Genesis 37:21

But Reuben heard their plans and said, “No. Don't kill him, don't even hurt him. Just put him in one of those dry wells here in the dry country.” Reuben planned to save Joseph later on and give him back to his father.

Barkly (portions)

In The King James Version

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

In Context

20Come on, let's kill him and throw his body into one of the deep wells in the ground. We can tell everyone that a wild animal ate him. That way, his dreams will never come true, and he will never be our boss.”

Read all of Genesis 37

Cross References

Genesis 9:5A person's life is so special that if an animal kills someone, that animal has to die. And if somebody murders another person, the murderer has to die. I made people like myself, and that is why they are special to me.

Genesis 42:22Jacob's oldest son Reuben said, “I told you not to hurt the boy, but you didn't listen to me. All of us are getting payback for what we did.”

Matthew Henry on Genesis 37:13-23

12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I. 14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying,… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Genesis 37:21