their conspiracy on sight of him to slay him, but by the advice of Reuben it was agreed to cast him into a pit, which they did, Ge 37:18-24; and after that, at the motion of Judah, sold him to the Ishmaelites, who were going to Egypt, Ge 37:25-28; this being done, Reuben being absent, and not finding Joseph in the pit, was in great distress, Ge 37:29,30; their contrivance to deceive their father, and make him believe that Joseph was destroyed by a wild beast, which on the sight of the coat he credited, and became inconsolable, Ge 37:31-35; and the chapter concludes with the sale of Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, Ge 37:36.

Cross References 13

  • 1. ver. 26
  • 2. Genesis 42:22
  • 3. ver. 29, 30
  • 4. ver. 3
  • 5. [Jeremiah 38:6; Lamentations 3:53]
  • 6. Job 6:19; Isaiah 21:13
  • 7. [ver. 28, 36; Genesis 39:1]
  • 8. Genesis 43:11; Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11
  • 9. ver. 20
  • 10. [1 Samuel 18:17]
  • 11. ver. 36; Judges 8:22, 24
  • 12. Genesis 45:4; Psalms 105:17; Acts 7:9
  • 13. Genesis 44:13; Numbers 14:6; 2 Samuel 1:11; 2 Samuel 3:31; Job 1:20

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or cisterns; also verses 22, 24
  • [b]. A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.