Gen 37:22 | NETfull | STEP | 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.)

Genesis 37:22

22 Reuben continued, ^{▼▼ Heb “and Reuben said to them.”} “Don’t shed blood! Throw him into this cistern that is here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” ^{▼▼ The verbs translated shed, throw, and lay sound alike in Hebrew; the repetition of similar sounds draws attention to Reuben’s words.} (Reuben said this ^{▼▼ The words “Reuben said this” are not in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.} so he could rescue Joseph ^{▼▼ Heb “him”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} from them ^{▼▼ Heb “from their hands” (cf. v. 21). This expression has been translated as “them” here for stylistic reasons.} and take him back to his father.)