What Does Genesis 42:37 Mean in the King James?
And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.
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
Benjamin’s name means “son of the right hand,” and Reuben offers his own sons as the price of keeping him in his hand.
THE MEANING
Reuben offers to place Benjamin in his custody and have his two sons slain if he fails to bring him back. Benjamin’s name carries the sense “son of the right hand,” so the pledge places this son under a hand while making two other sons answer for his safety.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
A strong guarantee does not make a risky transfer safe; this pledge exposes two more sons to death.
THE ROOT
בִּנְיָמִין
Binyamin
GROWS FROM
ימין
yamin
Right hand or right side; the right-hand direction.
Benjamin’s name carries the image of the right hand, while Reuben asks that he be placed עַל־יָדִי (al-yadi, “upon my hand”). The name’s hand-image meets the verse’s custody image: the right hand belongs both to the boy’s name and to the responsibility Reuben claims.
ALSO GROWS
yamin: Right hand; right side.
יָמִין
This is the name’s second element and carries the right-hand image into Benjamin’s name.
yemini: Right-hand; on the right side.
יְמִינִי
This related form shows how the root’s right-side meaning describes position as well as the hand itself.
תְּנָה
tenah
GROWS FROM
נתן
natan
Give, set, place.
“deliver” in this verse is tenah. The verb carries the root נתן (natan, “give, set, place”). In the Hebrew phrasing, Benjamin is given onto Reuben’s hand, so the promise includes custody as well as return.
ALSO GROWS
natun: Given; placed.
נָתוּן
This form makes visible the placing of Benjamin under Reuben’s care.
mattanah: Gift; present.
מַתָּנָה
The related noun names something given, echoing the transfer Reuben asks Jacob to entrust to him.
אֲשִׁיבֶנּוּ
ashivennu
GROWS FROM
שׁוּב
shuv
Turn back; return.
“bring ... again” in this verse is ashivennu. This verb frames Reuben’s promise as a turning back toward Jacob. The return is not incidental: Reuben names it as the condition carrying the threat against his sons.
ALSO GROWS
teshuvah: Return; turning back.
תְּשׁוּבָה
This familiar turning-back word shares the root of Reuben’s promised return.
meshiv: One who brings back; restores.
מֵשִׁיב
The root can describe bringing something back, echoing Reuben’s promise to return Benjamin to Jacob.
THE PATTERN
A pledge gives a promise concrete weight by naming what will answer if it fails.
And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again.I will be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever:If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;THE THREAD
And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.Both verses use שׁוּב (shuv, “turn back/return”) to place a return inside a promise involving a son. Abraham says he and the lad will return; Reuben promises to return Benjamin, then stakes his own sons on that outcome.
Read the SDV Bible.
Every verse has a Deep Dive in the app.
The iPhone Bible app with the Selah Decoded Version.
Does something in this reading look wrong? Tell us