King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Re'uven answered them, "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't wrong the boy'? But you wouldn't hear of it. Now comes the reckoning for his blood!"
Berean Standard Bible:
And Reuben responded, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!”
American Standard Version:
And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore also, behold, his blood is required.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Reuben{H7205} answered{H6030} them, saying{H559}, Spake I{H559} not unto you, saying{H559}, Do not sin{H2398} against the child{H3206}; and ye would not hear{H8085}? therefore, behold, also his blood{H1818} is required{H1875}.
Cross-References (KJV):
2 Chronicles 24:22
- Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon [it], and require [it].
1 Kings 2:32
- And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing [thereof, to wit], Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
Psalms 9:12
- When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
Genesis 37:21
- And Reuben heard [it], and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
Genesis 37:22
- And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, [but] cast him into this pit that [is] in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
Luke 11:50
- That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
Luke 11:51
- From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Genesis 42:22
Genesis 42:22 is a part of the narrative concerning Joseph and his brothers in the book of Genesis. This verse is set within the broader context of a famine that has struck the land, prompting Joseph's brothers to travel to Egypt to buy grain. Unbeknownst to them, the brother they had once sold into slavery, Joseph, is now a high-ranking official in Egypt.
In this particular verse, Reuben, the eldest of Jacob's sons, is addressing his brothers after they have been accused of spying by the Egyptian official (Joseph, whom they do not recognize). Reuben reminds them of his earlier counsel when they had contemplated harming Joseph, their father's favored son. He had urged them not to sin against the child, a plea they had ignored. Now, Reuben's words carry a tone of foreboding and reproof, as he suggests that the current predicament they face is a consequence of their past actions—the blood of Joseph is required, implying that they are being held accountable for their sin against him.
The themes present in this verse include brotherhood, sin, accountability, and the moral consequences of one's actions. It reflects the idea that actions have repercussions, and it underscores the complex dynamics of family relationships. Historically, this story would have been instructive to the ancient Israelites, emphasizing the importance of moral choices and the belief that divine providence oversees human affairs, often bringing to light past wrongs and offering opportunities for redemption and reconciliation.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7205
There are 68 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רְאוּבֵן
Transliteration: Rᵉʼûwbên
Pronunciation: reh-oo-bane'
Description: from the imperative of רָאָה and בֵּן; see ye a son; Reuben, a son of Jacob; Reuben. - Strong's Number: H6030
There are 317 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עָנָה
Transliteration: ʻânâh
Pronunciation: aw-naw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce; give account, afflict (by mistake for עָנָה), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for עָנָה), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, [idiom] scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness. See also בֵּית עֲנוֹת, בֵּית עֲנָת. - 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. - Strong's Number: H2398
There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָטָא
Transliteration: châṭâʼ
Pronunciation: khaw-taw'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass. - Strong's Number: H3206
There are 76 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יֶלֶד
Transliteration: yeled
Pronunciation: yeh'-led
Description: from יָלַד; something born, i.e. a lad or offspring; boy, child, fruit, son, young man (one). - Strong's Number: H8085
There are 1072 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמַע
Transliteration: shâmaʻ
Pronunciation: shaw-mah'
Description: a primitive root; to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.); [idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) noise, (be) obedient, obey, perceive, (make a) proclaim(-ation), publish, regard, report, shew (forth), (make a) sound, [idiom] surely, tell, understand, whosoever (heareth), witness. - Strong's Number: H1818
There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּם
Transliteration: dâm
Pronunciation: dawm
Description: from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent. - Strong's Number: H1875
There are 152 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּרַשׁ
Transliteration: dârash
Pronunciation: daw-rash'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to tread or frequent; usually to follow (for pursuit or search); by implication, to seek or ask; specifically to worship; ask, [idiom] at all, care for, [idiom] diligently, inquire, make inquisition, (necro-) mancer, question, require, search, seek (for, out), [idiom] surely.