Genesis 37:21
New International Version
When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said.

New Living Translation
But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said.

English Standard Version
But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.”

Berean Standard Bible
When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said.

King James Bible
And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

New King James Version
But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.”

New American Standard Bible
But Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands by saying, “Let’s not take his life.”

NASB 1995
But Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.”

NASB 1977
But Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But Reuben heard this and delivered him out of their hands and said, “Let us not strike down his life.”

Amplified Bible
Now Reuben [the eldest] heard this and rescued him from their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.”

Christian Standard Bible
When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them. He said, “Let’s not take his life.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them. He said, “Let’s not take his life.”

American Standard Version
And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, Let us not take his life.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Rubyl heard, and he saved him from their hands and said to them, “We will not kill a soul.”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Ruben having heard it, rescued him out of their hands, and said, Let us not kill him.

Contemporary English Version
Reuben heard this and tried to protect Joseph from them. "Let's not kill him," he said.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Ruben hearing this, endeavoured to deliver him out of their hands, end said:

English Revised Version
And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand; and said, Let us not take his life.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Reuben heard this, he tried to save Joseph from their plot. "Let's not kill him," he said.

Good News Translation
Reuben heard them and tried to save Joseph. "Let's not kill him," he said.

International Standard Version
When Reuben heard about it, he tried to save Joseph from their plot. "Let's not do any killing,"

JPS Tanakh 1917
And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand; and said: 'Let us not take his life.'

Literal Standard Version
And Reuben hears, and delivers him out of their hand, and says, “Let us not strike the life”;

Majority Standard Bible
When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said.

New American Bible
But when Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from their hands, saying: “We must not take his life.”

NET Bible
When Reuben heard this, he rescued Joseph from their hands, saying, "Let's not take his life!"

New Revised Standard Version
But when Reuben heard it, he delivered him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.”

New Heart English Bible
But Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hands, and said, "Let�s not take his life."

Webster's Bible Translation
And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him from their hands: and said, Let us not kill him.

World English Bible
Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, “Let’s not take his life.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Reuben heareth, and delivereth him out of their hand, and saith, 'Let us not smite the life;'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
20“Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!” 21When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said. 22“Do not shed his blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this so that he could rescue Joseph from their hands and return him to his father.…

Cross References
Genesis 37:22
"Do not shed his blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him." Reuben said this so that he could rescue Joseph from their hands and return him to his father.

Genesis 42:22
And Reuben responded, "Didn't I tell you not to sin against the boy? But you would not listen. Now we must account for his blood!"


Treasury of Scripture

And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

Reuben heard.

Genesis 35:22
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

Genesis 42:22
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.

not kill him.

Joshua 10:28
And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.

Genesis 9:5
And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man.

Matthew 10:28
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

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Genesis 37
1. Joseph is loved by Jacob, but hated by his brothers.
5. His dreams and the interpretation.
12. Jacob sends him to his brothers, who counsel to slay him.
21. At Reuben's desire they cast him into a pit;
25. and afterwards sell him to the Ishmaelites;
29. while Ruben grieves at not finding him.
31. His coat, covered with blood, is sent to Jacob, who mourns him inordinately.
36. Joseph is brought to Egypt and sold to Potiphar.














Verses 21, 22. - And Reuben (the eldest son, and therefore probably regarding himself as in some degree responsible for Joseph's safety) heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him - literally, Let us not destroy his life (nephesh). And Reuben said (further) unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness (i.e. into a dry pit that was near), and lay no hand upon him; that (the adverb indicates the purpose Reuben had in view) he might rid him (translated above deliver him) out of their hands, to deliver him (or, more correctly, to return him) to his father again.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When Reuben
רְאוּבֵ֔ן (rə·’ū·ḇên)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7205: Reuben -- 'behold a son!' oldest son of Jacob, also his desc

heard [this],
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע (way·yiš·ma‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

he tried to rescue [Joseph]
וַיַּצִּלֵ֖הוּ (way·yaṣ·ṣi·lê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver

from their hands.
מִיָּדָ֑ם (mî·yā·ḏām)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

“Let us not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

take
נַכֶּ֖נּוּ (nak·ken·nū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5221: To strike

his life,”
נָֽפֶשׁ׃ (nā·p̄eš)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

he said.
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say


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OT Law: Genesis 37:21 Reuben heard it and delivered him out (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 37:20
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