Genesis

Genesis 42:21–22

21Then 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.”

22And 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!”

Read all of Genesis 42

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

Genesis 42:21

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then they saidוַיֹּאמְר֞וּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
oneאִ֣ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
anotherאָחִ֗יו’ā·ḥîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH251 brother
Surelyאֲבָל֮’ă·ḇālAdverbH61 verily, of a truth
weאֲנַחְנוּ֮’ă·naḥ·nūPronoun - first person common pluralH587 we
are being punishedאֲשֵׁמִ֣ים׀’ă·šê·mîmAdjective - masculine pluralH818 guilty
because ofעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
our brotherאָחִינוּ֒’ā·ḥî·nūNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common pluralH251 brother
We sawרָאִ֜ינוּrā·’î·nūVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralH7200 see
hisנַפְשׁ֛וֹnap̄·šōwNoun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singularH5315 soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, appetite, emotion, and passion
anguishצָרַ֥תṣā·raṯNoun - feminine singular constructH6869 id.
when he pleadedבְּהִתְחַֽנְנ֥וֹbə·hiṯ·ḥan·nōwPreposition-b; Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singularH2603 shew favour, be gracious
with usאֵלֵ֖ינוּ’ê·lê·nūPreposition; first person common pluralH413 motion to
but we would notוְלֹ֣אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
listenשָׁמָ֑עְנוּšā·mā·‘ə·nūVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralH8085 hear
That is whyעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
thisהַזֹּֽאת׃haz·zōṯArticle; Pronoun - feminine singularH2063 this
distressהַצָּרָ֖הhaṣ·ṣā·rāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH6869 id.
has comeבָּ֣אָהbā·’āhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
upon usאֵלֵ֔ינוּ’ê·lê·nūPreposition; first person common pluralH413 motion to

Genesis 42:22

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And Reubenרְאוּבֵ֨ןrə·’ū·ḇênNoun - proper - masculine singularH7205 Reuben
respondedוַיַּעַן֩way·ya·‘anConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6030 answer, respond
Didn’tהֲלוֹא֩hă·lō·wAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
I tellלֵאמֹ֗רlê·mōrPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH559 utter, say
you notאַל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
to sin againstתֶּחֶטְא֥וּte·ḥeṭ·’ūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH2398 miss
the boyבַיֶּ֖לֶדḇay·ye·leḏPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3206 child, son, boy, youth
But you would notוְלֹ֣אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
listenשְׁמַעְתֶּ֑םšə·ma‘·temVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralH8085 hear
Nowהִנֵּ֥הhin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
we must account forנִדְרָֽשׁ׃niḏ·rāšVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH1875 resort to, seek
his bloodדָּמ֖וֹdā·mōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1818 blood

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

Genesis 42:21 Hosea 5:15 · Job 36:8–9 · Genesis 37:23–28 · Mark 9:43–45 · James 2:13 · Matthew 7:2 · Proverbs 24:11–12 · 1 Kings 17:18 · Numbers 32:23 · Jeremiah 2:19 · 1 John 1:9 · Luke 16:28

Genesis 42:22 2 Chronicles 24:22 · Psalm 9:12 · 1 Kings 2:32 · Genesis 37:21–22 · Genesis 9:5–6 · Luke 11:50–51

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.