Genesis 37:29
New International Version
When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.

New Living Translation
Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief.

English Standard Version
When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes

Berean Standard Bible
When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes,

King James Bible
And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

New King James Version
Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes.

New American Standard Bible
Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments.

NASB 1995
Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments.

NASB 1977
Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments.

Amplified Bible
Now Reuben [unaware of what had happened] returned to the pit, and [to his great alarm found that] Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his clothes [in deep sorrow].

Christian Standard Bible
When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.

American Standard Version
And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

Contemporary English Version
When Reuben returned to the well and did not find Joseph there, he tore his clothes in sorrow.

English Revised Version
And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Reuben came back to the cistern and saw that Joseph was no longer there, he tore his clothes in grief.

Good News Translation
When Reuben came back to the well and found that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes in sorrow.

International Standard Version
Later, when Reuben returned to the cistern, Joseph wasn't there! In mounting panic, he tore his clothes,

Majority Standard Bible
When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes,

NET Bible
Later Reuben returned to the cistern to find that Joseph was not in it! He tore his clothes,

New Heart English Bible
And Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph wasn?t in the cistern; and he tore his clothes.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Reuben returned to the pit; and behold, Joseph was not in the pit: and he rent his clothes.

World English Bible
Reuben returned to the pit, and saw that Joseph wasn’t in the pit; and he tore his clothes.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Reuben returns to the pit, and behold, Joseph is not in the pit, and he tears his garments,

Young's Literal Translation
And Reuben returneth unto the pit, and lo, Joseph is not in the pit, and he rendeth his garments,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Reuben turned back to the pit; and behold, Joseph not in the pit: and he rent his garments.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Ruben, returning to the pit, found not the boy:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Reuben, returning to the cistern, did not find the boy.

New American Bible
When Reuben went back to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not in it, he tore his garments,

New Revised Standard Version
When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And then Reuben returned to the pit, and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Rubyl returned to the pit, and behold, Yoseph was not in it, and he ripped his clothes.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Ruben returned to the pit, and sees not Joseph in the pit; and he rent his garments.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
28So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt. 29When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes, 30returned to his brothers, and said, “The boy is gone! What am I going to do?”…

Cross References
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 44:13
Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.

Genesis 45:3
Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But they were unable to answer him, because they were terrified in his presence.

Genesis 50:15-17
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.” / So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded, / ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

Jeremiah 31:15
This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew 27:3-5
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.” / So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

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

Psalm 105:17-18
He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave. / They bruised his feet with shackles and placed his neck in irons,

Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.

John 11:33-35
When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. / “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. / Jesus wept.

Romans 9:1-2
I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. / I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart.

2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

Hebrews 12:17
For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.

Revelation 18:9-11
Then the kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and lived in luxury with her will weep and wail at the sight of the smoke rising from the fire that consumes her. / In fear of her torment, they will stand at a distance and cry out: “Woe, woe to the great city, the mighty city of Babylon! For in a single hour your judgment has come.” / And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, because there is no one left to buy their cargo—

Job 1:20-21
Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, / saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”


Treasury of Scripture

And Reuben returned to the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

he rent.

Genesis 37:34
And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

Genesis 34:13
And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:

Numbers 14:6
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

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Cistern Clothes Garments Grief Hole Joseph Pit Rendeth Rent Returneth Reuben Signs Tore Wasn't
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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.














When Reuben returned
Reuben, the firstborn of Jacob, holds a significant position in the family hierarchy. His return to the pit indicates a moment of responsibility and perhaps a sense of leadership. The Hebrew root for "returned" is "שׁוּב" (shuv), which often implies a turning back or repentance. This moment can be seen as a pivotal point for Reuben, who may have been contemplating his role in the events that transpired. Historically, the firstborn son was expected to protect and lead his siblings, adding weight to Reuben's actions and decisions.

to the pit
The "pit" here is a cistern, a common water storage system in ancient times, often used in the arid regions of Canaan. The Hebrew word "בּוֹר" (bor) can mean a pit, cistern, or dungeon. This pit, intended to hold water, becomes a symbol of betrayal and despair. In the broader scriptural context, pits often represent places of entrapment or danger, as seen in other biblical narratives. The use of a pit underscores the severity of Joseph's brothers' actions against him.

and saw that Joseph was not there
Reuben's observation that "Joseph was not there" is a moment of shock and realization. The absence of Joseph signifies a loss and a breach of trust among the brothers. The Hebrew verb "רָאָה" (ra'ah), meaning "to see," implies more than just physical sight; it suggests understanding and perception. Reuben's realization marks a turning point in the narrative, as he becomes aware of the gravity of the situation and the potential consequences.

he tore his clothes
Tearing one's clothes is a traditional expression of grief, mourning, or distress in ancient Near Eastern cultures. The Hebrew verb "קָרַע" (qara) means "to tear" or "to rend," and this act is often associated with deep emotional turmoil. In the biblical context, tearing one's garments is a physical manifestation of inner anguish and is seen in other instances of mourning or repentance throughout Scripture. Reuben's action reflects his despair and perhaps his guilt over not being able to protect Joseph, highlighting the emotional and moral complexity of the narrative.

(29) Reuben returned.--Evidently he was not present when Joseph was sold to the Midianites. This has been made into a difficulty, but really it confirms the truth of the narrative. For the difficulty arises solely from the supposition that Joseph's brethren immediately after casting him into the pit "sat down to eat bread," an act well described as most cold-blooded. But they were not actually guilty of it; for what the narrative says is that they were having their evening meal when the caravan came in sight. Reuben, between the casting of Joseph into the pit and the evening meal, had apparently gone a long round to fetch in the more distant cattle, and probably had remained away as long as possible, in order to feel sure that his brethren would on his return be at their dinner. He hoped thus to be able to go alone to the cistern, and rescue Joseph, and send him away home before the rest could interfere. Thus rightly understood, it is a proof of the trustworthiness of the history.

Verses 29, 30. - And Reuben (in whose absence apparently the scheme of sale had been concocted and carried through) returned to the pit (obviously with a view to deliver Joseph); and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes - a token of his mingled grief and horror at the discovery (cf. ver. 34; 44:13; 2 Samuel 13:31; 2 Kings 18:37; Job 1:20). And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child (or young man, as in Genesis 4:23, where יֶלֶד in the one hemistich is equivalent to אִישׁ in the other) is not; and I, whither shall I go - i.e. however shall I account for his disappearance?

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

returned
וַיָּ֤שָׁב (way·yā·šāḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

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

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

and saw
וְהִנֵּ֥ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

that Joseph
יוֹסֵ֖ף (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

was not there,
אֵין־ (’ên-)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

he tore
וַיִּקְרַ֖ע (way·yiq·ra‘)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7167: To rend

his clothes,
בְּגָדָֽיו׃ (bə·ḡā·ḏāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 899: A covering, clothing, treachery, pillage


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OT Law: Genesis 37:29 Reuben returned to the pit (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 37:28
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