Genesis 37:20
New International Version
“Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”

New Living Translation
“Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”

English Standard Version
Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!”

King James Bible
Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

New King James Version
Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

New American Standard Bible
Now then, come and let’s kill him, and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A vicious animal devoured him.’ Then we will see what will become of his dreams!”

NASB 1995
“Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’ Then let us see what will become of his dreams!”

NASB 1977
“Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’ Then let us see what will become of his dreams!”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, come and let us kill him and cast him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’ Then let us see what will become of his dreams!”

Amplified Bible
Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits (cisterns, underground water storage); then we will say [to our father], ‘A wild animal killed and devoured him’; and we shall see what will become of his dreams!”

Christian Standard Bible
So now, come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”

American Standard Version
Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, An evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

Contemporary English Version
Let's kill him and throw him into a pit and say that some wild animal ate him. Then we'll see what happens to those dreams."

English Revised Version
Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, An evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Let's kill him, throw him into one of the cisterns, and say that a wild animal has eaten him. Then we'll see what happens to his dreams."

Good News Translation
Come on now, let's kill him and throw his body into one of the dry wells. We can say that a wild animal killed him. Then we will see what becomes of his dreams."

International Standard Version
Come on! Let's kill him and toss him into one of the cisterns. Then we'll report that some wild animal devoured him and wait to see what becomes of his dreams!"

Majority Standard Bible
?Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!?

NET Bible
Come now, let's kill him, throw him into one of the cisterns, and then say that a wild animal ate him. Then we'll see how his dreams turn out!"

New Heart English Bible
Come now, and let?s kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns, and we will say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we will see what will become of his dreams."

Webster's Bible Translation
Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit; and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

World English Bible
Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him.’ We will see what will become of his dreams.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and now, come, and we slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and have said, An evil beast has devoured him; and we see what his dreams are.”

Young's Literal Translation
and now, come, and we slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and have said, An evil beast hath devoured him; and we see what his dreams are.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And now, come, and we will kill him, and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, An evil beast devoured him: and we shall see what will be his dreams.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Come, let us kill him, and cast him into some old pit : and we will say : Some evil beast hath devoured him: and then it shall appear what his dreams avail him :

Catholic Public Domain Version
Come, let us kill him and cast him into the old cistern. And let us say: ‘an evil wild beast has devoured him.’ And then it will become apparent what his dreams will do for him.”

New American Bible
Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the cisterns here; we could say that a wild beast devoured him. We will see then what comes of his dreams.”

New Revised Standard Version
Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; then we shall say that a wild animal has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and throw him into one of the pits; and then we will say that a wild beast has devoured him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Come, let us kill him and we will throw him into one of the pits and we will say, ‘A dangerous beast ate him’, and we will see what there is to his dream.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say: An evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Now then come, let us kill him, and cast him into one of the pits; and we will say, An evil wild beast has devoured him; and we shall see what his dreams will be.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
19“Here comes that dreamer!” they said to one another. 20“Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams!” 21When Reuben heard this, he tried to rescue Joseph from their hands. “Let us not take his life,” he said.…

Cross References
Matthew 21:38
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take his inheritance.’

John 11:53
So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.

Acts 7:9
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him

Matthew 27:1
When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people conspired against Jesus to put Him to death.

Mark 12:7
But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’

John 19:6
As soon as the chief priests and officers saw Him, they shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “You take Him and crucify Him,” Pilate replied, “for I find no basis for a charge against Him.”

Acts 2:23
He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross.

Matthew 26:4
and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

John 7:1
After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him.

Acts 5:33
When the Council members heard this, they were enraged, and they resolved to put the apostles to death.

Psalm 37:12
The wicked scheme against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them,

Jeremiah 11:19
For I was like a gentle lamb led to slaughter; I did not know that they had plotted against me: “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit; let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more.”

1 Samuel 19:1
Then Saul ordered his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. But Jonathan delighted greatly in David,

1 Kings 21:20
When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.

Psalm 2:1-3
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? / The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One: / “Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.”


Treasury of Scripture

Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast has devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

and let.

Psalm 64:5
They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them?

Proverbs 1:11,12,16
If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause: …

Proverbs 6:17
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Some.

1 Kings 13:24
And when he was gone, a lion met him by the way, and slew him: and his carcase was cast in the way, and the ass stood by it, the lion also stood by the carcase.

2 Kings 2:24
And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the LORD. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them.

Proverbs 10:18
He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

and we.

1 Samuel 24:20
And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand.

1 Samuel 26:2
Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

Matthew 2:2-16
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him…

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Genesis 37
1. Joseph is loved by Jacob, but hated by his brothers.
5. His dreams and the interpretation.
12. Jacob sends him to his brothers, who counsel to slay him.
21. At Reuben's desire they cast him into a pit;
25. and afterwards sell him to the Ishmaelites;
29. while Ruben grieves at not finding him.
31. His coat, covered with blood, is sent to Jacob, who mourns him inordinately.
36. Joseph is brought to Egypt and sold to Potiphar.














Come now
This phrase indicates urgency and a call to immediate action. In the Hebrew text, the word "לְכוּ" (lechu) is used, which is a command form of "to go" or "to come." This reflects the brothers' impulsive and rash decision-making, driven by jealousy and anger. It highlights the human tendency to act hastily without considering the moral implications, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible.

let us kill him
The Hebrew word for "kill" here is "נַהַרְגֵהוּ" (nahargehu), which is a strong term denoting premeditated murder. This phrase reveals the depth of the brothers' animosity towards Joseph, fueled by envy and the perceived favoritism of their father, Jacob. It underscores the destructive power of unchecked jealousy and the lengths to which it can drive individuals.

and throw him into one of the pits
The word "pits" is translated from the Hebrew "בּוֹרוֹת" (borot), which refers to cisterns or dry wells. These were common in the ancient Near East for water storage, but when empty, they became deep, dark, and dangerous places. This imagery of the pit symbolizes despair and abandonment, foreshadowing Joseph's descent into a period of suffering and isolation, yet also hinting at future deliverance and elevation.

We can say that a vicious animal devoured him
The phrase "vicious animal" is translated from "חַיָּה רָעָה" (chayah ra'ah), meaning a wild or evil beast. This deception reflects the brothers' willingness to cover their sin with lies, a recurring biblical theme where sin begets further sin. It also sets the stage for the profound grief of Jacob, who believes his beloved son is dead, illustrating the far-reaching consequences of deceit.

Then we will see what becomes of his dreams
This phrase is laden with irony and foreshadowing. The brothers mock Joseph's prophetic dreams, which foretold his rise to prominence and their subservience. The Hebrew word for "dreams" is "חֲלֹמוֹת" (chalomot), which in biblical context often signifies divine revelation. Despite their intentions, the brothers unwittingly set in motion the very events that would lead to the fulfillment of Joseph's dreams, demonstrating God's sovereignty and the ultimate triumph of His plans over human schemes.

(20) Into some pit.--Heb., into one of the pits, that is, cisterns dug to catch and preserve the rain water. In summer they are dry, and a man thrown into one of them would have very little chance of escape, as they are not only deep, but narrow at the top. The Jewish interpreters accuse Simeon of being the prime mover in the plot, and say that this was the reason why Joseph cast him into prison (Genesis 42:24).

Verse 20. - Come now therefore, and lot us slay him, and cast him into some pit (literally, into one of the pits or cisterns in the neighborhood), and we will say (sc. to his father and ours), Some (literally, an) evil beast hath devoured him (which will account for his disappearance); and we shall see what will become of his dreams - or, what his dreams will be.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Come
לְכ֣וּ (lə·ḵū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

now,
וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

let us kill
וְנַֽהַרְגֵ֗הוּ (wə·na·har·ḡê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent

him and throw
וְנַשְׁלִכֵ֙הוּ֙ (wə·naš·li·ḵê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7993: To throw out, down, away

him into one
בְּאַחַ֣ד (bə·’a·ḥaḏ)
Preposition-b | Number - masculine singular construct
Strong's 259: United, one, first

of the pits.
הַבֹּר֔וֹת (hab·bō·rō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 953: A pit, cistern, well

We can say
וְאָמַ֕רְנוּ (wə·’ā·mar·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

that a vicious
רָעָ֖ה (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

animal
חַיָּ֥ה (ḥay·yāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

has devoured him.
אֲכָלָ֑תְהוּ (’ă·ḵā·lā·ṯə·hū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

Then we shall see
וְנִרְאֶ֕ה (wə·nir·’eh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 7200: To see

what
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

becomes
יִּהְי֖וּ (yih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

of his dreams!”
חֲלֹמֹתָֽיו׃ (ḥă·lō·mō·ṯāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2472: A dream


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OT Law: Genesis 37:20 Come now therefore and let's kill him (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 37:19
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