33 She conceived again, gave birth to a son, and said, “The Lord heard that I am neglected and has given me this son also.” So she named him Simeon.[a]

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Footnotes

  1. 29:33 In Hb, the name Simeon sounds like “has heard.”

33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved,(A) he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[a](B)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:33 Simeon probably means one who hears.

14 Then Joseph said to them, “I have spoken:[a] ‘You are spies!’ 15 This is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives, you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here. 16 Send one from among you to get your brother. The rest of you will be imprisoned so that your words can be tested to see if they are true. If they are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!” 17 So Joseph imprisoned them together for three days.

18 On the third day Joseph said to them, “I fear God(A)—do this and you will live. 19 If you are honest, let one of you[b] be confined to the guardhouse, while the rest of you go and take grain to relieve the hunger of your households. 20 Bring your youngest brother to me so that your words can be confirmed; then you won’t die.” And they consented to this.

21 Then they said to each other, “Obviously, we are being punished for what we did to our brother. We saw his deep distress when he pleaded with us, but we would not listen. That is why this trouble has come to us.”(B)

22 But Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to harm the boy?(C) But you wouldn’t listen. Now we must account for his blood!” [c]

23 They did not realize that Joseph understood them, since there was an interpreter between them. 24 He turned away from them and wept. When he turned back and spoke to them, he took Simeon from them and had him bound before their eyes.

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Footnotes

  1. 42:14 Lit “That which I spoke to you saying:
  2. 42:19 Lit your brothers
  3. 42:22 Lit Even his blood is being sought!”

14 Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies!(A) 15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives,(B) you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.(C) 16 Send one of your number to get your brother;(D) the rest of you will be kept in prison,(E) so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth.(F) If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!(G) 17 And he put them all in custody(H) for three days.

18 On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God:(I) 19 If you are honest men,(J) let one of your brothers stay here in prison,(K) while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.(L) 20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me,(M) so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

21 They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.(N) We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress(O) has come on us.”

22 Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?(P) But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting(Q) for his blood.”(R) 23 They did not realize(S) that Joseph could understand them,(T) since he was using an interpreter.

24 He turned away from them and began to weep,(U) but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.(V)

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Simeon and Levi are brothers;
their knives are vicious weapons.(A)
May I never enter their council;
may I never join their assembly.
For in their anger they kill men,
and on a whim they hamstring oxen.
Their anger is cursed, for it is strong,
and their fury, for it is cruel!
I will disperse them throughout Jacob
and scatter them throughout Israel.(B)

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“Simeon(A) and Levi(B) are brothers—
    their swords[a] are weapons of violence.(C)
Let me not enter their council,
    let me not join their assembly,(D)
for they have killed men in their anger(E)
    and hamstrung(F) oxen as they pleased.
Cursed be their anger, so fierce,
    and their fury,(G) so cruel!(H)
I will scatter them in Jacob
    and disperse them in Israel.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 49:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.