21
But Reubenוַ רְאוּבֵןheard itיִּשְׁמַעand delivered himוַיַּצִּלֵהוּfrom their hands,מִיָּדָםand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Let us notלֹאtakeנַכֶּנּוּhis life.”נָפֶשׁ
Genesis 37:21
Study it in the app“But Reuben heard it and delivered him from their hands, and said, “Let us not take his life.””
With the Hebrew beneath
Genesis 37:21, word by word
- But Reubenרְאוּבֵןreuven
Reuben
Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob and Leah; also the tribe that came from him. The name sounds like "look, a son!".
Where else “reuven” appears- heard itיִּשְׁמַעyishma
hear
To hear a sound, or learn of something.
Where else “yishma” appears- and delivered himיַּצִּלֵyatsile
rescue
To take someone out of danger or out of his enemy's hands.
Where else “yatsile” appears- from their handsיָּדָyada
power
Literally "the hand": the strength and control someone has.
Where else “yada” appears- and saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- takeנַכֶּnake
strike dead
To strike dead, kill.
Where else “nake” appears- his lifeנָפֶשׁnafesh
life
Life, when it is at stake.
Where else “nafesh” appears
The context
20Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns, and we will say, ‘A fierce animal devoured him.’ Then we will see what will become of his dreams.”
21 · This verse (above)
22Reuben said to them, “Do not shed blood; throw him into this cistern that is in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him,” so that he might deliver him from their hands to bring him back to his father.
To study Genesis 37 in a group
1. What it says
What did the brothers do to Joseph, and what did they tell Jacob (vv. 23-33)?
2. What it means
What reasons did the brothers have for hating Joseph (vv. 3-4, 8)?
3. How I live it
How do you handle envy when someone receives more attention than you?