Genesis 37:26
New International Version
Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

New Living Translation
Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother? We’d have to cover up the crime.

English Standard Version
Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?

Berean Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

King James Bible
And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

New King James Version
So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?

New American Standard Bible
And Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood?

NASB 1995
Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood?

NASB 1977
And Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood?

Legacy Standard Bible
And Judah said to his brothers, “What gain is it that we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

Amplified Bible
Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood (murder)?

Christian Standard Bible
Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

American Standard Version
And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?

Contemporary English Version
So Judah said, "What will we gain if we kill our brother and hide his body?

English Revised Version
And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Judah asked his brothers, "What will we gain by killing our brother and covering up his death?

Good News Translation
Judah said to his brothers, "What will we gain by killing our brother and covering up the murder?

International Standard Version
Then Judah suggested to his brothers, "Where's the profit in just killing our brother and shedding his blood?

Majority Standard Bible
Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

NET Bible
Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is there if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

New Heart English Bible
Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?

Webster's Bible Translation
And Judah said to his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood.

World English Bible
Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Judah says to his brothers, “What gain when we slay our brother, and have concealed his blood?

Young's Literal Translation
And Judah saith unto his brethren, 'What gain when we slay our brother, and have concealed his blood?

Smith's Literal Translation
And Judah will say to his brethren, What the profit that we shall kill our brother, and conceal his blood?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Juda said to his brethren: What will it profit us to kill our brother, and conceal his blood?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, Judah said to his brothers: “What will it profit us, if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?

New American Bible
Judah said to his brothers: “What is to be gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood?

New Revised Standard Version
Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Judah said to his brothers, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yehuda his brother said, “What profit is there that we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Judah said unto his brethren: 'What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Judas said to his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
25And as they sat down to eat a meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt. 26Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him; for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And they agreed.…

Cross References
Acts 7:9
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

Matthew 27:3-4
When Judas, who had betrayed Him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was filled with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders. / “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood,” he said. “What is that to us?” they replied. “You bear the responsibility.”

Genesis 42:21-22
Then they said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother. We saw his anguish when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this distress has come upon us.” / 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 45:4-5
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! / And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.

Genesis 50:20
As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.

Psalm 105:17
He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave.

John 11:47-50
Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. / If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” / But one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! ...

Genesis 49:5-7
Simeon and Levi are brothers; their swords are weapons of violence. / May I never enter their council; may I never join their assembly. For they kill men in their anger, and hamstring oxen on a whim. / Cursed be their anger, for it is strong, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will disperse them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel.

Amos 2:6
This is what the LORD says: “For three transgressions of Israel, even four, I will not revoke My judgment, because they sell the righteous for silver and the needy for a pair of sandals.

Zechariah 11:12-13
Then I told them, “If it seems right to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.” So they weighed out my wages, thirty pieces of silver. / And the LORD said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—this magnificent price at which they valued me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

Matthew 26:14-16
Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests / and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. / So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Mark 14:10-11
Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. / They were delighted to hear this, and they promised to give him money. So Judas began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Luke 22:3-6
Then Satan entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve. / And Judas went to discuss with the chief priests and temple officers how he might betray Jesus to them. / They were delighted and agreed to give him money. ...

John 18:2-3
Now Judas His betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with His disciples. / So Judas brought a band of soldiers and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees. They arrived at the garden carrying lanterns, torches, and weapons.

Genesis 44:16-18
“What can we say to my lord?” Judah replied. “How can we plead? How can we justify ourselves? God has exposed the iniquity of your servants. We are now my lord’s slaves—both we and the one who was found with the cup.” / But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.” / Then Judah approached Joseph and said, “Sir, please let your servant speak personally to my lord. Do not be angry with your servant, for you are equal to Pharaoh himself.


Treasury of Scripture

And Judah said to his brothers, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

What profit.

Genesis 25:32
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

Psalm 30:9
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth?

Jeremiah 41:8
But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.

conceal.

Genesis 37:20
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.

Genesis 4:10
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.

Deuteronomy 17:8
If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment, between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates: then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the LORD thy God shall choose;

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Blood Conceal Concealed Cover Covering Death Gain Judah Kill Profit Putting Slay
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.














Then Judah said
The name "Judah" comes from the Hebrew root "Yadah," meaning "to praise." Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, emerges as a leader among his brothers. His suggestion marks a pivotal moment, showcasing his influence and foreshadowing his future role as the forebear of the tribe from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ would descend. This moment is significant as it highlights Judah's pragmatic nature and his ability to sway his brothers' decisions.

to his brothers
The term "brothers" refers to the sons of Jacob, the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. This familial context is crucial, as it underscores the deep-seated rivalry and jealousy that existed among them, particularly towards Joseph. The brothers' relationship is fraught with tension, a theme that runs throughout the narrative of Genesis, illustrating the complexities of family dynamics and the consequences of favoritism.

What profit will we gain
The word "profit" in Hebrew is "betsa," which can also mean "gain" or "advantage." Judah's question reveals a shift from a purely emotional response to a more calculated consideration of the situation. It reflects a common human tendency to weigh actions against potential benefits, highlighting the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by individuals when confronted with difficult choices.

if we kill our brother
The phrase "kill our brother" starkly presents the gravity of the brothers' initial plan. The act of fratricide is one of the most heinous crimes, violating the sanctity of family and life itself. This phrase serves as a reminder of the destructive power of envy and hatred, which can lead individuals to contemplate actions that are fundamentally against God's commandments.

and cover up his blood?
The concept of "covering up" blood is significant in biblical terms, as blood symbolizes life and its sanctity. In Hebrew culture, blood cried out for justice, as seen in the account of Cain and Abel. The idea of covering up blood suggests an attempt to hide sin and avoid accountability. This phrase foreshadows the brothers' later actions and the eventual revelation of their deeds, emphasizing the biblical truth that hidden sins will ultimately be brought to light.

Verses 26, 27. - And Judah (apparently shrinking from the idea of murder) said unto his brethren, What profit is it if (literally, what of advantage that) we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? (i.e. and hide the fact of his murder). Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him (literally, and our hand, let it not be upon him, i.e. to slay him); for he is our brother and our flesh - or, more expressly, our brother and our flesh he (cf. Genesis 29:14). And his brethren were content - literally, hearkened, viz., to the proposal.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Judah
יְהוּדָ֖ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

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

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

his brothers,
אֶחָ֑יו (’e·ḥāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

“What
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

profit will we gain
בֶּ֗צַע (be·ṣa‘)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1215: Gain made by violence, unjust gain, profit

if
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

we kill
נַהֲרֹג֙ (na·hă·rōḡ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent

our brother
אָחִ֔ינוּ (’ā·ḥî·nū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common plural
Strong's 251: A brother, )

and cover up
וְכִסִּ֖ינוּ (wə·ḵis·sî·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 3680: To plump, fill up hollows, to cover

his blood?
דָּמֽוֹ׃ (dā·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed


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OT Law: Genesis 37:26 Judah said to his brothers What profit (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 37:25
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