Genesis 37:34

Genesis 37:34 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and mourned for his son many days.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days.

Context of Genesis 37:34

32They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?” 33Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!” Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. 35His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep. 36Meanwhile, the Midianite traders arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain of the palace guard.

Genesis 37:34 word by word

וַיִּקְרַ֤ע יַעֲקֹב֙ שִׂמְלֹתָ֔יו וַיָּ֥שֶׂם שַׂ֖ק בְּמָתְנָ֑יו וַיִּתְאַבֵּ֥ל עַל־בְּנ֖וֹ יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jacobיַעֲקֹבya‛ăqôb · JacobH3290
• rentקָרַעqâra‛ · to tearH7167
• his clothesשִׂמְלָהώimlâh · mantleH8071
• and putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• sackclothשַׂקώaq · sackclothH8242
• upon his loinsמׇתְנַ֫יִםmôthen · loinH4975
• and mournedאָבַל'âbal · to mournH56
• for his sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• manyרַבrab · manyH7227
• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117

Cross-references for Genesis 37:34

• Genesis 37:29Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief.
• Joshua 7:6Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of the Lord until evening.
• 2 Samuel 1:11David and his men tore their clothes in sorrow when they heard the news.
• 2 Samuel 3:31Then David said to Joab and all those who were with him, “Tear your clothes and put on burlap. Mourn for Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the procession to the grave.
• 1 Kings 20:31Ben-hadad’s officers said to him, “Sir, we have heard that the kings of Israel are merciful. So let’s humble ourselves by wearing burlap around our waists and putting ropes on our heads, and surrender to the king of Israel. Then perhaps he will let you live.”
• 1 Kings 21:27But when Ahab heard this message, he tore his clothing, dressed in burlap, and fasted. He even slept in burlap and went about in deep mourning.
• 2 Kings 19:1When King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes and put on burlap and went into the Temple of the Lord.
• 1 Chronicles 21:16David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth with his sword drawn, reaching out over Jerusalem. So David and the leaders of Israel put on burlap to show their deep distress and fell face down on the ground.
• Ezra 9:3When I heard this, I tore my cloak and my shirt, pulled hair from my head and beard, and sat down utterly shocked.
• Nehemiah 9:1On October 31 the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads.
• Esther 4:1When Mordecai learned about all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on burlap and ashes, and went out into the city, crying with a loud and bitter wail.
• Job 1:20Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship.
• Job 2:12When they saw Job from a distance, they scarcely recognized him. Wailing loudly, they tore their robes and threw dust into the air over their heads to show their grief.
• Psalms 69:11When I dress in burlap to show sorrow, they make fun of me.
• Isaiah 22:12At that time the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, called you to weep and mourn. He told you to shave your heads in sorrow for your sins and to wear clothes of burlap to show your remorse.
• Isaiah 32:11Tremble, you women of ease; throw off your complacency. Strip off your pretty clothes, and put on burlap to show your grief.

Commentaries on Genesis 37:34

• 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. 31-36Verses 31-36 When Satan has taught men to commit one sin, he teaches them to try to conceal it with another; to hide theft and murder, with lying and false oaths: but he that covers his sin shall not prosper long. Joseph's brethren kept their own and one another's counsel for some time; but their villany came to light at last, and it is here published to the world. To grieve their father, they sent him Joseph's coat of colours; and he hastily thought, on…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 34-35Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist: This showed his extreme distress and mourning (see 44:13; Job 1:20; 16:15). Jacob was devastated and refused to be comforted. This betrayal affected his entire family.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3434. Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins--the common signs of Oriental mourning. A rent is made in the skirt more or less long according to the afflicted feelings of the mourner, and a coarse rough piece of black sackcloth or camel's hair cloth is wound round the waist.Read the comment

Topics related to Genesis 37:34

• Bereavement
• Deception
• Falsehood
• Hypocrisy
• Ishmaelites
• Jacob
• Joseph
• Mourning
• Rending
• Sackcloth
• Sorrow

In the dictionaries

• Jacob
• Jacob, Israel
• Coat
• Conceal
• Deceitfully
• Devour
• Doubt
• Dress
• Evil
• Flesh

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