Genesis 37:33

33 Jacob recognized it. He said, "It's my son's robe! A wild animal has eaten him up. Joseph must have been torn to pieces."

Genesis 37:33 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:33

And he knew [it], and said, [it is] my son's coat
He took it, and examined it, and was soon convinced, and well assured it was his son's coat; read the words without the supplement "it is", and the pathos will appear the more, "my son's coat!" and think with what a beating heart, with what trembling limbs, with what wringing of hands, with what flowing eyes, and faultering speech, he spoke these words, and what follow: an evil beast hath devoured him;
this was natural to conclude from the condition the coat was in, and from the country he was sent into, which abounded with wild beasts, and was the very thing Joseph's brethren contrived to say themselves; and in this view they wished and hoped the affair would be considered, and so their wickedness concealed: Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces;
or "in rending is rent" ^F4; he is most certainly rent in pieces, there is no question to be made of it; it is plain, and it must be the case.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Prj Prj) "discerpendo discerptus est"; Drusius, Schmidt.

Genesis 37:33 In-Context

31 Then they got Joseph's beautiful robe. They killed a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.

32 They took it back to their father. They said, "We found this. Take a look at it. See if it's your son's robe."

33 Jacob recognized it. He said, "It's my son's robe! A wild animal has eaten him up. Joseph must have been torn to pieces."

34 Jacob tore his clothes. He put on black clothes. Then he sobbed over his son for many days.

35 All of Jacob's other sons and daughters came to comfort him. But they weren't able to. He said, "I'll be full of sorrow when I go down into the grave to be with my son." So Joseph's father sobbed over him.