Genesis 37:35

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Though all his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, he refused all consolation, saying, "No, I will go down to the grave, to my son, mourning." And his father wept for him.

Berean Standard Bible:

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.

American Standard Version:

And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning. And his father wept for him.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And all his sons{H1121} and all his daughters{H1323} rose up{H6965} to comfort{H5162} him; but he refused{H3985} to be comforted{H5162}; and he said{H559}, For I will go down{H3381} into the grave{H7585} unto my son{H1121} mourning{H57}. Thus his father{H1} wept{H1058} for him.

Cross-References (KJV):

2 Samuel 12:17

  • And the elders of his house arose, [and went] to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

Genesis 42:38

  • 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.

Job 2:11

  • ¶ Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

Genesis 42:31

  • And we said unto him, We [are] true [men]; we are no spies:

Genesis 35:22

  • And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard [it]. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

Genesis 35:26

  • And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these [are] the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

Genesis 45:28

  • And Israel said, [It is] enough; Joseph my son [is] yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

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Commentary for Genesis 37:35

Genesis 37:35 is a verse from the Old Testament that captures a moment of deep sorrow within the narrative of Joseph and his family. Here's a summary of the themes and historical context:

**Themes:**

1. **Loss and Grief:** The verse reflects the profound sense of loss and unconsolable grief that Jacob, also known as Israel, experiences after believing that his favored son Joseph has been killed by a wild animal. The theme of mourning is central, highlighting the depth of a parent's love and the pain of losing a child.

2. **Family Dynamics:** The family dynamics of Jacob's household are complex, with Joseph being the favored son and his brothers harboring jealousy. This tension leads to Joseph being sold into slavery, which is the context for Jacob's grief.

3. **Faith and Resignation:** Despite the efforts of his children to comfort him, Jacob refuses to be consoled, indicating a deep spiritual resignation. His statement about going down to the grave mourning reflects a commitment to honor his son's memory until his own death.

4. **Redemptive Suffering:** Although not explicitly stated in this verse, the broader narrative of Joseph's story suggests a theme of redemptive suffering. Jacob's grief will eventually be turned to joy when he is reunited with Joseph in Egypt, prefiguring the biblical motif of suffering leading to a greater good.

**Historical Context:**

- **Patriarchal Period:** This event occurs during the Patriarchal Age, a time when the ancestors of the Israelite people lived in Canaan. Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, is the father of the twelve tribes of Israel.

- **Family Narratives:** The stories of the patriarchs, including Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were likely passed down orally before being written. They serve both as family histories and as foundational narratives for the Israelite identity.

- **Cultural Practices:** The customs of mourning and comforting the bereaved are highlighted, reflecting the cultural practices of the time. The communal response to grief and the role of family in the mourning process are significant.

- **Early Israelite Religion:** The verse also provides insight into early Israelite beliefs about death and the afterlife, with Jacob expressing a continued bond with his son beyond the grave.

In summary, Genesis 37:35 encapsulates the sorrow of Jacob over the presumed death of Joseph, emphasizing the themes of irreconcilable loss, complex family relationships, and a steadfast commitment to honor a loved one. It is set against the backdrop of the Patriarchal Age and reflects the cultural and religious contexts of the early Israelites.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H1121
    There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בֵּן
    Transliteration: bên
    Pronunciation: bane
    Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
  2. Strong's Number: H1323
    There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בַּת
    Transliteration: bath
    Pronunciation: bath
    Description: from בָּנָה (as feminine of בֵּן); a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and figuratively); apple (of the eye), branch, company, daughter, [idiom] first, [idiom] old, [phrase] owl, town, village.
  3. Strong's Number: H6965
    There are 596 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: קוּם
    Transliteration: qûwm
    Pronunciation: koom
    Description: a primitive root; to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative); abide, accomplish, [idiom] be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, [idiom] be dim, endure, [idiom] enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, [idiom] but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure(-ly), (be) up(-hold, -rising).
  4. Strong's Number: H5162
    There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָחַם
    Transliteration: nâcham
    Pronunciation: naw-kham'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself); comfort (self), ease (one's self), repent(-er,-ing, self).
  5. Strong's Number: H3985
    There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מָאֵן
    Transliteration: mâʼên
    Pronunciation: maw-ane'
    Description: a primitive root; to refuse; refuse, [idiom] utterly.
  6. Strong's Number: H559
    There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָמַר
    Transliteration: ʼâmar
    Pronunciation: aw-mar'
    Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
  7. Strong's Number: H3381
    There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יָרַד
    Transliteration: yârad
    Pronunciation: yaw-rad'
    Description: a primitive root; to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the shore, a boundary, the enemy, etc.; or figuratively, to fall); causatively, to bring down (in all the above applications); [idiom] abundantly, bring down, carry down, cast down, (cause to) come(-ing) down, fall (down), get down, go(-ing) down(-ward), hang down, [idiom] indeed, let down, light (down), put down (off), (cause to, let) run down, sink, subdue, take down.
  8. Strong's Number: H7585
    There are 63 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שְׁאוֹל
    Transliteration: shᵉʼôwl
    Pronunciation: sheh-ole'
    Description: or שְׁאֹל; from שָׁאַל; Hades or the world of the dead (as if a subterranean retreat), including its accessories and inmates; grave, hell, pit.
  9. Strong's Number: H57
    There are 2044 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָבֵל
    Transliteration: ʼâbêl
    Pronunciation: aw-bale'
    Description: from אָבַל; lamenting; mourn(-er, -ing).
  10. Strong's Number: H1
    There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָב
    Transliteration: ʼâb
    Pronunciation: awb
    Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
  11. Strong's Number: H1058
    There are 100 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: בָּכָה
    Transliteration: bâkâh
    Pronunciation: baw-kaw'
    Description: a primitive root; to weep; generally to bemoan; [idiom] at all, bewail, complain, make lamentation, [idiom] more, mourn, [idiom] sore, [idiom] with tears, weep.