New International Version
Genesis 37:29
29When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.
Genesis 37:29 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
- English Standard Version (ESV)When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief.
Context of Genesis 37:29
27Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed. 28So when the Midianite merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes. 30He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?” 31Then they got Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.
Read all of Genesis 37Genesis 37:29 word by word
וַיָּ֤שָׁב רְאוּבֵן֙ אֶל־הַבּ֔וֹר וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵין־יוֹסֵ֖ף בַּבּ֑וֹר וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־בְּגָדָֽיו׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Genesis 37:29
- Genesis 37:34Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days.
- Genesis 34:13Because their sister Dinah had been defiled, Jacob’s sons replied deceitfully as they spoke to Shechem and his father Hamor.
- Numbers 14:6Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes
- Judges 11:35When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.”
- 2 Kings 19:1When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord.
- Job 1:20At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship
- Joel 2:13Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
- Acts 14:14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting:
Commentaries on Genesis 37:29
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 29Ruben returned unto the pit - It appears he was absent when the caravan passed by, to whom the other brethren had sold Joseph.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1-36Verses 1-36 - Joseph Was Sold into Egypt 17. דתין dotayı̂n Dothain, “two wells?” (Gesenius) 25. נכאת neko't “tragacanth” or goat‘s-thorn gum, yielded by the “astragalus gummifer”, a native of Mount Lebanon. צרי tsērı̂y “opobalsamum,” the resin of the balsam tree, growing in Gilead, and having healing qualities. לט loṭ ͂ lēdon “ledum, ladanum,” in the Septuagint ́ staktē The former is a gum produced from the cistus rose. The latter is a gum resembling…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 23-30Verses 23-30 They threw Joseph into a pit, to perish there with hunger and cold; so cruel were their tender mercies. They slighted him when he was in distress, and were not grieved for the affliction of Joseph, see Am 6:6; for when he was pining in the pit, they sat down to eat bread. They felt no remorse of conscience for the sin. But the wrath of man shall praise God, and the remainder of wrath he will restrain, Psa 76:10. Joseph's brethren were…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-30When Reuben returned, he tore his clothes in grief. His attempt to restore his relationship with his father by saving Joseph had gone wrong.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 29-3029-30. Reuben returned unto the pit--He seems to have designedly taken a circuitous route, with a view of secretly rescuing the poor lad from a lingering death by starvation. His intentions were excellent, and his feelings no doubt painfully lacerated when he discovered what had been done in his absence. But the thing was of God, who had designed that Joseph's deliverance should be accomplished by other means than his.Read the comment
Topics related to Genesis 37:29
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Genesis 37
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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