Genesis 37:20Come now therefore, and let's kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, 'An evil animal has devoured him.' We will see what will become of his dreams."
The setting
The brothers huddle together, crafting their murderous plan with chilling detail. They're not just angry — they're calculating and methodical.
The emotion here: horrified at recording the depth of human evil within one family
The original word
bōr (בור) — pit/cistern, often dry wells used as traps or prisons
Why it matters
These cisterns were carved into limestone bedrock to catch rainwater, making them perfect hidden prisons
Read with care
What most readers miss in Genesis 37:20
They say 'we will see what becomes of his dreams' — they think killing Joseph will kill God's plan
Common misconceptionPeople think this was a heat-of-the-moment decision, but the elaborate cover story shows this was premeditated murder — they planned every detail.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Genesis 37:20
Bible Genome reading
Genesis 37:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Genesis 37:20 comes from the book of Genesis, written during the Patriarchal period. The setting is wilderness. These words are attributed to narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 5% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include murder, deception, dreams. Notable phrases: let's kill him; what will become of his dreams. This verse contains a command.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does Genesis 37:20 mean to you, today?
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