And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
What does Genesis 37:21 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 37:21
And Reuben heard it , and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
Key words
- Reuben
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And Reuben heard it , and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
- heard
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And Reuben heard it , and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
- delivered
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And Reuben heard it , and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill 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.
Related topics
Explore by topic
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Glossary
- Reuben Person
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Behold a son!, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah ( Gen. 29:32 ). His sinful conduct, referred to in Gen. 35:22 , brought down upon him his dying father’s malediction (48:4).