Genesis 37:35
New International Version
All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son in the grave.” So his father wept for him.

New Living Translation
His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep.

English Standard Version
All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

New King James Version
And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.

New American Standard Bible
Then all his sons and all his daughters got up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

NASB 1995
Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

NASB 1977
Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.

Amplified Bible
Then all his sons and daughters attempted to console him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “I will go down to Sheol (the place of the dead) in mourning for my son.” And his father wept for him.

Christian Standard Bible
All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” And his father wept for him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” And his father wept for him.

American Standard Version
And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning. And his father wept for him.

Contemporary English Version
All of Jacob's children came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. "No," he said, "I will go to my grave, mourning for my son." So Jacob kept on grieving.

English Revised Version
And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down to the grave to my son mourning. And his father wept for him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
All his other sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said, "No, I will mourn for my son until I die." This is how Joseph's father cried over him.

Good News Translation
All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, "I will go down to the world of the dead still mourning for my son." So he continued to mourn for his son Joseph.

International Standard Version
All his sons and daughters showed up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He kept saying, "Leave me alone! I'll go down to the next world, still mourning for my son." So Joseph's father wept for him.

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
All his sons and daughters stood by him to console him, but he refused to be consoled. "No," he said, "I will go to the grave mourning my son." So Joseph's father wept for him.

New Heart English Bible
All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, " Indeed, I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning. " And his father wept for him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave to my son mourning: Thus his father wept for him.

World English Bible
All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said, “For I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” His father wept for him.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and all his sons and all his daughters rise to comfort him, and he refuses to comfort himself, and says, “For I go down to my son mourning, to Sheol,” and his father weeps for him.

Young's Literal Translation
and all his sons and all his daughters rise to comfort him, and he refuseth to comfort himself, and saith, 'For -- I go down mourning unto my son, to Sheol,' and his father weepeth for him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And all his sons and all his daughters, will rise up to comfort him; and he will refuse to be comforted; and will say, For I will go down to my son mourning to hades; and his father will weep for him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And alibis children being gathered together to comfort their father in his sorrow, he would not receive comfort, but said: I will go down to my son into hell, mourning. And whilst he continued weeping,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, when all of his sons gathered together to ease their father’s sorrow, he was not willing to accept consolation, but he said: “I will descend in mourning to my son in the underworld.” And while he persevered in weeping,

New American Bible
Though his sons and daughters tried to console him, he refused all consolation, saying, “No, I will go down mourning to my son in Sheol.” Thus did his father weep for him.

New Revised Standard Version
All his sons and all his daughters sought to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father bewailed him.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And all his sons and all his daughters made an effort to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, I will go down to Sheol, to my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And all his sons stood and all his daughters were comforting him, and he did not want to be comforted, and he said, “I shall descend to my son, as I wail, to Sheol”, and his father wept for him.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said: 'Nay, but I will go down to the grave to my son mourning.' And his father wept for him.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And all his sons and his daughters gathered themselves together, and came to comfort him; but he would not be comforted, saying, I will go down to my son mourning to Hades; and his father wept for him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jacob Mourns Joseph
34Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35 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. 36Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.…

Cross References
2 Samuel 12:23
But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

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.”

Job 2:11
Now when Job’s three friends—Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite—heard about all this adversity that had come upon him, each of them came from his home, and they met together to go and sympathize with Job and comfort him.

Job 42:11
All his brothers and sisters and prior acquaintances came and dined with him in his house. They consoled him and comforted him over all the adversity that the LORD had brought upon him. And each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring.

Ruth 1:20-21
“Do not call me Naomi,” she replied. “Call me Mara, because the Almighty has dealt quite bitterly with me. / I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? After all, the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me.”

Psalm 77:2
In the day of trouble I sought the Lord; through the night my outstretched hands did not grow weary; my soul refused to be comforted.

Psalm 88:18
You have removed my beloved and my friend; darkness is my closest companion.

Isaiah 51:11
So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.

Lamentations 1:2
She weeps aloud in the night, with tears upon her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.

John 11:31-33
When the Jews who were in the house consoling Mary saw how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there. / 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.

John 16:20
Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and wail while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

Romans 12:15
Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

1 Thessalonians 4:13
Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope.

Revelation 21:4
‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”


Treasury of Scripture

And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave to my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

his daughters.

Genesis 31:43
And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?

Genesis 35:22-26
And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: …

rose up.

2 Samuel 12:17
And the elders of his house arose, and went to him, to raise him up from the earth: but he would not, neither did he eat bread with them.

Job 2:11
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

Psalm 77:2
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

For I.

Genesis 42:31
And we said unto him, We are true men; we are no spies:

Genesis 44:29-31
And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave…

Genesis 45:28
And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

Jump to Previous
Comfort Comforted Daughters Father's Grave Great Mourning Refused Refuseth Rise Rose Sheol Sorrow Surely Underworld Weepeth Weeping Wept
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Comfort Comforted Daughters Father's Grave Great Mourning Refused Refuseth Rise Rose Sheol Sorrow Surely Underworld Weepeth Weeping Wept
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.














All his sons and daughters
This phrase indicates the collective effort of Jacob's family to console him. The Hebrew word for "sons" is "בָּנִים" (banim), and "daughters" is "בָּנוֹת" (banot). This highlights the familial structure and the cultural expectation of children supporting their parents in times of grief. The presence of both sons and daughters underscores the depth of Jacob's sorrow, as even the combined efforts of his entire family could not alleviate his pain.

Tried to comfort him
The Hebrew root for "comfort" is "נָחַם" (nacham), which means to console or to ease someone's grief. This reflects the compassionate attempts by Jacob's children to fulfill their duty of care and support. In the ancient Near Eastern context, mourning was a communal activity, and comforting the bereaved was a significant social and religious obligation.

But he refused to be comforted
Jacob's refusal, expressed by the Hebrew word "מֵאֵן" (ma'en), indicates a deep, inconsolable grief. This refusal is not just a personal choice but a profound expression of his emotional state. It reflects the cultural understanding of mourning, where the depth of one's sorrow could be seen as a measure of love and loss.

'No,' he said
The emphatic "No" (Hebrew "לֹא", lo) signifies Jacob's determination to remain in his state of mourning. This highlights the intensity of his emotional response and his unwillingness to accept consolation, which can be seen as a testament to his profound love for Joseph.

I will go down to Sheol
"Sheol" (שְׁאוֹל, she'ol) is the Hebrew term for the abode of the dead, often depicted as a shadowy place of silence and darkness. Jacob's reference to Sheol indicates his belief that his mourning will continue until his own death. This reflects the ancient Hebrew understanding of the afterlife and the belief that familial bonds extend beyond death.

Mourning for my son
The act of mourning (Hebrew "אָבַל", abal) is a deeply personal and cultural expression of grief. Jacob's declaration that he will mourn until he joins Joseph in Sheol underscores the depth of his despair and the irreplaceable loss he feels. Mourning in the biblical context often involved specific rituals and periods of lamentation, reflecting the communal and personal aspects of grief.

So his father wept for him
The act of weeping (Hebrew "בָּכָה", bakah) is a physical manifestation of Jacob's sorrow. This phrase captures the ongoing nature of his grief, as the tears symbolize both the emotional and spiritual pain of losing a beloved child. In the biblical narrative, weeping is often associated with profound loss and serves as a reminder of the human capacity for love and suffering.

(35) Into the grave.--Heb., Sheol, which, like Hades in Greek, means the place of departed spirits. Jacob supposed that Joseph had been devoured by wild beasts, and as he was not buried, the father could not have "gone down into the grave unto his son." (Comp. Note on Genesis 15:15.)

Verse 35. - And all his sons - the criminals become comforters (Lange)- and all his daughters - either Jacob had other daughters besides Dinah (Kalisch, Gerlach, 'Speaker's Commentary'), or these included his daughters-in-law, the word being employed as in Ruth 1:11, 12 (Willet, Bush, Murphy), or the term is used freely without being designed to indicate whether he had one or more girls in his family (Augustine) - rose up to comfort him (this implies the return of Jacob's brethren to Hebron); but he refused to be comforted; and he said (here the thought must be supplied: It is vain to ask me-to be comforted), For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning - or, retaining the order of the Hebrew words, which is almost always more expressive than those adopted by our translators, I will go down to my son mourning to, or towards, in the direction of, Sheol. The term שְׁאֹל - more fully שְׁאול, an inf. absol, for a noun, either

(1) from שָׁאַל = שָׁעַל, to go down, to sink (Gesenius, Ftirst), signifying the hollow place; or,

(2) according to the older lexicographers and etymologists, from שָׁאַל, to ask, and meaning either the region which inexorably summons all men into its shade, the realm that is always craving because never satisfied (Keil, Murphy, Lange), or the land that excites questioning and wonder in the human heart, "the undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns" (T. Lewis) - is not the grave, since Jacob's son had no grave, but the place of departed spirits, the unseen world (Ἅδης, LXX.) into which the dead disappear, and where they consciously exist (2 Samuel 12:23). Thus (literally, and) his father (not Isaac) wept for him.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
All
כָל־ (ḵāl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

his sons
בָּנָ֨יו (bā·nāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

and daughters
בְּנֹתָ֜יו (bə·nō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1323: A daughter

tried to comfort him,
לְנַחֲמ֗וֹ (lə·na·ḥă·mōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5162: To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge

but he refused
וַיְמָאֵן֙ (way·mā·’ên)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3985: To refuse

to be comforted.
לְהִתְנַחֵ֔ם (lə·hiṯ·na·ḥêm)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 5162: To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge

“No,” he said.
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“I will go down
אֵרֵ֧ד (’ê·rêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to Sheol
שְׁאֹ֑לָה (šə·’ō·lāh)
Noun - common singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 7585: Underworld (place to which people descend at death)

mourning
אָבֵ֖ל (’ā·ḇêl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 57: Lamenting

for
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

my son.”
בְּנִ֛י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

So his father
אָבִֽיו׃ (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

wept
וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ (way·yê·ḇək)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1058: To weep, to bemoan

for him.
אֹת֖וֹ (’ō·ṯōw)
Direct object marker | third person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case


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OT Law: Genesis 37:35 All his sons and all his daughters (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 37:34
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