Genesis 37:22
New International Version
“Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.

New Living Translation
“Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father.

English Standard Version
And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father.

Berean Standard Bible
“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.

King James Bible
And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

New King James Version
And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.

New American Standard Bible
Then Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—so that later he might rescue him out of their hands, to return him to his father.

NASB 1995
Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him"— that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father.

NASB 1977
Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father.

Legacy Standard Bible
Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not put forth your hands against him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands to return him to his father.

Amplified Bible
Reuben said to them, “Do not shed his blood, but [instead] throw him [alive] into the pit that is here in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him [to kill him]”—[he said this so] that he could rescue him from them and return him [safely] to his father.

Christian Standard Bible
Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him”—intending to rescue him from them and return him to his father.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him"—intending to rescue him from their hands and return him to his father.

American Standard Version
And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him: that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.

Contemporary English Version
"Don't murder him or even harm him. Just throw him into a well out here in the desert." Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later and take him back to his father.

English Revised Version
And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him: that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Let's not have any bloodshed. Put him into that cistern that's out in the desert, but don't hurt him." Reuben wanted to rescue Joseph from them and bring him back to his father.

Good News Translation
"Just throw him into this well in the wilderness, but don't hurt him." He said this, planning to save him from them and send him back to his father.

International Standard Version
Reuben told them. "And no blood shedding, either. Instead, let's toss him into this cistern that's way out here in the wilderness. But don't lay a hand on him." (Reuben intended to free Joseph and return him to his father.)

Majority Standard Bible
“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.

NET Bible
Reuben continued, "Don't shed blood! Throw him into this cistern that is here in the wilderness, but don't lay a hand on him." (Reuben said this so he could rescue Joseph from them and take him back to his father.)

New Heart English Bible
Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him"—that he might deliver him out of their hands, to restore him to his father.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Reuben said to them, Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might deliver him from their hands, to bring him back to his father.

World English Bible
Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Reuben says to them, “Shed no blood; cast him into this pit which [is] in the wilderness, and do not put forth a hand on him,” in order to deliver him out of their hand, to bring him back to his father.

Young's Literal Translation
and Reuben saith unto them, 'Shed no blood; cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and put not forth a hand upon him,' -- in order to deliver him out of their hand, to bring him back unto his father.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Reuben will say to them, Ye shall not pour out blood; cast him into this pit which is in the desert, and ye shall not stretch forth the hand upon him; in order to take him away out of their hands to bring him back to his father.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Do not take away his life, nor shed his blood: but cast him into this pit, that is in the wilderness, and keep your hands harmless: now he said this, being desirous to deliver him out of their hands and to restore him to his father.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“Do not take away his life, nor shed blood. But throw him into this cistern, which is in the wilderness, and so keep your hands harmless.” But he said this, wanting to rescue him from their hands, so as to return him to his father.

New American Bible
Then Reuben said, “Do not shed blood! Throw him into this cistern in the wilderness; but do not lay a hand on him.” His purpose was to save him from their hands and restore him to his father.

New Revised Standard Version
Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand and restore him to his father.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Reuben said to them, Shed no blood; throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not harm him; that he might deliver him from their hands, and bring him back to his father.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Rubyl said to them, “You shall not shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness and do not stretch a hand against him”, so that he would save him from their hands and return him to his father.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Reuben said unto them: 'Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him'--that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Ruben said to them, Shed not blood; cast him into one of these pits in the wilderness, but do not lay your hands upon him; that he might rescue him out of their hands, and restore him to his father.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
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. 23So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the robe of many colors he was wearing—…

Cross References
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!”

Genesis 9:5-6
And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man: / Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man his blood will be shed; for in His own image God has made mankind.

Exodus 23:7
Stay far away from a false accusation. Do not kill the innocent or the just, for I will not acquit the guilty.

Deuteronomy 19:10
Thus innocent blood will not be shed in the land that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed.

1 Samuel 19:4-5
Then Jonathan spoke well of David to his father Saul and said to him, “The king should not sin against his servant David; he has not sinned against you. In fact, his actions have been highly beneficial to you. / He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”

1 Samuel 24:12
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.

2 Samuel 14:6-7
And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. / Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.”

2 Kings 24:4
and also for the innocent blood he had shed. For he had filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD was unwilling to forgive.

Psalm 94:21
They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

Proverbs 1:11-12
If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, / let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit.

Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil; they are swift to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are sinful thoughts; ruin and destruction lie in their wake.

Jeremiah 26:15
But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its residents; for truly the LORD has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”

Matthew 27:24
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but that instead a riot was breaking out, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “You bear the responsibility.”

Matthew 5:21-22
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ / But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.

Matthew 23:34-35
Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town. / And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.


Treasury of Scripture

And Reuben said to them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand on him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

Reuben said.

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.

Shed.

Matthew 27:24
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

lay.

Genesis 22:12
And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Exodus 24:11
And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

Deuteronomy 13:9
But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

Jump to Previous
Blood Cast Cistern Death Deliver Desert Forth Further Hand Hands Holes Lay Pit Placed Purpose Rescue Restore Reuben Rid Safe Shed Throw Violent Wilderness
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Blood Cast Cistern Death Deliver Desert Forth Further Hand Hands Holes Lay Pit Placed Purpose Rescue Restore Reuben Rid Safe Shed Throw Violent Wilderness
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.














Do not shed his blood
The phrase "shed his blood" is a direct reference to the act of murder, which is strictly prohibited in the Mosaic Law. The Hebrew word for "shed" is "shaphak," which implies a violent outpouring. Reuben's plea reflects an early understanding of the sanctity of life, a principle deeply embedded in the Judeo-Christian ethic. This plea is a call to avoid the irreversible act of taking a life, emphasizing the moral responsibility to preserve life whenever possible.

Reuben said
Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob, speaks with the authority and responsibility expected of a firstborn. His intervention highlights his role as a protector, albeit flawed, within the family dynamics. Historically, the firstborn held a position of leadership and was expected to guide and protect the younger siblings. Reuben's actions, though not entirely selfless, demonstrate a desire to fulfill this role, albeit imperfectly.

Throw him into this pit
The "pit" mentioned here is likely a cistern, a common feature in the arid regions of Canaan used to collect rainwater. The Hebrew word "bor" can refer to a pit, cistern, or dungeon. This choice of action suggests a temporary solution, one that avoids immediate bloodshed while still removing Joseph from the brothers' presence. The pit symbolizes a place of abandonment and despair, foreshadowing Joseph's descent into trials that ultimately lead to his rise in Egypt.

here in the wilderness
The "wilderness" refers to the desolate, uninhabited areas surrounding the settled regions. In biblical narratives, the wilderness often represents a place of testing and transformation. It is a setting where individuals encounter God and are refined through trials. Reuben's suggestion to leave Joseph in the wilderness unwittingly sets the stage for Joseph's journey of faith and divine providence.

but do not lay a hand on him
This phrase underscores Reuben's intent to prevent physical harm to Joseph. The Hebrew idiom "lay a hand on" implies an act of violence or harm. Reuben's insistence on non-violence reflects a glimmer of conscience and a desire to protect his brother, even amidst the brothers' jealousy and hatred. It serves as a reminder of the power of restraint and the importance of seeking peaceful resolutions.

intending to rescue him
Reuben's intention to "rescue" Joseph reveals his underlying plan to restore him to their father, Jacob. The Hebrew word "natsal" means to deliver or save, indicating Reuben's hope to rectify the situation. This intention highlights the complexity of human motives, where self-preservation and genuine concern can coexist. Reuben's plan, though ultimately unsuccessful, demonstrates a desire for redemption and reconciliation within the family.

from their hands
The phrase "from their hands" signifies the brothers' collective responsibility and potential guilt in the plot against Joseph. In biblical terms, "hands" often symbolize power and action. Reuben's attempt to rescue Joseph from their hands reflects an effort to prevent collective sin and the ensuing consequences. It serves as a reminder of the importance of individual accountability within a community.

and return him to his father
Reuben's ultimate goal is to "return" Joseph to Jacob, highlighting the familial bond and the importance of reconciliation. The Hebrew word "shuv" means to turn back or restore, indicating a desire to mend the fractured family relationships. This intention foreshadows the eventual reconciliation and restoration that occurs later in the narrative, emphasizing the biblical theme of forgiveness and the restoration of broken relationships.

(22) Into this pit that is in the wilderness.--Reuben apparently pointed to some cistern in the desolate region which girds the little valley of Dothan around. We learn from Genesis 42:21 that Joseph begged hard for mercy, and to be spared so painful a death, but that his brothers would not hear.

Though never represented in the Scriptures as a type of Christ, yet the whole of the Old Testament is so full of events and histories, which reappear in the Gospel narrative, that the Fathers have never hesitated in regarding Joseph, the innocent delivered to death, but raised thence to glory, as especially typifying to us our Lord. Pascal (Pensees, 2:9. 2) sums up the points of resemblance--in his father's love for him, his being sent to see after the peace of his brethren, their conspiring against him, his being sold for twenty pieces of silver, his rising from his humiliation to be the lord and saviour of those who had wronged him; and with them the saviour also of the world. As too, he was in prison with two malefactors, so was our Lord crucified between two thieves and as one of these was saved and one left to his condemnation, so Joseph gave deliverance to the chief butler, but to the chief baker punishment. It would be easy to point out other resemblances, but, leaving these, it is important also to notice that Joseph's history is likewise a vindication of God's providential dealings with men. He is innocent, and pure in life, but wronged again and again; yet every wrong was but a step in the pathway of his exaltation. And like the histories of all great lives, Joseph's adventures do not begin and end in himself. Upon him depended a great future. Noble minds care little for personal suffering, if from their pain springs amelioration for the world. Now Joseph's descent into Egypt was: not only for the good and preservation of the people there, but was also an essential condition for the formation of the Jewish Church. In Egypt alone could Israel have multiplied into a nation fit to be the depositaries of God's law, and to grow into a church of prophets.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Do not shed
תִּשְׁפְּכוּ־ (tiš·pə·ḵū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8210: To spill forth, to expend, to sprawl out

[his] blood.
דָם֒ (ḏām)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed

Throw
הַשְׁלִ֣יכוּ (haš·lî·ḵū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

him into
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

this
הַזֶּה֙ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

pit
הַבּ֤וֹר (hab·bō·wr)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 953: A pit, cistern, well

in the wilderness,
בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר (bam·miḏ·bār)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

but do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

lay
תִּשְׁלְחוּ־ (tiš·lə·ḥū-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

a hand
וְיָ֖ד (wə·yāḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

on him.”
ב֑וֹ (ḇōw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

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

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

so that
לְמַ֗עַן (lə·ma·‘an)
Conjunction
Strong's 4616: Purpose -- intent

he could rescue
הַצִּ֤יל (haṣ·ṣîl)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5337: To strip, plunder, deliver oneself, be delivered, snatch away, deliver

[Joseph]
אֹתוֹ֙ (’ō·ṯōw)
Direct object marker | third person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

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

and return
לַהֲשִׁיב֖וֹ (la·hă·šî·ḇōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

him to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

his father.
אָבִֽיו׃ (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father


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OT Law: Genesis 37:22 Reuben said to them Shed no blood (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 37:21
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