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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Genesis 42:37 Then Reuben said to his father, "You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/genesis/42-37.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/13/01_Gen_42_37.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Genesis 42:37 - Joseph's Brothers Return to Canaan" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Then Reuben said to his father, You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. 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Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him back.&#8221 <a href="/nlt/genesis/42.htm">New Living Translation</a> Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I don’t bring Benjamin back to you. I’ll be responsible for him, and I promise to bring him back.” <a href="/esv/genesis/42.htm">English Standard Version</a> Then Reuben said to his father, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” <a href="/bsb/genesis/42.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him.” <a href="/kjv/genesis/42.htm">King James Bible</a> And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. <a href="/nkjv/genesis/42.htm">New King James Version</a> Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.” <a href="/nasb_/genesis/42.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you.” <a href="/nasb/genesis/42.htm">NASB 1995</a> Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, &#8220You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you.&#8221 <a href="/nasb77/genesis/42.htm">NASB 1977 </a> Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you.” <a href="/lsb/genesis/42.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my hand, and I will return him to you.” <a href="/amp/genesis/42.htm">Amplified Bible</a> Then Reuben spoke to his father, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring Benjamin back to you; put him in my care, and I will return him to you.” <a href="/csb/genesis/42.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> Then Reuben said to his father, “You can kill my two sons if I don’t bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him to you.” <a href="/hcsb/genesis/42.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> Then Reuben said to his father, &#8220You can kill my two sons if I don&#8217t bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him to you.&#8221 <a href="/asv/genesis/42.htm">American Standard Version</a> And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. <a href="/cev/genesis/42.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> Reuben spoke up, "Father, if I don't bring Benjamin back, you can kill both of my sons. Trust me with him, and I'll bring him back." <a href="/erv/genesis/42.htm">English Revised Version</a> And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. <a href="/gwt/genesis/42.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> So Reuben said to his father, "You may put my two sons to death if I don't bring him back to you. Let me take care of him, and I'll bring him back to you." <a href="/gnt/genesis/42.htm">Good News Translation</a> Reuben said to his father, "If I do not bring Benjamin back to you, you can kill my two sons. Put him in my care, and I will bring him back." <a href="/isv/genesis/42.htm">International Standard Version</a> "Feel free to put my own two sons to death," Reuben responded to his father, "if I don't bring him back to you. Trust me—I'll bring him back to you." <a href="/msb/genesis/42.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Then Reuben said to his father, ?You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Put him in my care, and I will return him.? <a href="/net/genesis/42.htm">NET Bible</a> Then Reuben said to his father, "You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my care and I will bring him back to you." <a href="/nheb/genesis/42.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> Reuben spoke to his father, saying, "Kill my two sons if I do not bring him to you. Put him in my care, and I will bring him back to you." <a href="/wbt/genesis/42.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> And Reuben spoke to his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. <a href="/web/genesis/42.htm">World English Bible</a> Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “Kill my two sons, if I don’t bring him to you. Entrust him to my care, and I will bring him to you again.” <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/genesis/42.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And Reuben speaks to his father, saying, “You put to death my two sons, if I do not bring him to you; give him into my hand, and I bring him back to you”; <a href="/ylt/genesis/42.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> And Reuben speaketh unto his father, saying, 'My two sons thou dost put to death, if I bring him not in unto thee; give him into my hand, and I -- I bring him back unto thee;' <a href="/slt/genesis/42.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> And Reuben will speak to his father, saying, Kill my two sons, if I shall not bring him to thee: give him into my hand, and I will turn him back to thee.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/genesis/42.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> And Ruben answered him: Kill my two sons if I bring him not again to thee: deliver him unto my hand, and I will restore him to thee. <a href="/cpdv/genesis/42.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> And Reuben answered him, “Put my two sons to death, if I do not lead him back to you. Deliver him into my hand, and I will restore him to you.” <a href="/nabre/genesis/42.htm">New American Bible</a> Then Reuben told his father: “You may kill my own two sons if I do not return him to you! Put him in my care, and I will bring him back to you.” <a href="/nrsvce/genesis/42.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> Then Reuben said to his father, “You may kill my two sons if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him back to you.”<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/genesis/42.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Then Reuben said to his father, Put to death my two sons if I do not bring him back to you; intrust him to me, and I will bring him back to you. <a href="/hpbt/genesis/42.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a> And Rubil said to his father, “Put my two sons to death if I shall not bring him to you; deliver him to me and I shall return him to you.”<div class="vheading2">OT Translations</div><a href="/jps/genesis/42.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a> And Reuben spoke unto his father, saying: 'Thou shalt slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee; deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him back to thee.' <a href="/sep/genesis/42.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a> And Ruben spoke to his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee; give him into my hand, and I will bring him back to thee. <a href="/parallel/genesis/42-37.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ehevn8iSgc?start=11069" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/genesis/42.htm">Joseph's Brothers Return to Canaan</a> …36Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is no more. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!” 37<a href="/hebrew/7205.htm" title="7205: rə·’ū·ḇên (N-proper-ms) -- From the imperative of ra'ah and ben; see ye a son; Reuben, a son of Jacob.">Then Reuben</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: way·yō·mer (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say.">said</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">to</a> <a href="/hebrew/1.htm" title="1: ’ā·ḇîw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Father. A primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application).">his father,</a> <a href="/hebrew/559.htm" title="559: lê·mōr (Prep-l:: V-Qal-Inf) -- To utter, say. A primitive root; to say."></a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/4191.htm" title="4191: tā·mîṯ (V-Hifil-Imperf-2ms) -- To die. A primitive root: to die; causatively, to kill.">“You may kill</a> <a href="/hebrew/8147.htm" title="8147: šə·nê (Number-mdc) -- Two (a card. number). Dual of sheniy; feminine shttayim; two; also twofold.">my two</a> <a href="/hebrew/1121.htm" title="1121: ḇā·nay (N-mpc:: 1cs) -- Son. From banah; a son, in the widest sense (like 'ab, 'ach, etc.).">sons</a> <a href="/hebrew/518.htm" title="518: ’im- (Conj) -- If. A primitive particle; used very widely as demonstrative, lo!">if</a> <a href="/hebrew/3808.htm" title="3808: lō (Adv-NegPrt) -- Not. Or lowi; or loh; a primitive particle; not; by implication, no; often used with other particles.">I fail</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: ’ă·ḇî·’en·nū (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cs:: 3mse) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">to bring him back</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·le·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- To, into, towards. ">to you.</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: tə·nāh (V-Qal-Imp-ms:: 3fs) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">Put</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’ō·ṯōw (DirObjM:: 3ms) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self.">him</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">in</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: yā·ḏî (N-fsc:: 1cs) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)">my care,</a> <a href="/hebrew/589.htm" title="589: wa·’ă·nî (Conj-w:: Pro-1cs) -- I. Contracted from 'anokiy; I.">and I</a> <a href="/hebrew/7725.htm" title="7725: ’ă·šî·ḇen·nū (V-Hifil-Imperf-1cs:: 3mse) -- A primitive root; to turn back transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively; generally to retreat; often adverbial, again.">will return him.”</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’ê·le·ḵā (Prep:: 2ms) -- To, into, towards. "></a> 38But Jacob replied, “My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead, and he alone is left. If any harm comes to him on your journey, you will bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/genesis/43-9.htm">Genesis 43:9</a> I will guarantee his safety. You may hold me personally responsible. If I do not bring him back and set him before you, then may I bear the guilt before you all my life. <a href="/genesis/44-32.htm">Genesis 44:32-34</a> Indeed, your servant guaranteed the boy’s safety to my father, saying, ‘If I do not return him to you, I will bear the guilt before you, my father, all my life.’ / Now please let your servant stay here as my lord’s slave in place of the boy. Let him return with his brothers. / For how can I go back to my father without the boy? I could not bear to see the misery that would overwhelm him.” <a href="/genesis/37-21.htm">Genesis 37:21-22</a> When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said. / “Do not shed his blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this so that he could rescue Joseph from their hands and return him to his father. <a href="/genesis/37-26.htm">Genesis 37:26-27</a> Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? / Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed. <a href="/genesis/44-16.htm">Genesis 44:16</a> “What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.” <a href="/genesis/45-5.htm">Genesis 45:5-8</a> And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you. / For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting. / God sent me before you to preserve you as a remnant on the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ... <a href="/genesis/50-20.htm">Genesis 50:20</a> As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. <a href="/exodus/32-32.htm">Exodus 32:32</a> Yet now, if You would only forgive their sin.... But if not, please blot me out of the book that You have written.” <a href="/1_samuel/18-1.htm">1 Samuel 18:1-4</a> After David had finished speaking with Saul, the souls of Jonathan and David were knit together, and Jonathan loved him as himself. / And from that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father’s house. / Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. ... <a href="/1_samuel/20-8.htm">1 Samuel 20:8</a> Therefore show kindness to your servant, for you have brought me into a covenant with you before the LORD. If there is iniquity in me, then kill me yourself; why should you bring me to your father?” <a href="/1_samuel/25-24.htm">1 Samuel 25:24</a> She fell at his feet and said, “My lord, may the blame be on me alone, but please let your servant speak to you; hear the words of your servant. <a href="/2_samuel/14-9.htm">2 Samuel 14:9</a> But the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord the king, may any blame be on me and on my father’s house, and may the king and his throne be guiltless.” <a href="/2_samuel/18-33.htm">2 Samuel 18:33</a> The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” <a href="/1_kings/3-26.htm">1 Kings 3:26</a> Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king because she yearned with compassion for her son. “Please, my lord,” she said, “give her the living baby. Do not kill him!” But the other woman said, “He will be neither mine nor yours. Cut him in two!” <a href="/job/1-18.htm">Job 1:18-19</a> While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, / when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>And Reuben spoke to his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to you: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to you again.Slay my.<a href="/genesis/43-9.htm">Genesis 43:9</a> I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:<a href="/genesis/44-32.htm">Genesis 44:32-34</a> For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever… <a href="/genesis/46-9.htm">Genesis 46:9</a> And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.<div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/genesis/40-4.htm">Care</a> <a href="/genesis/42-20.htm">Death</a> <a href="/genesis/42-34.htm">Deliver</a> <a href="/1_peter/4-19.htm">Entrust</a> <a href="/john/12-26.htm">Father</a> <a href="/genesis/41-44.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/genesis/39-3.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/genesis/37-26.htm">Kill</a> <a href="/genesis/42-22.htm">Reuben</a> <a href="/genesis/37-26.htm">Slay</a> <a href="/genesis/42-24.htm">Speaketh</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/genesis/43-9.htm">Care</a> <a href="/genesis/44-9.htm">Death</a> <a href="/exodus/3-8.htm">Deliver</a> <a href="/2_kings/22-5.htm">Entrust</a> <a href="/judges/14-9.htm">Father</a> <a href="/genesis/43-9.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/genesis/43-15.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/genesis/43-16.htm">Kill</a> <a href="/genesis/46-8.htm">Reuben</a> <a href="/genesis/43-16.htm">Slay</a> <a href="/genesis/44-6.htm">Speaketh</a><div class="vheading2">Genesis 42</div>1. <a href="/genesis/42-1.htm">Jacob sends his ten sons to buy grain in Egypt.</a> 16. <a href="/genesis/42-16.htm">They are imprisoned by Joseph as spies.</a> 18. <a href="/genesis/42-18.htm">They are set at liberty, on condition to bring Benjamin.</a> 21. <a href="/genesis/42-21.htm">They have remorse for Joseph.</a> 24. <a href="/genesis/42-24.htm">Simeon is kept for a pledge.</a> 25. <a href="/genesis/42-25.htm">They return with grain, and their money.</a> 29. <a href="/genesis/42-29.htm">Their relation to Jacob.</a> 36. <a href="/genesis/42-36.htm">Jacob refuses to send Benjamin.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/42.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/genesis/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/genesis/42.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Then Reuben said to his father Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob, often takes a leadership role among his brothers. His actions and words here reflect his attempt to regain favor with his father after previous failures, such as his sin with Bilhah (<a href="/genesis/35-22.htm">Genesis 35:22</a>). This moment highlights the tension and desperation within the family as they face the famine and the demand from the Egyptian ruler (Joseph, unbeknownst to them) to bring Benjamin to Egypt.“You may kill my two sons if I fail to bring him back to you. Reuben's offer is a hyperbolic expression of his commitment and desperation. In the ancient Near Eastern culture, such vows were not uncommon, though they were not always intended to be taken literally. This reflects the gravity of the situation and Reuben's earnestness to assure Jacob of his sincerity. The mention of his sons underscores the seriousness of his pledge, as children were considered a man's legacy and future.Put him in my care, Reuben is asking for trust and responsibility, seeking to reassure Jacob by offering himself as a guarantor for Benjamin's safety. This plea for trust is significant given Reuben's past actions, and it shows his desire to restore his standing within the family. The concept of guardianship and responsibility is a recurring theme in the Bible, often reflecting God's care for His people.and I will return him.” Reuben's promise to return Benjamin is a direct response to Jacob's fear of losing another beloved son, as he had lost Joseph. This assurance is crucial in the narrative, as it sets the stage for the brothers' eventual journey to Egypt and the unfolding of God's providential plan. The theme of return and restoration is echoed throughout Scripture, pointing to God's redemptive work and the ultimate return of His people to Him.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/r/reuben.htm">Reuben</a> The eldest son of Jacob, who offers his own sons as collateral to ensure the safe return of Benjamin from Egypt. 2. <a href="/topical/j/jacob.htm">Jacob (Israel)</a> The patriarch of the family, who is hesitant to send his youngest son, Benjamin, to Egypt after losing Joseph. 3. <a href="/topical/b/benjamin.htm">Benjamin</a> The youngest son of Jacob, whom the brothers need to take to Egypt to prove their honesty to Joseph, who is now a powerful official there. 4. <a href="/topical/j/joseph.htm">Joseph</a> Although not directly mentioned in this verse, he is the brother who has risen to power in Egypt and is testing his brothers' integrity. 5. <a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt</a> The land where Joseph has become a ruler and where the brothers must go to buy grain during the famine.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_weight_of_responsibility.htm">The Weight of Responsibility</a> Reuben's offer highlights the gravity of taking responsibility for others, especially family members. It challenges us to consider how we take responsibility in our own lives. <a href="/topical/t/the_cost_of_desperation.htm">The Cost of Desperation</a> Reuben's extreme offer reflects the desperation of the situation. In times of crisis, we must be cautious about making rash promises or decisions. <a href="/topical/i/integrity_and_trust.htm">Integrity and Trust</a> The account encourages us to reflect on our integrity and the trust others place in us. Are we trustworthy in our commitments? <a href="/topical/f/family_dynamics_and_leadership.htm">Family Dynamics and Leadership</a> Reuben's role as the eldest son shows the complexities of family leadership and the need for wisdom and discernment in guiding others. <a href="/topical/f/faith_in_god's_providence.htm">Faith in God's Providence</a> Despite the dire circumstances, the account reminds us to trust in God's overarching plan and provision, even when the path seems uncertain.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_genesis_42.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Genesis 42</a> <a href="/q/how_does_genesis_44_align_with_earlier_chapters.htm">How do the events in Genesis 44 fit coherently with earlier chapters in Genesis, given the discrepancies in character motivations and the sudden moral tension introduced by Joseph's actions?</a> <a href="/q/jacob's_prophecies_in_the_bible.htm">What are Jacob's prophecies in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/do_these_dreams_reflect_ancient_beliefs.htm">(Genesis 37:5-10) Do these dreams realistically align with ancient cultural beliefs, or do they suggest later embellishments inserted into the text?</a> <a href="/q/who_was_reuben_in_the_bible.htm">Who was Reuben in the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/genesis/42.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(37) Slay my two sons.--Reuben does not suppose that Jacob would really put his grandchildren to death. but simply means to offer his father a strong assurance that Benjamin would run no danger. He regarded the risk as so slight that he was willing to stake the lives of two of his children, perhaps all he then had, upon Benjamin's safe return. To take such a proposal as meant literally is irrational. But it was but feeble talk, in agreement with the general weakness of Reuben's character.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/genesis/42.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verse 37. - And Reuben spake unto his father, saying (Reuben was probably actuated by an ardent brotherly affection, which prompted him to endeavor to recover Simeon, as formerly he had sought to deliver Joseph), Slay my two sons - as Reuben had four sons (<a href="/genesis/46-9.htm">Genesis 46:9</a>), he first be understood as meaning two of my sons (Ainsworth, Murphy), either the two then present (Junius) or the two oldest (Mercerus) - if I bring him (i.e. Benjamin) not to thee. Reuben's proposal, though in one sense "the greatest and dearest offer that a son could make to a father" (Keil), was either only a sample of strong rhetoric (like Joseph's "By the life of Pharaoh!") designed to assure his father of the impossibility of failure (Lawson, Candlish, Inglis), and of the fact that neither he nor his brethren entertained any injurious designs against Benjamin (Calvin); or, if seriously made, was not only inconsiderate and rash, spoken in the heat of the moment (Kurtz), but sinful and unnatural (Ainsworth), plusquam barbarura (Calvin), and absolutely worthless besides, as what consolation would it be to Jacob to add to the loss of a son the murder of his grandchildren? (Calvin, Willet). Deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. Reuben might have learned to avoid strong asseverations on this point. "It was his wish to bring Joseph home to his father, and yet he could not persuade his brethren to comply with his intentions. It was his desire to bring Simeon safe to his father, and yet he was compelled to leave him in Egypt" (Lawson). <a href="/commentaries/genesis/42-37.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div>Then Reuben רְאוּבֵן֙ (rə·’ū·ḇên) Noun - proper - masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7205.htm">Strong's 7205: </a> Reuben -- 'behold a son!' oldest son of Jacob, also his desc said וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_559.htm">Strong's 559: </a> To utter, say to אֶל־ (’el-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to his father, אָבִ֣יו (’ā·ḇîw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1.htm">Strong's 1: </a> Father “You may kill תָּמִ֔ית (tā·mîṯ) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_4191.htm">Strong's 4191: </a> To die, to kill my two שְׁנֵ֤י (šə·nê) Number - mdc <a href="/hebrew/strongs_8147.htm">Strong's 8147: </a> Two (a cardinal number) sons בָנַי֙ (ḇā·nay) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_1121.htm">Strong's 1121: </a> A son if אִם־ (’im-) Conjunction <a href="/hebrew/strongs_518.htm">Strong's 518: </a> Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not I fail לֹ֥א (lō) Adverb - Negative particle <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3808.htm">Strong's 3808: </a> Not, no to bring him back אֲבִיאֶ֖נּוּ (’ă·ḇî·’en·nū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> To come in, come, go in, go to you. אֵלֶ֑יךָ (’ê·le·ḵā) Preposition | second person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_413.htm">Strong's 413: </a> Near, with, among, to Put תְּנָ֤ה (tə·nāh) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> To give, put, set him in עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition <a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> Above, over, upon, against my care, יָדִ֔י (yā·ḏî) Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> A hand and I וַאֲנִ֖י (wa·’ă·nî) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_589.htm">Strong's 589: </a> I will return him.” אֲשִׁיבֶ֥נּוּ (’ă·šî·ḇen·nū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular | third person masculine singular <a href="/hebrew/strongs_7725.htm">Strong's 7725: </a> To turn back, in, to retreat, again <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/genesis/42-37.htm">Genesis 42:37 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/genesis/42-37.htm">Genesis 42:37 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/genesis/42-37.htm">Genesis 42:37 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/genesis/42-37.htm">Genesis 42:37 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/genesis/42-37.htm">Genesis 42:37 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/genesis/42-37.htm">Genesis 42:37 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/genesis/42-37.htm">Genesis 42:37 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/genesis/42-37.htm">Genesis 42:37 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/genesis/42-37.htm">Genesis 42:37 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/genesis/42-37.htm">Genesis 42:37 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/genesis/42-37.htm">OT Law: Genesis 42:37 Reuben spoke to his father saying Kill (Gen. Ge Gn)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/genesis/42-36.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 42:36"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 42:36" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/genesis/42-38.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 42:38"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 42:38" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>