Genesis 37:33
New International Version
He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”

New Living Translation
Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!”

English Standard Version
And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.”

Berean Standard Bible
His father recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”

King James Bible
And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

New King James Version
And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.”

New American Standard Bible
Then he examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A vicious animal has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”

NASB 1995
Then he examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”

NASB 1977
Then he examined it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”

Legacy Standard Bible
And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”

Amplified Bible
He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces!”

Christian Standard Bible
His father recognized it. “It is my son’s robe,” he said. “A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has been torn to pieces! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
His father recognized it. “It is my son’s robe,” he said. “A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has been torn to pieces!”

American Standard Version
And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat: an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.

Contemporary English Version
Jacob knew it was Joseph's coat and said, "It's my son's coat! Joseph has been torn to pieces and eaten by some wild animal."

English Revised Version
And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He recognized it and said, "It is my son's robe! A wild animal has eaten him! Joseph must have been torn to pieces!"

Good News Translation
He recognized it and said, "Yes, it is his! Some wild animal has killed him. My son Joseph has been torn to pieces!"

International Standard Version
Examining it, he cried out, "It's my son's tunic! A wild animal has no doubt torn Joseph to pieces."

Majority Standard Bible
His father recognized it and said, ?It is my son?s robe! A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!?

NET Bible
He recognized it and exclaimed, "It is my son's tunic! A wild animal has eaten him! Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!"

New Heart English Bible
And he recognized it, and said, "It is my son?s robe. A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him: Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

World English Bible
He recognized it, and said, “It is my son’s tunic. An evil animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he discerns it and says, “My son’s coat! An evil beast has devoured him; torn—Joseph is torn!”

Young's Literal Translation
And he discerneth it, and saith, 'My son's coat! an evil beast hath devoured him; torn -- torn is Joseph!'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will recognise it, and will say, My son's tunic an evil beast devoured him: tearing in pieces, he tare Joseph in pieces.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the father acknowledging it, said: It is my son's coat, an evil wild beast hath eaten him, a beast hath devoured Joseph.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when the father acknowledged it, he said: “It is the tunic of my son. An evil wild beast has eaten him; a beast has devoured Joseph.”

New American Bible
He recognized it and exclaimed: “My son’s tunic! A wild beast has devoured him! Joseph has been torn to pieces!”

New Revised Standard Version
He recognized it, and said, “It is my son’s robe! A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he recognized it, and said, It is my son's coat; a wild beast has devoured him; my son Joseph is surely torn to pieces.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he knew it and said, “It is the coat of my son. A dangerous animal has eaten him; it overcame and destroyed Yoseph my son.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And he knew it, and said: 'It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he recognised it, and said, It is my son's coat, an evil wild beast has devoured him; a wild beast has carried off Joseph.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Mourns Joseph
32They sent the robe of many colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe or not.” 33His father recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” 34Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days.…

Cross References
Genesis 44:28
When one of them was gone, I said: “Surely he has been torn to pieces.” And I have not seen him since.

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!”

Genesis 45:26-28
“Joseph is still alive,” they said, “and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt!” But Jacob was stunned, for he did not believe them. / However, when they relayed all that Joseph had told them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the spirit of their father Jacob was revived. / “Enough!” declared Israel. “My son Joseph is still alive! I will go to see him before I die.”

Genesis 37:31-32
Then they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a young goat, and dipped the robe in its blood. / They sent the robe of many colors to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe or not.”

Genesis 37:34-35
Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. / All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

Genesis 42:13
But they answered, “Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is now with our father, and one is no more.”

Genesis 50:15-20
When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.” / So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded, / ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept. ...

1 Kings 13:26
When the prophet who had brought him back from his journey heard this, he said, “It is the man of God who disobeyed the command of the LORD. Therefore the LORD has delivered him to the lion, and it has mauled him and killed him, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to him.”

2 Samuel 18:33
The king was shaken and went up to the chamber over the gate and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Jeremiah 31:15
This is what the LORD says: “A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew 2:18
“A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Matthew 27:5
So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Luke 24:21
But we were hoping He was the One who would redeem Israel. And besides all this, it is the third day since these things took place.

John 11:32-35
When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” / When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. / “Where have you put him?” He asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they answered. ...

Acts 7:9-10
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him / and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.


Treasury of Scripture

And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

evil beast.

Genesis 37:20
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.

Genesis 44:28
And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since:

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.

Jump to Previous
Animal Beast Coat Cruel Death Devoured Discerned Discerneth Doubt End Evil Examined Ferocious Joseph Pieces Recognized Rent Robe Son's Surely Torn Tunic Vest Wild
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Animal Beast Coat Cruel Death Devoured Discerned Discerneth Doubt End Evil Examined Ferocious Joseph Pieces Recognized Rent Robe Son's Surely Torn Tunic Vest Wild
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.














His father recognized it
The Hebrew word for "recognized" is "nakar," which implies a deep, personal recognition or acknowledgment. This moment is significant as it highlights Jacob's immediate and emotional connection to the robe, which he had given Joseph as a symbol of his special love and favor. This recognition is not just of the physical garment but of the painful reality that his beloved son is missing. In a broader spiritual sense, it reflects the human condition of recognizing loss and the deep-seated grief that accompanies it.

and said, 'It is my son’s robe
The phrase "my son’s robe" underscores the personal and intimate relationship between Jacob and Joseph. The robe, often referred to as the "coat of many colors," was a tangible expression of Jacob's favoritism towards Joseph, which had been a source of envy and strife among his brothers. The Hebrew word for "robe" is "ketonet," which can also mean a tunic or garment, often associated with nobility or special status. This moment is a poignant reminder of how symbols of love can become instruments of deception and sorrow.

A vicious animal has devoured him
The imagery of a "vicious animal" is both literal and metaphorical. In the ancient Near Eastern context, wild animals were a real threat, symbolizing chaos and danger. The Hebrew word "ra'ah" for "vicious" conveys the idea of something evil or harmful. This statement reflects Jacob's immediate assumption based on the evidence presented to him, highlighting the human tendency to jump to conclusions in the face of incomplete information. Spiritually, it can be seen as a metaphor for the destructive power of sin and deceit in the world.

Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!
The phrase "torn to pieces" is translated from the Hebrew "tarof toraf," a repetition that emphasizes the violence and finality of the act. This expression captures Jacob's profound grief and despair, believing that his beloved son has met a brutal end. In the broader biblical narrative, this moment foreshadows the suffering and redemption themes that run throughout Scripture. It serves as a reminder of the brokenness of the world and the hope of restoration through God's providence, as Joseph's account ultimately leads to deliverance and reconciliation.

Verse 33. - And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast (vide ver. 20) hath devoured him (this was precisely what his sons meant him to infer); Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces - טְרֹפ טֹרַפ, the inf. abs. Kal with the Pual expressing undoubted certainty.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
His father recognized it
וַיַּכִּירָ֤הּ (way·yak·kî·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5234: To regard, recognize

and said,
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“It is my son’s
בְּנִ֔י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

robe!
כְּתֹ֣נֶת (kə·ṯō·neṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3801: A shirt

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

Joseph
יוֹסֵֽף׃ (yō·w·sêp̄)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3130: Joseph -- 'he increases', a son of Jacob, also the name of several Israelites

has surely been torn to pieces!”
טָרֹ֥ף (ṭā·rōp̄)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 2963: To pluck off, pull to pieces, to supply with food


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OT Law: Genesis 37:33 He recognized it and said It (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 37:32
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