Genesis 42:36 kjv

And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.

Genesis 42:36 nkjv

And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me: Joseph is no more, Simeon is no more, and you want to take Benjamin. All these things are against me."

Genesis 42:36 niv

Their father Jacob said to them, "You have deprived me of my children. Joseph is no more and Simeon is no more, and now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is against me!"

Genesis 42:36 esv

And Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me of my children: Joseph is no more, and Simeon is no more, and now you would take Benjamin. All this has come against me."

Genesis 42:36 nlt

Jacob exclaimed, "You are robbing me of my children! Joseph is gone! Simeon is gone! And now you want to take Benjamin, too. Everything is going against me!"

Genesis 42 verses

Genesis 42 36 Meaning

Genesis 42:36 conveys Jacob’s profound grief and despair upon hearing the demands from Egypt. He believes he is losing his children and, with them, his very heritage and hope. His outcry reflects a deep sense of betrayal by circumstance, perceiving that all events are conspiring against him, especially after the presumed death of Joseph and the retention of Simeon, and now the threat to Benjamin, his last son with Rachel.

Genesis 42 36 Context

This verse is spoken by Jacob in the midst of the famine that has driven his sons to Egypt for grain. Unbeknownst to them, Joseph, whom they sold into slavery and whom Jacob mourned as dead for over two decades, is now the ruler of Egypt. The immediate context is the sons' return from their first trip to Egypt, where Joseph (unrecognized by them) has tested them, keeping Simeon as a hostage and demanding they bring their youngest brother, Benjamin, to prove their honesty. This demand pushes Jacob, already scarred by the presumed loss of Joseph and the real loss of his beloved wife Rachel during Benjamin's birth, to a breaking point. His words reflect the deep-seated sorrow and perceived misfortunes that have plagued his life, leading him to believe God is acting against him, even though God's unseen hand is working towards his ultimate redemption and reunion with Joseph.

Genesis 42 36 Word analysis

• Jacob (יַעֲקֹב, Ya'akov): Means "he grasps the heel" or "supplanter." This name often highlights his wrestling nature, both with people (Esau, Laban) and with God. Here, it underscores his human frailty and limited perspective, struggling against perceived misfortunes.
• their father: Emphasizes his paternal responsibility and profound emotional investment in his sons, especially those of Rachel. The patriarch’s role was central to the family’s continuation and well-being.
• said to them: An utterance born of anguish and frustration directed at those he holds responsible for relaying the impossible demand.
• You have bereaved me (שַׁכַּלְתֶּם, shakaltem): A strong verb, suggesting they (his sons, by their actions, though unintentionally) are the agents of his loss of children. It signifies having caused childlessness or losing children, highlighting the devastating impact of Joseph and Simeon’s disappearance from his perspective. This deep wound goes beyond mere sorrow; it's a sense of generational destruction.
• Joseph (יוֹסֵף, Yoseph): Means "may He add" or "He has added." Joseph was the beloved son of his old age and Rachel. His supposed death twenty-two years prior still wounds Jacob profoundly. His name carries an ironic weight here, as he is indeed alive, orchestrating the events.
• is no more (אֵינֶנּוּ, einennu): Literally, "he is not." A common expression for death or disappearance in the Hebrew Bible. Jacob firmly believes Joseph is gone forever, intensifying his despair.
• Simeon (שִׁמְעוֹן, Shim'on): Means "heard" or "listening." The second eldest son of Leah, and the one Joseph chose to detain. Jacob now perceives him as lost to him too, another blow compounding his grief.
• and Benjamin (וּבִנְיָמִין, u-Vinyamin): "Son of the right hand" (Jacob's name for him), often signifying favor, strength, or destiny. Rachel named him Ben-oni, "son of my sorrow." He is the only full brother of Joseph and Jacob's last surviving son from his most beloved wife Rachel. Jacob's attachment to him is immense.
• you would take away (תִּקְחוּ, tiqkhu): Implies their intention or complicity in his loss, a direct accusation from his emotional state. It expresses an unbearable potential future loss.
• All these things: Refers to the chain of misfortunes he has experienced: Joseph's "death," Simeon's detainment, and now the demand for Benjamin.
• are against me (עָלַי הָיוּ כֻּלָּן, 'alai hayu kullah): Literally, "all these have been upon/against me." This expresses Jacob's conviction that the forces of destiny or circumstance are specifically hostile to him, working in opposition to his well-being. It is a deeply personal lament of a man who feels persecuted by events, despite God's unseen, gracious purpose unfolding.

Genesis 42 36 Bonus section

Jacob’s outburst in this verse is steeped in a pervasive human tendency to interpret current hardship as evidence of being forsaken or targeted by fate, rather than considering a greater, unseen purpose. His lament, though understandable from a purely human standpoint, is presented in stark contrast to the divine plan quietly unfolding. The very "losses" he counts – Joseph and Simeon – are soon to be revealed as leading directly to preservation and immense blessing for his entire lineage, aligning with God's covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob himself. This verse also serves as a critical turning point, pushing Jacob's sons into a corner where they must finally confront their past sin concerning Joseph, as Benjamin's presence is required for their survival and for Jacob's hope to continue. The emotional depth of this lament is amplified by the fact that Jacob, whose name means "supplanter," has always striven to control his circumstances, yet here he feels completely powerless, a raw expression of the human condition grappling with suffering beyond its control.

Genesis 42 36 Commentary

Genesis 42:36 offers a poignant glimpse into the depth of Jacob's sorrow and the profound limitations of human perception. For over two decades, Jacob has mourned Joseph, a sorrow he explicitly states he expected to carry to the grave. The recent demand from Egypt concerning Benjamin shatters any lingering peace, causing him to see the successive misfortunes not as isolated incidents but as a grand conspiracy "against" him. His words, "All these things are against me!" perfectly encapsulate human despair when unable to discern God's sovereign hand at work. The narrative here is full of dramatic irony; unbeknownst to Jacob, the very "misfortunes" (Joseph's 'death,' the famine, the trials in Egypt) are precisely the means God is using to preserve his family and ultimately bring about the reunion and Jacob's greatest joy. This episode highlights that suffering often obscures our vision of divine providence. God often works through painful, incomprehensible means to achieve His redemptive purposes, proving faithful even when His children feel utterly abandoned. It stands as a testament to God's patient working, fulfilling His promises through routes unexpected by man.

• Example 1: When life seems to unravel, and difficulties mount, one might feel overwhelmed, much like Jacob, believing everything is working against them. This verse reminds us that even in deep distress, God can be actively orchestrating a good outcome.
• Example 2: A Christian facing a series of job losses, health crises, or relationship breakdowns might cry out, "All these things are against me!" Jacob's story provides encouragement that God often hides His gracious plan within painful seasons, ultimately turning sorrow into salvation.