Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 37:33

And he knew it, and said, [It is] my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

33. an evil beast ] Jacob interprets the message, as they had intended. They never asserted his death, but asked him to draw the inference. The clause is repeated from Gen 37:20.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Gen 37:33

Without doubt

Without doubt

While in relation to some things men doubt where they ought to trust, with other matters they will feel quite certain, though they have good cause for questioning.

Consider the habit of taking certain notions without doubt, as it is illustrated in the case of Jacob.

I. THE HABIT IS DEPENDENT ON PREDISPOSITION. The sanguine are without doubt of success, where the cautious are without doubt of disaster. The despondent regard the world through darkened spectacles. It is no wonder that their prospects seem gloomy.

II. THE HABIT IS ENCOURAGED BY APPEARANCES. To Jacob appearances were sadly significant. What more evidence could be wanted? We should remember that all appearances may be against the true facts.

III. THE HABIT LEADS TO GREVIOUS MISTAKES. Jacobs verdict was without doubt. Nevertheless, it was a wrong verdict. We talk of the evil of doubt. There are evils of positiveness.

IV. THE HABIT IS POSITIVELY MISCHIEVOUS. It causes distress when we are needlessly positive of a painful surmise. It does more harm. It paralyses our efforts to better a gloomy state of affairs.

V. THE HABIT MAY BE A PUNISHMENT OF FORMER UNTRUTHFULNESS. In his youth Jacob deceived his father; in his old age Jacob was deceived by his sons. He was cunning and wily. Yet he was over-reached, and suffered from the trickery of others. Worldly acuteness is no security against deception in matters that lie nearest to our heart. The fox may be out witted, while the lamb is spared in its simplicity. Application: See how the coprinciples work in various directions.

1. Domestic anxiety. Parents are often inclined to dread the worst of absent children lost to sight, and perhaps unheard of for years. Yet they may be as safe and prosperous as Joseph became.

2. Prospects for life.

3. Our spiritual condition. (W. F. Adeney, M. A.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 33. Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces!] It is likely he inferred this from the lacerated state of the coat, which, in order the better to cover their wickedness, they had not only besmeared with the blood of the goat, but it is probable reduced to tatters. And what must a father’s heart have felt in such a case! As this coat is rent, so is the body of my beloved son rent in pieces! and Jacob rent his clothes.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

And he knew [it], and said, [it is] my son’s coat,…. He took it, and examined it, and was soon convinced, and well assured it was his son’s coat; read the words without the supplement “it is”, and the pathos will appear the more, “my son’s coat!” and think with what a beating heart, with what trembling limbs, with what wringing of hands, with what flowing eyes, and faultering speech, he spoke these words, and what follow:

an evil beast hath devoured him; this was natural to conclude from the condition the coat was in, and from the country he was sent into, which abounded with wild beasts, and was the very thing Joseph’s brethren contrived to say themselves; and in this view they wished and hoped the affair would be considered, and so their wickedness concealed:

Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces; or “in rending is rent” d; he is most certainly rent in pieces, there is no question to be made of it; it is plain, and it must be the case.

d “discerpendo discerptus est”; Drusius, Schmidt.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

33. My son’s coat Jacob’s words are most touching . Render:

Tunic of my son!

An evil beast has eaten him!

Torn, torn, Joseph!

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments