Genesis 42:36 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jacob despairs, blaming his sons for the loss of Joseph and Simeon, and refusing to risk Benjamin.
The Context of Genesis 42:36
Jacob despairs at the loss of Joseph and Simeon, and refuses to send Benjamin.
What Does Genesis 42:36 Mean?
Jacob's words pour out his accumulated grief and fear. Joseph is gone—sold or dead, believed lost forever. Simeon is now imprisoned in Egypt. And his sons want to take Benjamin, his last anchor to Rachel. From Jacob's perspective, his sons are instruments of his destruction, not his salvation.
His accusation—'all these things are against me'—casts his sons as enemies, whether intentionally or through their foolishness. Jacob sees only loss: the loss already suffered, the loss now occurring, and the loss he is being asked to inflict on himself by surrendering Benjamin.
Genesis 42:36 in the Original Language
bereaved (שָׁכַל), 'bereaved' — robbed or stripped of children
Frequently Asked Questions About Genesis 42:36
What does Genesis 42:36 mean?
Jacob despairs, blaming his sons for the loss of Joseph and Simeon, and refusing to risk Benjamin.
What is the context of Genesis 42:36?
Jacob despairs at the loss of Joseph and Simeon, and refuses to send Benjamin.