Genesis 37 22

Genesis 37:22 kjv

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.

Genesis 37:22 nkjv

And Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him"?that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.

Genesis 37:22 niv

"Don't shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don't lay a hand on him." Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.

Genesis 37:22 esv

And Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him" ? that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father.

Genesis 37:22 nlt

"Why should we shed any blood? Let's just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he'll die without our laying a hand on him." Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father.

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 22 meaning

This verse reveals Reuben's specific intervention and true intent amidst his brothers' murderous plot against Joseph. He advises them not to physically kill Joseph but instead to throw him into a dry pit in the wilderness. His hidden motive, unbeknownst to his brothers, was to return later, rescue Joseph from the pit, and safely bring him back to their father, Jacob, thus preventing fratricide and alleviating their father's grief.

Genesis 37 22 Context

Genesis 37 sets the stage for the narrative of Joseph and his brothers. Jacob's favoritism towards Joseph, evident in his unique coat and Joseph's dreams of supremacy, ignited intense jealousy and hatred among his ten older brothers. When Joseph, at Jacob's command, seeks out his brothers while they are tending the flock in Dothan, their animosity boils over, and they conspire to kill him. It is at this critical juncture that Reuben, as the eldest and likely feeling a residual sense of responsibility, intervenes. His proposal aims to prevent the outright murder of their brother while still seemingly fulfilling the brothers' desire to be rid of Joseph, demonstrating his attempt to navigate the explosive situation and preserve Joseph's life.

Genesis 37 22 Word analysis

• And Reuben: (וְרְאוּבֵן ve-Re'uven) Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob and Leah. Despite his previous moral lapse (Gen 35:22), here he demonstrates a significant measure of conscience and a desire to save Joseph from their brothers' murderous intent. This act hints at a more complex, perhaps partially redeemed, character, even if his later actions do not consistently reflect strong leadership.

• said to them: (וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵהֶם vaiyomer 'alehem) Implies Reuben directly addressing the group of enraged brothers, standing against their collective violent proposal. His voice holds some authority as the eldest, yet he knows he cannot outright contradict them without risking their fury.

• 'Shed no blood: (אַל־תִּשְׁפְּכוּ־דָם 'al-tishp'chu-dam) A direct, strong prohibition against taking a life. The phrase "shed blood" is a common biblical idiom for murder. This injunction reflects the divine command given after the flood (Gen 9:6) and foreshadows the Mosaic law against murder (Ex 20:13). It highlights the gravity of their initial murderous intent.

• cast him into this pit here: (הַשְׁלִיכוּ אֹתוֹ אֶל־הַבּוֹר הַזֶּה hashlichu 'oto 'el-haBor hazzeh) The "pit" (בּוֹר bor) refers to a dry cistern, common in the ancient Near East for collecting rainwater, often deep and bottle-shaped, making escape difficult. While not an immediate death sentence, it was a severe form of imprisonment and abandonment, potentially leading to death by exposure, starvation, or wild animals. Reuben's proposal offered a less overt, seemingly less bloody, but still dangerous alternative.

• in the wilderness: (בַּמִּדְבָּר הַזֶּה ba-midbar hazzeh) The wilderness (midbar) signifies a desolate, unpopulated, and isolated area. This location would provide a degree of privacy for the brothers' action but also ensured Joseph's extreme vulnerability and likely demise if left unaided. It suggests a "clean" way of getting rid of him without leaving a trace of their direct action.

• but lay no hand on him—: (וְיָד אַל־תִּשְׁלְחוּ־בֹו ve-yad 'al-tishlechu-vo) This re-emphasizes the prohibition against direct physical assault leading to death. The phrase "lay hand on" implies lethal force or harm. This repetition underscores Reuben's determination to avoid fratricide.

• that he might rescue him out of their hands: (לְהַצִּיל אֹתוֹ מִיָּדָם lehatzil 'oto miyadam) This reveals Reuben's secret, righteous intention. He plans to return covertly and save Joseph from certain death in the pit. "Out of their hands" emphasizes Joseph's danger and Reuben's aim to remove Joseph from the direct sphere of his hostile brothers.

• to restore him to his father: (לַהֲשִׁיבוֹ אֶל־אָבִיו lahashivo 'el-Aviv) The ultimate goal of Reuben's intervention. This signifies a desire for reconciliation or at least the prevention of absolute parental heartbreak. It highlights his awareness of the impact of such a death on Jacob and hints at a degree of filial loyalty.

• "Shed no blood; cast him into this pit": This phrase serves as a pivot point. It redirects the brothers' murderous intent (shedding blood) toward a seemingly less violent act (casting into a pit), offering a perceived "middle ground" that appeased their rage without crossing the line into direct murder in their sight. This "compromise" reflects Reuben's attempt to exert influence and control over his enraged siblings without outright confronting their unified desire for harm.

• "lay no hand on him—that he might rescue him...": This connection between the negative command ("lay no hand") and the positive underlying intention ("that he might rescue him") is crucial. It clarifies Reuben's tactical reasoning: his counsel against direct violence was not merely for convenience but was intrinsically tied to his secret plan of preservation and later intervention. It transforms an act of perceived abandonment into a potential act of salvation from Reuben's perspective.

• "out of their hands to restore him to his father": This final phrase clearly outlines Reuben's full, two-part strategy. First, physically remove Joseph from the immediate threat posed by the brothers' hostile grip ("out of their hands"). Second, fulfill the familial duty and bring Joseph back to Jacob, alleviating the immense grief that would follow his presumed death. It reflects an aspiration for familial integrity, even in the midst of extreme discord.

Genesis 37 22 Bonus section

Reuben's character in this verse is often interpreted as a blend of weakness and a genuine, albeit undeveloped, moral compass. He failed to exert full leadership (as he could have flat-out stopped them) but his intentions were righteous. This reflects a human tendency to seek a compromise, even when facing evil, rather than a full confrontation. The fact that his plan failed underscores the brothers' entrenched evil and God's sovereign hand redirecting events, turning their wickedness into a pathway for His ultimate good, culminating in the salvation of Israel during the famine. The pit itself becomes a symbol of the depths of despair and near-death that Joseph experienced, which ironically prepared him for his future role as a deliverer, mirroring a common biblical theme of divine elevation through abasement.

Genesis 37 22 Commentary

Genesis 37:22 provides a critical moment in the Joseph narrative, showcasing Reuben's flawed yet morally conscious character. As the eldest, he bears some responsibility for his younger siblings but frequently fails to exert decisive leadership (seen earlier in his defilement of Bilhah and later in Jacob's reduced blessing). Here, however, he acts as a preventative force, strategically diverting the brothers' murderous rage from a direct killing to abandonment in a pit. His underlying intention to rescue Joseph later, while ultimately thwarted, reveals a deeper humanity and concern for his brother and father that contrasts sharply with the malice of the other brothers.

This act of "lesser evil" set in motion a series of divine providences. Reuben's imperfect intervention indirectly led to Joseph's sale into slavery rather than immediate death. While Reuben did not fully succeed in his rescue, his actions preserved Joseph's life, allowing God's larger redemptive plan for Joseph and the nation of Israel to unfold. It illustrates how even partial obedience or incomplete righteous acts can be instrumental in God's overarching design, highlighting God's sovereignty working through human weakness and imperfection to bring about His will.