Genesis 42:22

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.

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}.

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!"

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!”

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.

Commentary

Genesis 42:22 captures a pivotal moment of deep regret and dawning realization among Joseph’s brothers, many years after their heinous crime against him. As they face hardship in Egypt, falsely accused and held accountable for something they did not commit, their past sin against Joseph resurfaces in their collective conscience.

Context

This verse occurs during the severe famine that forces Jacob’s sons to journey to Egypt to buy grain. Unbeknownst to them, the powerful governor they encounter is their own brother, Joseph, whom they had sold into slavery two decades earlier. Joseph, recognizing them but concealing his identity, tests them through a series of trials, including imprisoning Simeon and demanding they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, to prove their honesty. The brothers' distress and fear lead them to confess their past wrongdoing to one another, believing their current predicament is divine retribution. Reuben, the eldest, reminds them of his earlier plea to spare Joseph's life, as recorded in Genesis 37:21-22, highlighting his own clear conscience regarding that particular sin.

Key Themes

  • Guilt and Consequence: The brothers' suffering and their internal turmoil are directly linked to their past sin. Their words reveal a profound sense of guilt, acknowledging that their current troubles are a just consequence of their actions. This illustrates the biblical principle that sin has consequences, even if they are delayed.
  • Divine Retribution and Justice: Reuben's statement, "his blood is required," points to the belief that God is holding them accountable for their cruelty. This reflects a fundamental aspect of God's character as a righteous judge who ensures justice, even for hidden sins.
  • Reuben's Foresight and Remorse: Reuben's words serve as a lament and a prophetic recognition of the unfolding justice. He had attempted to intervene and save Joseph, and now he sees his warnings fulfilled in their present distress. His reminder underscores the severity of their collective sin.
  • Accountability: The verse emphasizes the inescapable nature of accountability before God. Though they thought their deed was hidden and forgotten, God remembered, and the consequences eventually caught up with them.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "his blood is required" is a powerful expression in Hebrew. The word for "required" (Hebrew: bāqaš) means to seek, demand, or exact. In this context, it carries the strong sense of divine reckoning or retribution for bloodshed. It implies that justice for Joseph’s "blood" (representing his life and the injustice done to him) is being sought and demanded by a higher power, namely God. This highlights the sanctity of life and the serious implications of shedding innocent blood or causing harm to another.

Practical Application

Genesis 42:22 offers several timeless lessons for believers today:

  • The Reality of Consequences: Our actions, especially our sins, often have far-reaching consequences, even if not immediately apparent. This verse is a powerful reminder that God sees and remembers all things, and accountability is inevitable.
  • The Burden of Guilt: Unconfessed and unaddressed sin can lead to deep internal distress and spiritual torment. The brothers' anguish underscores the importance of acknowledging our wrongs and seeking God's forgiveness.
  • God's Justice: This narrative reassures us of God's perfect justice. While His timing may differ from ours, He ultimately holds all people accountable for their deeds.
  • Seeking Reconciliation: The eventual reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers, particularly in Genesis 50:20, offers hope that even the most broken relationships can be healed through repentance, forgiveness, and God's sovereign plan.
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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 24:22 (5 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

    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 (5 votes)

    When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

  • Genesis 37:21 (4 votes)

    And Reuben heard [it], and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

  • Genesis 37:22 (4 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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 (3 votes)

    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.