Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
What does Genesis 37:20 mean?
How readily does Joseph wait his father's orders! Those children who are best beloved by their parents, should be the most ready to obey them.
Key themes
Read with
Keep this verse inside Genesis 37:20-22 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Genesis 37:20
Come now therefore, and let us slay him,.... Agree to do it, and actually do it: and cast him into some pit; or, "one of the pits" (s), which were near, and were dug for the collection of rainwater, as was usual in those countries where water was scarce: and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him; which would seem plausible, since wild beasts were frequent in those parts, as lions and bears, see 1 Kings 13:24 , and we shall see what will become of his dreams; who will be the lord then, and reign, and have the dominion, he or we.
Key words
- therefore
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Come now therefore, and let us slay him,.
Context in Genesis 37
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Genesis 37 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as the family line through Isaac and Jacob. Genesis opens the whole Bible with creation, fall, flood, Babel, and the long patriarchal story that carries the reader from Eden to Egypt. Read this chapter with the wider themes of creation, fall, and covenant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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