Genesis 42:22 kjv

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.

Genesis 42:22 nkjv

And Reuben answered them, saying, "Did I not speak to you, saying, 'Do not sin against the boy'; and you would not listen? Therefore behold, his blood is now required of us."

Genesis 42:22 niv

Reuben replied, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you wouldn't listen! Now we must give an accounting for his blood."

Genesis 42:22 esv

And Reuben answered them, "Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood."

Genesis 42:22 nlt

"Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy?" Reuben asked. "But you wouldn't listen. And now we have to answer for his blood!"

Genesis 42 verses

Genesis 42 22 Meaning

Genesis 42:22 conveys Reuben's deep conviction and internal torment as he confronts his brothers amidst their suffering in Egypt. He reminds them of his previous plea not to harm Joseph and asserts that their current distress, particularly the threat to their lives and the demand for Benjamin, is a direct consequence and divine retribution for their sin against Joseph, for whom "his blood is required" of them. It signifies an awakening of conscience and an acknowledgement of divine justice at work.

Genesis 42 22 Context

Genesis 42 takes place twenty years after Joseph was sold into slavery. A severe famine has gripped the entire known world, compelling Jacob's sons to travel to Egypt to buy grain. They arrive before Joseph, who is now the powerful governor of Egypt and instantly recognizes them, though they do not recognize him. Joseph tests them by falsely accusing them of being spies, imprisoning them, and then demanding that they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, to him. Overwhelmed by the dire circumstances, their internal distress leads them to connect their current suffering with their past grievous sin against Joseph. It is in this moment of vulnerability, when they are talking among themselves believing Joseph, their interrogator, cannot understand them (unaware he speaks Hebrew), that Reuben delivers this potent declaration.

Historically, this period highlights the vulnerability of early pastoral nomadic peoples to climate and famine, necessitating interaction with more established agricultural societies like Egypt. Culturally, the shame of familial discord and the severity of betraying a brother, especially a younger, more vulnerable one, would be keenly felt, alongside the patriarchal emphasis on familial responsibility. The famine and its consequences served as God's instrument for His redemptive purposes, bringing the brothers to a point of profound self-reflection and preparing them for reconciliation and a deeper understanding of His sovereign plan.

Genesis 42 22 Word analysis

• And Reuben answered:
  • And: waw conjunction, continuing the narrative. It emphasizes Reuben's prompt response to the shared distress and mutual confessions of his brothers (likely a preceding verse implies their initial discussions, though the narrative skips directly to Reuben's summation).
  • Reuben (רְאוּבֵן, Re'uven): The firstborn son of Jacob. Historically, Reuben showed a brief, though failed, attempt to save Joseph in Gen 37:21-22 by planning to return him to their father, distinguishing him from the others who were more actively malevolent. His speaking here carries a sense of "I told you so," but more profoundly, it is an expression of his internal struggle with the consequences of their shared sin, which he also felt culpability for by association and his failure to fully protect Joseph.
  • answered: Implies a direct reply to the general lamentations of the brothers, acknowledging the collective realization of their guilt.
• them:
  • them: Refers to his brothers, particularly those involved in the decision to sell Joseph (all but Benjamin, likely Levi and Simeon initially being the instigators after Reuben's failed intervention, but all except Judah assented or actively participated).
• saying, "Did I not speak to you, saying, 'Do not sin against the boy,' but you would not listen?"
  • Did I not speak to you (הֲלוֹא דִּבַּרְתִּי אֲלֵיכֶם, Ha-lo dibbarti alekhem): A rhetorical question, emphasizing his past warning. It is not just an accusation, but a deep regret and a cry of remembered truth. Reuben vividly recalls his efforts.
  • saying: Reinforces the directness and clarity of his previous communication.
  • 'Do not sin (אַל-תֶּחֱטְאוּ, al-tehet'u): A strong prohibition. The verb ḥāṭā' means "to miss the mark," "to go wrong," or "to incur guilt." Here, it points to a clear moral transgression, highlighting the intentionality and moral culpability of their actions against Joseph.
  • against the boy (בַּיֶּלֶד, bayyeled): "The boy" refers to Joseph. This word choice emphasizes Joseph's youth, innocence, and vulnerability at the time (he was 17, Gen 37:2), making their act appear even more heinous. It increases the sense of cruelty.
  • but you would not listen (וְלֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם, w’lo shema’tem): "Listen" here means more than just hearing; it carries the sense of obeying or paying heed. Their refusal was an act of stubborn rebellion against good counsel and against what they knew to be right, ultimately reflecting a rejection of ethical conduct. This points to their deep-seated envy and malice towards Joseph.
• Therefore, behold, his blood is required of us."
  • Therefore (לָכֵן, lakhen): A crucial conjunction denoting a consequence or result. It explicitly links their past sin directly to their present distress and anticipated judgment. This signifies a recognition of the cause-and-effect relationship, often a sign of moral awakening.
  • behold (הִנֵּה, hinneh): An interjection demanding attention, conveying urgency and immediacy. It's a somber acknowledgement of their predicament.
  • his blood (דָּמוֹ, damo): Lit. "his blood." "Blood" here metaphorically represents Joseph's life, implying they effectively wished for or contributed to his death, even if he didn't literally die. It connects back to divine pronouncements against murder (Gen 4:10, 9:5) and suggests a capital offense. Even selling him to slavery, where he could die, implies shedding his "life-blood" from their family.
  • is required of us (נִדְרָשׁ מֵאִתָּנוּ, nidrash me'ittanu): Passive voice, suggesting an outside force is making the demand—God. The verb dārash means "to seek," "to demand," "to require an account." This implies divine justice and accountability. It's not just bad luck, but a reckoning for a past sin. This concept also aligns with polemics against the idea of arbitrary fate or pagan deities, asserting the righteous God of Israel's direct involvement in holding people accountable for their moral failings. The "requiring" implies a payment, a justice that must be satisfied.
• Words-group Analysis:
  • "Did I not speak to you... but you would not listen?": This phrase underscores the brothers' initial hardened hearts and their deliberate rejection of moral guidance. Reuben highlights their obstinacy and his own clear conscience regarding that specific advice. It establishes their collective responsibility and demonstrates the profound regret that comes with hindsight.
  • "Do not sin against the boy": This grouping points to the fundamental ethical failure. Joseph, as "the boy," evokes pity and highlights the unjust and cruel nature of their actions against an innocent.
  • "Therefore, behold, his blood is required of us.": This is the core declaration of the verse. "Therefore" marks the causal link, indicating that their suffering is not coincidental but a just consequence. "His blood is required of us" expresses a deep sense of divine judgment and impending doom, drawing on the principle that the shedding of innocent blood calls for retribution (Gen 4:10). It signifies a moment of spiritual realization, that their guilt has found them out, and God is bringing about justice.

Genesis 42 22 Bonus section

The concept of "his blood is required of us" not only connects to literal murder (like Cain and Abel) but also implicitly refers to the severe mishandling or neglect of a person's life and destiny. By selling Joseph, they effectively sentenced him to an unknown, potentially fatal, future, robbing him of his life within the family and exposing him to death. The biblical understanding of blood often extends beyond literal physical shedding to the vitality and essence of a person.

Reuben, as the firstborn, bore a unique responsibility for his brothers and for Joseph. His failed intervention still left him implicated, though he now uses it as a basis to validate his prophetic declaration of their current plight. This episode also highlights the long-term, psychological weight of unconfessed sin. For two decades, the brothers carried this guilt, suppressed but not eradicated. Their internal agony only surfaced when God, through circumstances, created the pressure points necessary to bring it to light. This long-delayed justice demonstrates God's patience but also His ultimate certainty in upholding moral order.

Genesis 42 22 Commentary

Genesis 42:22 marks a critical turning point in the brothers' spiritual journey and a pivotal moment in the Joseph narrative. It reveals a dawning moral awareness among Jacob's sons, years after their heinous act against Joseph. Their deep distress in Egypt, perceived as an arbitrary accusation, causes their consciences to finally confront their hidden sin. Reuben, having attempted to intervene in the past, now articulates the unspoken truth, linking their current calamity directly to their past transgression. "His blood is required of us" is not merely an expression of guilt but an acknowledgement of divine retribution. This suggests an understanding that God sees and judges human actions, and that injustice, particularly the shedding of innocent "blood" (life or essence), calls for an accounting.

This moment serves to humble the brothers, stripping away their arrogance and bringing them to a state of repentance—a necessary step for their future reconciliation with Joseph and their proper role as the foundation of the tribes of Israel. Their suffering in Egypt, orchestrated by God through Joseph's hidden hand, serves as a divine classroom. It's a profound illustration of the spiritual law that "whatever one sows, that will he also reap" (Gal 6:7) and that "your sin will find you out" (Num 32:23). This experience transforms them, preparing them for forgiveness and demonstrating God's sovereign hand working even through human evil for His redemptive purposes.Examples:

• An individual who habitually cheats others finally faces ruin through deceptive actions.
• A person who avoids dealing with unresolved conflict experiences escalating tension in their relationships.