Font Size
Genesis 37:27-29
Amplified Bible
Genesis 37:27-29
Amplified Bible
27 Come, let us [instead] sell him to these Ishmaelites [and [a]Midianites] and not lay our hands on him, because he is our brother and our flesh.” So his brothers listened to him and agreed.(A) 28 Then as the [b]Midianite [and Ishmaelite] traders were passing by, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And so they took Joseph [as a captive] into Egypt.
29 Now Reuben [unaware of what had happened] returned to the pit, and [to his great alarm found that] Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his clothes [in deep sorrow].
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Genesis 37:27 Descendants of Abraham and Keturah, his concubine.
- Genesis 37:28 The relationship between the Midianites and the Ishmaelites as they are mentioned here is unclear. It is possible, as some have suggested, that “Ishmaelites” came to be used as a general term for desert tribes, and that the same merchants are called by both names in this verse. This would also explain the reference to the “Midianites” in v 36. Another explanation, which was offered by the rabbis, is that Joseph was sold first to the Ishmaelites, who then sold him to the Midianites. Another possibility is that they were Ishmaelites from the area of Midian.
Genesis 37:27-29
New International Version
Genesis 37:27-29
New International Version
27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother,(A) our own flesh and blood.(B)” His brothers agreed.
28 So when the Midianite(C) merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern(D) and sold(E) him for twenty shekels[a] of silver(F) to the Ishmaelites,(G) who took him to Egypt.(H)
29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.(I)
Footnotes
- Genesis 37:28 That is, about 8 ounces or about 230 grams
Amplified Bible (AMP) 
Copyright © 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.