Genesis 42:38

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

But Jacob replied,“My son will not go down there with you, for his brother is dead and he alone is left. If an accident happens to him on the journey you have to make, then you will bring down my gray hair in sorrow to the grave.”

Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

  • Gen 37:35 : 35 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.
  • Gen 42:4 : 4 But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said,“What if some accident happens to him?”
  • Gen 37:33 : 33 He recognized it and exclaimed,“It is my son’s tunic! A wild animal has eaten him! Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”
  • Gen 42:13 : 13 They replied,“Your servants are from a family of twelve brothers. We are the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. The youngest is with our father at this time, and one is no longer alive.”
  • Gen 35:16-18 : 16 They traveled on from Bethel, and when Ephrath was still some distance away, Rachel went into labor– and her labor was hard. 17 When her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her,“Don’t be afraid, for you are having another son.” 18 With her dying breath, she named him Ben Oni. But his father called him Benjamin instead.
  • Gen 30:22-24 : 22 Then God took note of Rachel. He paid attention to her and enabled her to become pregnant. 23 She became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Then she said,“God has taken away my shame.” 24 She named him Joseph, saying,“May the LORD give me yet another son.”
  • Gen 44:20 : 20 We said to my lord,‘We have an aged father, and there is a young boy who was born when our father was old. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’
  • Gen 44:27-34 : 27 “Then your servant my father said to us,‘You know that my wife gave me two sons. 28 The first disappeared and I said,“He has surely been torn to pieces.” I have not seen him since. 29 If you take this one from me too and an accident happens to him, then you will bring down my gray hair in tragedy to the grave.’ 30 “So now, when I return to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us– his very life is bound up in his son’s life. 31 When he sees the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father in sorrow to the grave. 32 Indeed, your servant pledged security for the boy with my father, saying,‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I will bear the blame before my father all my life.’ 33 “So now, please let your servant remain as my lord’s slave instead of the boy. As for the boy, let him go back with his brothers. 34 For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see my father’s pain.”
  • 1 Kgs 2:6 : 6 Do to him what you think is appropriate, but don’t let him live long and die a peaceful death.
  • Ps 71:18 : 18 Even when I am old and gray, O God, do not abandon me, until I tell the next generation about your strength, and those coming after me about your power.
  • Ps 90:10 : 10 The days of our lives add up to seventy years, or eighty, if one is especially strong. But even one’s best years are marred by trouble and oppression. Yes, they pass quickly and we fly away.
  • Eccl 1:14 : 14 I reflected on everything that is accomplished by man on earth, and I concluded: Everything he has accomplished is futile– like chasing the wind!
  • Eccl 2:26 : 26 For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth– only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile– like chasing the wind!
  • Isa 38:10 : 10 “I thought,‘In the middle of my life I must walk through the gates of Sheol, I am deprived of the rest of my years.’
  • Isa 46:4 : 4 Even when you are old, I will take care of you, even when you have gray hair, I will carry you. I made you and I will support you; I will carry you and rescue you.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

  • Gen 44:26-34
    9 verses
    84%

    26But we replied,‘We cannot go down there. If our youngest brother is with us, then we will go, for we won’t be permitted to see the man’s face if our youngest brother is not with us.’

    27“Then your servant my father said to us,‘You know that my wife gave me two sons.

    28The first disappeared and I said,“He has surely been torn to pieces.” I have not seen him since.

    29If you take this one from me too and an accident happens to him, then you will bring down my gray hair in tragedy to the grave.’

    30“So now, when I return to your servant my father, and the boy is not with us– his very life is bound up in his son’s life.

    31When he sees the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father in sorrow to the grave.

    32Indeed, your servant pledged security for the boy with my father, saying,‘If I do not bring him back to you, then I will bear the blame before my father all my life.’

    33“So now, please let your servant remain as my lord’s slave instead of the boy. As for the boy, let him go back with his brothers.

    34For how can I go back to my father if the boy is not with me? I couldn’t bear to see my father’s pain.”

  • Gen 42:36-37
    2 verses
    84%

    36Their father Jacob said to them,“You are making me childless! Joseph is gone. Simeon is gone. And now you want to take Benjamin! Everything is against me.”

    37Then Reuben said to his father,“You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you. Put him in my care and I will bring him back to you.”

  • Gen 44:22-23
    2 verses
    80%

    22We said to my lord,‘The boy cannot leave his father. If he leaves his father, his father will die.’

    23But you said to your servants,‘If your youngest brother does not come down with you, you will not see my face again.’

  • Gen 37:35
    80%

    35All 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.

  • Gen 43:8-9
    2 verses
    78%

    8Then Judah said to his father Israel,“Send the boy with me and we will go immediately. Then we will live and not die– we and you and our little ones.

    9I myself pledge security for him; you may hold me liable. If I do not bring him back to you and place him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life.

  • Gen 37:30
    77%

    30returned to his brothers, and said,“The boy isn’t there! And I, where can I go?”

  • Gen 43:14
    77%

    14May the Sovereign God grant you mercy before the man so that he may release your other brother and Benjamin! As for me, if I lose my children I lose them.”

  • Gen 42:4
    77%

    4But Jacob did not send Joseph’s brother Benjamin with his brothers, for he said,“What if some accident happens to him?”

  • Gen 44:20
    76%

    20We said to my lord,‘We have an aged father, and there is a young boy who was born when our father was old. The boy’s brother is dead. He is the only one of his mother’s sons left, and his father loves him.’

  • Gen 42:32
    75%

    32We are from a family of twelve brothers; we are the sons of one father. One is no longer alive, and the youngest is with our father at this time in the land of Canaan.’

  • Gen 46:4
    74%

    4I will go down with you to Egypt and I myself will certainly bring you back from there. Joseph will close your eyes.”

  • Gen 37:21-22
    2 verses
    74%

    21When Reuben heard this, he rescued Joseph from their hands, saying,“Let’s not take his life!”

    22Reuben continued,“Don’t shed blood! Throw him into this cistern that is here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.”(Reuben said this so he could rescue Joseph from them and take him back to his father.)

  • Gen 50:5
    74%

    5‘My father made me swear an oath. He said,“I am about to die. Bury me in my tomb that I dug for myself there in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go and bury my father; then I will return.’”

  • Gen 43:5
    74%

    5But if you will not send him, we won’t go down there because the man said to us,‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’”

  • Gen 42:22
    73%

    22Reuben said to them,“Didn’t I say to you,‘Don’t sin against the boy,’ but you wouldn’t listen? So now we must pay for shedding his blood!”

  • Gen 45:13
    73%

    13So tell my father about all my honor in Egypt and about everything you have seen. But bring my father down here quickly!”

  • Gen 42:20
    73%

    20But you must bring your youngest brother to me. Then your words will be verified and you will not die.” They did as he said.

  • Gen 43:3
    73%

    3But Judah said to him,“The man solemnly warned us,‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’