Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey, and returned to the city.
Parallel translations
- KJV Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city.
- BSB Then they all tore their clothes, loaded their donkeys, and returned to the city.
- NKJV Then they tore their clothes, and each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.
- NASB Then they tore their clothes in grief, and when each man had loaded his donkey, they returned to the city.
- NLT When the brothers saw this, they tore their clothing in despair. Then they loaded their donkeys again and returned to the city.
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
In grief, the brothers tear their clothes and all return together to the city. Their refusal to abandon Benjamin marks the turning point of the test.
Overview
The tearing of garments signals deep distress, and crucially, every brother reloads and returns rather than leaving Benjamin to his fate. Unlike their treatment of Joseph years before, they will not desert one of their own. This solidarity is the first clear evidence that God has worked repentance and change in their hearts.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- 2 Sam 1:11Then David took hold on his clothes, and tore them; and all the men who were with him did likewise.
- Num 14:6Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes.
- 2 Sam 1:2on the third day, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul, with his clothes torn, and earth on his head. When he came to David, he fell to the earth, and showed respect.
- 2 Sam 13:19Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her garment of various colors that was on her; and she laid her hand on her head, and went her way, crying aloud as she went.
- Gen 37:29–34Reuben returned to the pit; and saw that Joseph wasn’t in the pit; and he tore his clothes.
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 44:13 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.