33 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, “Because the Lord heard that I am not loved,(A) he gave me this one too.” So she named him Simeon.[a](B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 29:33 Simeon probably means one who hears.

33 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath heard I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.

Read full chapter

14 Joseph said to them, “It is just as I told you: You are spies!(A) 15 And this is how you will be tested: As surely as Pharaoh lives,(B) you will not leave this place unless your youngest brother comes here.(C) 16 Send one of your number to get your brother;(D) the rest of you will be kept in prison,(E) so that your words may be tested to see if you are telling the truth.(F) If you are not, then as surely as Pharaoh lives, you are spies!(G) 17 And he put them all in custody(H) for three days.

18 On the third day, Joseph said to them, “Do this and you will live, for I fear God:(I) 19 If you are honest men,(J) let one of your brothers stay here in prison,(K) while the rest of you go and take grain back for your starving households.(L) 20 But you must bring your youngest brother to me,(M) so that your words may be verified and that you may not die.” This they proceeded to do.

21 They said to one another, “Surely we are being punished because of our brother.(N) We saw how distressed he was when he pleaded with us for his life, but we would not listen; that’s why this distress(O) has come on us.”

22 Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?(P) But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting(Q) for his blood.”(R) 23 They did not realize(S) that Joseph could understand them,(T) since he was using an interpreter.

24 He turned away from them and began to weep,(U) but then came back and spoke to them again. He had Simeon taken from them and bound before their eyes.(V)

Read full chapter

14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies:

15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come hither.

16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.

17 And he put them all together into ward three days.

18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live; for I fear God:

19 If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses:

20 But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

21 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us.

22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spake unto them by an interpreter.

24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes.

Read full chapter

“Simeon(A) and Levi(B) are brothers—
    their swords[a] are weapons of violence.(C)
Let me not enter their council,
    let me not join their assembly,(D)
for they have killed men in their anger(E)
    and hamstrung(F) oxen as they pleased.
Cursed be their anger, so fierce,
    and their fury,(G) so cruel!(H)
I will scatter them in Jacob
    and disperse them in Israel.(I)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 49:5 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.

Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations.

O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.

Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

Read full chapter