Bible Strands
Genesis 42:36
Their father Jacob said to them, “You have deprived me of my sons. Joseph is gone and Simeon is no more. Now you want to take Benjamin. Everything is going against me!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jacob addresses his ten sons immediately after they discover their returned silver in their grain sacks. He speaks in despair over the loss of Joseph, the continued absence of Simeon, and the brothers' demand to take Benjamin.
The words — שִׁכַּלְתֶּם (shi.kal.Tem) translates literally as "you are making childless" or "you are depriving me of children." The text explicitly records Jacob's accusation that his sons are stripping him of his lineage.
The thread — This pattern of perceived divine opposition and familial loss continues in Genesis 43:14, where Jacob pleads for mercy and the safe return of Benjamin. The contrast between human despair and divine sovereignty also appears in Romans 8:31, which questions who can stand against God when He is for His people.
Why it lands — The passage requires a reader to acknowledge the raw reality of grief when circumstances appear universally hostile. It asks the reader to observe how Jacob's lament functions as a factual report of his situation rather than a theological conclusion about God's presence.
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 Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.
Cross-references
- Genesis 43:14 May God Almighty grant you mercy before the man, that he may release your other brother along with Benjamin. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”
- Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
- 1 Samuel 27:1 David, however, said to himself, “One of these days now I will be swept away by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than to escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will stop searching for me all over Israel, and I will slip out of his hand.”
- Job 7:7 Remember that my life is but a breath. My eyes will never again see happiness.
- Ecclesiastes 7:8 The end of a matter is better than the beginning, and a patient spirit is better than a proud one.
- Isaiah 27:9 Therefore Jacob’s guilt will be atoned for, and the full fruit of the removal of his sin will be this: When he makes all the altar stones like crushed bits of chalk, no Asherah poles or incense altars will remain standing.
- Isaiah 38:10 I said, “In the prime of my life I must go through the gates of Sheol and be deprived of the remainder of my years.”
- Isaiah 41:10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
- Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD your God, who takes hold of your right hand and tells you: Do not fear, I will help you.
- Matthew 14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”