What Does Genesis 37:20 Mean in the King James?
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.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The brothers’ planned cover story returns almost word for word in Jacob’s mouth, making their lie the language of his grief.
THE MEANING
Here, a threatened life becomes the center of a plan: the brothers intend a killing, a pit, and a fabricated animal attack. Their chosen words return in Jacob’s later response, carrying the deception beyond the physical act and into a father’s grief. Their closing question exposes the conclusion they want: that a dream’s future can be settled by making its bearer disappear.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that removing the dreamer gives anyone final authority over what becomes of the dream.
THE ROOT
אֲכָלָתְהוּ
ʾakhalat-hu
GROWS FROM
אכל
ʾ-kh-l
Eat, consume.
The Hebrew phrase is plainly “an evil beast has eaten him”; English renders the ordinary verb “eat” as “devoured.” The same verb returns in Jacob’s later repetition in Genesis 37:33, so the brothers’ planned lie becomes the language of his grief.
ALSO GROWS
ʾākhal: To eat, consume.
אָכַל
This is the verb behind the brothers’ chosen explanation, which Jacob later repeats.
ʾōkhel: Food, something eaten.
אֹכֶל
The same root names both consuming and what is consumed, giving the false report its concrete image of a body made prey.
THE PATTERN
A human plot can bring real harm, but it cannot guarantee the outcome it intends.
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.But if it be of God, ye can not overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.THE THREAD
And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.The brothers script חַיָּה רָעָה אֲכָלָתְהוּ (ḥayyāh rāʿāh ʾakhalat-hu, “an evil beast has eaten him”) here, and Jacob later repeats the phrase. The shared root אכל (ʾ-kh-l, “eat”) shows the lie working as intended: it gives Jacob the words by which he understands the loss.
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