TRV
Translation
King James Version
And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
Complete Jewish Bible
Ya'akov tore his clothes and, putting sackcloth around his waist, mourned his son for many days.
Berean Standard Bible
Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
American Standard Version
And Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
World English Bible Messianic
Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.
Geneva Bible (1599)
And Iaakob rent his clothes, and put sackecloth about his loynes, and sorowed for his sonne a long season.
Young's Literal Translation
And Jacob rendeth his raiment, and putteth sackcloth on his loins, and becometh a mourner for his son many days,
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In the KJVVerse 1,118 of 31,102
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Commentary on Genesis 37 verses 31–36
31 ¶ And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;
32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.
33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
35 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.
36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.
I. Joseph would soon be missed, great enquiry would be made for him, and therefore his brethren have a further design, to make the world believe that Joseph was torn in pieces by a wild beast; and this they did, 1. To clear themselves, that they might not be suspected to have done him any mischief. Note, We have all learned of Adam to cover our transgression, Job 31:33. When the devil has taught men to commit one sin, he then teaches them to conceal it with another, theft and murder with lying and perjury; but he that covers his sin shall not prosper long. Joseph's brethren kept their own and one another's counsel for some time, but their villany came to light at last, and it is here published to the world, and the remembrance of it transmitted to every age. 2. To grieve their good father. It seems designed by them on purpose to be revenged upon him for his distinguishing love of Joseph. It was contrived on purpose to create the utmost vexation to him. They sent him Joseph's coat of many colours, with one colour more than it had had, a bloody colour, Gen 37:32. They pretended they had found it in the fields, and Jacob himself must be scornfully asked, Is this thy son's coat? Now the badge of his honour is the discovery of his fate; and it is rashly inferred from the bloody coat that Joseph, without doubt, is rent in pieces. Love is always apt to fear the worst concerning the person beloved; there is a love that casteth out fear, but that is a perfect love. Now let those that know the heart of a parent suppose the agonies of poor Jacob, and put their souls into his soul's stead. How strongly does he represent to himself the direful idea of Joseph's misery! Sleeping or waking, he imagines he sees the wild beast setting upon Joseph, thinks he hears his piteous shrieks when the lion roared against him, makes himself tremble and grow chill, many a time, when he fancies how the beast sucked his blood, tore him limb from limb, and left no remains of him, but the coat of many colours, to carry the tidings. And no doubt it added no little to the grief that he had exposed him, by sending him, and sending him all alone, on this dangerous journey, which proved so fatal to him. This cuts him to the heart, and he is ready to look upon himself as an accessory to the death of his son. Now, (1.) Endeavours were used to comfort him. His sons basely pretended to do it (Gen 37:35); but miserable hypocritical comforters were they all. Had they really desired to comfort him, they might easily have done it, by telling him the truth, "Joseph is alive, he is indeed sold into Egypt, but it will be an easy thing to send thither and ransom him." This would have loosened his sackcloth, and girded him with gladness presently. I wonder their countenances did not betray their guilt, and with what face they could pretend to condole with Jacob on the death of Joseph, when they knew he was alive. Note, The heart is strangely hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. But, (2.) It was all in vain: Jacob refused to be comforted, Gen 37:35. He was an obstinate mourner, resolved to go down to the grave mourning. It was not a sudden transport of passion, like that of David, Would God I had died for thee, my son, my son! But, like Job, he hardened himself in sorrow. Note, [1.] Great affection to any creature does not prepare for so much the greater affliction, when it is either removed from us or embittered to us. Inordinate love commonly ends in immoderate grief; as much as the sway of the pendulum throws one way, so much it will throw the other way. [2.] Those consult neither the comfort of their souls nor the credit of their religion that are determined in their sorrow upon any occasion whatsoever. We must never say, "We will go to our grave mourning," because we know not what joyful days Providence may yet reserve for us, and it is our wisdom and duty to accommodate ourselves to Providence. [3.] We often perplex ourselves with imaginary troubles. We fancy things worse than they are, and then afflict ourselves more than we need. Sometimes there needs no more to comfort us than to undeceive us: it is good to hope the best.
II. The Ishmaelites and Midianites having bought Joseph only to make their market of him, here we have him sold again (with gain enough to the merchants, no doubt) to Potiphar, Gen 37:36. Jacob was lamenting the loss of his life; had he known all he would have lamented, though not so passionately, the loss of liberty. Shall Jacob's freeborn son exchange the best robe of his family for the livery of an Egyptian lord, and all the marks of servitude? How soon was the land of Egypt made a house of bondage to the seed of Jacob! Note, It is the wisdom of parents not to bring up their children too delicately, because they know not to what hardships and mortifications Providence may reduce them before they die. Jacob little thought that ever his beloved Joseph would be thus bought and sold for a servant.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 31–36. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Genesis 37:34 powerfully portrays the profound and immediate grief of Jacob, who, having been cruelly deceived by his sons, believes his beloved son Joseph has been tragically killed. This verse captures a moment of intense sorrow and despair, vividly illustrating the deep emotional devastation wrought by familial deception and the perceived loss of a cherished child.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Genesis 37:34 employs several powerful literary devices to convey Jacob's overwhelming sorrow. The most prominent is Hyperbole, as "many days" suggests an indefinite, exceedingly long period, emphasizing the profound and enduring nature of Jacob's grief, which indeed lasted for over two decades. The actions of "renting his clothes" and "putting sackcloth upon his loins" serve as potent Symbolism, representing extreme distress, humility, and a complete surrender to sorrow. These physical acts are also a form of Pathos, evoking deep sympathy and pity from the reader for Jacob's suffering, especially given the dramatic irony that Joseph is not truly dead. The stark contrast between Jacob's deep mourning and the brothers' knowledge of Joseph's survival creates a powerful sense of Dramatic Irony, heightening the tragedy and emphasizing the destructive consequences of their deception.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Genesis 37:34 profoundly illustrates the depth of a father's love and the agonizing pain of losing a child, particularly one so favored as Joseph was by Jacob. It underscores the reality of human suffering and the profound capacity for grief in the face of loss, even for a patriarch of faith. The passage also highlights the devastating and long-lasting consequences of sin and falsehood, particularly within intimate family relationships. The brothers' lie brought years of unnecessary and profound suffering to their innocent father, demonstrating how sin can ripple outward and inflict widespread pain. Yet, from a broader biblical narrative perspective, Jacob's prolonged mourning, though tragic, inadvertently serves God's larger redemptive plan, setting the stage for Joseph's journey to Egypt and the eventual preservation of Jacob's family and the nascent nation of Israel.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Genesis 37:34 resonates deeply with the human experience of loss and betrayal. It validates the reality of profound grief, showing that even figures of great faith experience overwhelming sorrow, reminding us that it is natural and righteous to mourn deeply in the face of significant loss. This verse also serves as a stark warning about the destructive power of deception and its capacity to inflict long-term pain on innocent parties, urging believers toward truthfulness and integrity in all relationships. The brothers' actions demonstrate how envy and malice can lead to devastating consequences, not only for the direct victim but for the entire family unit. Ultimately, while acknowledging the depth of Jacob's despair, the broader narrative of Joseph's life offers a powerful message of hope and restoration, demonstrating God's ability to bring good out of even the most tragic circumstances and to ultimately heal the deepest wounds, even those caused by profound familial brokenness.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did Jacob mourn for Joseph for "many days"?
Answer: Jacob's prolonged mourning, described as "many days" (Hebrew: yamim rabbim), signifies the profound depth of his love for Joseph, whom he favored greatly among his sons. His grief was not a fleeting emotion but a deep, enduring sorrow that settled upon him for over two decades because he believed Joseph was truly dead. This extended period of mourning emphasizes the devastating impact of the brothers' deception and the genuine, pervasive pain Jacob experienced from the perceived loss of his beloved son, highlighting the deep bond between father and child.
What is the significance of "renting clothes" and wearing "sackcloth" in ancient cultures?
Answer: Both actions were traditional, highly symbolic expressions of extreme grief, distress, and humility in the ancient Near East. Tearing one's clothes (renting garments) was an immediate, visceral reaction to unbearable news, signifying a tearing of one's inner being or a complete emotional breakdown. It was a public and spontaneous display of profound shock. Wearing sackcloth, a coarse, uncomfortable fabric often made from goat's hair, was a more sustained act of mourning, repentance, or humility. Worn directly against the skin, often "upon the loins" (around the waist), it indicated a continuous state of sorrow and a physical manifestation of internal agony, serving as a constant reminder of one's grief. These acts were not merely theatrical but deeply embedded cultural rituals that communicated the severity of one's personal suffering.
Did Jacob ever suspect his other sons of foul play regarding Joseph's disappearance?
Answer: The biblical text does not explicitly state that Jacob suspected his other sons of foul play. The narrative portrays Jacob as fully believing the brothers' fabricated story of a wild animal attack, especially after they presented Joseph's blood-stained coat. His overwhelming grief seems to have consumed him, blinding him to any potential deception from his own children. This highlights the effectiveness of their cruel lie and the depth of his trust, or perhaps his emotional vulnerability, regarding his elder sons' character, making his sorrow all the more poignant due to the dramatic irony of the situation.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Jacob's profound suffering and prolonged mourning for a son he believed lost, only to discover him alive and exalted, serves as a poignant Old Testament shadow of Christ's redemptive work. Just as Jacob experienced deep sorrow and a perceived death that ultimately led to the preservation of his family, so too did God the Father allow His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to endure suffering and death on the cross (Isaiah 53:5-6). This "loss" was not arbitrary but was part of God's sovereign plan to bring about ultimate salvation and reconciliation for humanity (John 3:16). Through Christ's death and glorious resurrection (Romans 6:4), humanity, once lost in the death grip of sin and separated from God, is found and brought into new, eternal life. The sorrow of the cross transforms into the eternal joy of redemption, fulfilling a divine purpose far grander than Jacob could have imagined, demonstrating God's ultimate victory over sin and death through His Son, the true Lamb of God (John 1:29).