Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him.’ We will see what will become of his dreams.”
Parallel translations
- KJV 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.
- BSB “Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!”
- NKJV Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”
- NASB Now then, come and let’s kill him, and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A vicious animal devoured him.’ Then we will see what will become of his dreams!”
- NLT “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
They plot to kill Joseph, throw him in a pit, and claim a wild animal devoured him, to see what becomes of his dreams. They aim to destroy both Joseph and his destiny.
Overview
The brothers conspire to murder Joseph, hide his body in a pit, and cover their crime with a lie about a wild animal. Their taunt, 'we will see what will become of his dreams,' sets human malice against God's revealed purpose. The narrative will show that no scheme can overturn what God has determined, for He turns even their evil to good (Genesis 50:20).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Titus 3:3For we were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
- Prov 27:4Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
- Matt 2:2–16“Where is he who is born King of the Jews? For we saw his star in the east, and have come to worship him.”
- Prov 1:11–12If they say, “Come with us. Let’s lay in wait for blood. Let’s lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
- 2 Kgs 2:24He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in Yahweh’s name. Then two female bears came out of the woods, and mauled forty-two of those youths.
- Mark 15:29–32Those who passed by blasphemed him, wagging their heads, and saying, “Ha! You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days,
- Acts 4:16–18saying, “What shall we do to these men? Because indeed a notable miracle has been done through them, as can be plainly seen by all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we can’t deny it.
- John 12:10–11But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also,
- 1 Kgs 13:24When he had gone, a lion met him by the way and killed him. His body was thrown on the path, and the donkey stood by it. The lion also stood by the body.
- Prov 10:18He who hides hatred has lying lips. He who utters a slander is a fool.
- Prov 6:17haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood;
- Prov 1:16for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood.
- John 3:12If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
- 1 Sam 26:2Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.
- Ps 64:5They encourage themselves in evil plans. They talk about laying snares secretly. They say, “Who will see them?”
- Matt 27:40–42and saying, “You who destroy the temple, and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
- Prov 28:13He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
- 1 Sam 24:20Now, behold, I know that you will surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
From the first promise that the seed of the woman would crush the serpent (3:15), through Abraham's blessing to all nations and Judah's coming ruler, Genesis sows every seed that flowers in Christ — the true offspring, the better Adam, the ram caught for Isaac.
How Genesis 37:20 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.