Bible Strands
Genesis 42:22
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!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Reuben addresses his brothers in Egypt immediately after they confess guilt over their past treatment of Joseph. He speaks at the precise moment they recognize their current distress as a direct result of ignoring his earlier warning.
The words — וַ/יַּעַן (va/i.ya.'An) means "and he answered," and אָמַרְתִּי ('a.Mar.ti) means "did I say." The text records Reuben stating his prior warning, noting their refusal to listen, and declaring they must now answer for the boy's blood.
The thread — Accountability for violence and ignored cries appears in 1 Kings 2:32, 2 Chronicles 24:22, and Psalms 9:12, where divine or historical reckoning follows the shedding of blood or the neglect of the afflicted.
Why it lands — The verse requires acknowledgment that past refusal to heed a warning produces present consequences. It asks the reader to see how ignored counsel forces an unavoidable reckoning.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 2:32 The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.
- 2 Chronicles 24:22 Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying, Zechariah said, “May the LORD see this and call you to account.”
- Psalms 9:12 For the Avenger of bloodshed remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.
- Genesis 37:21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said.
- Genesis 9:5 And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:
- Luke 11:50 As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,
- Genesis 4:10 “What have you done?” replied the LORD. “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.
- Genesis 37:29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes,
- Ezekiel 3:18 If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood.
- Luke 23:41 We are punished justly, for we are receiving what our actions deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”