And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The deliberate mention that the pit was empty and had no water isn't just descriptive; it subtly highlights a flicker of Reuben’s desperate, if misguided, mercy. It suggests the pit was chosen not for a swift death by drowning, but for Joseph to languish and potentially die of thirst or starvation, a slightly less direct path to murder than immediate violence.
And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joseph's brothers, consumed by jealousy over his favored status and his prophetic dreams, finally act on their hatred. After stripping him of his special coat, they seize him and throw him into a dry pit, planning to leave him to die and then concoct a story about a wild animal. As they settle down to eat, a caravan of Ishmaelites approaches, presenting them with an opportunity to sell Joseph rather than murder him outright.
Joseph's brothers cast him into an empty pit, a place of despair and isolation. But was it truly empty, or was God preparing it for a different purpose?
The brothers' intention was to let Joseph perish, a cruel act fueled by envy. The pit, described as empty and without water, seems like a tomb. Yet, this dark place becomes a crucial training ground for Joseph.
Divine Purpose in Despair
Joseph's brothers acted out of bitter envy, devising a plot to kill him. Yet, even in their wicked scheme, God's overarching plan was quietly unfolding.
The brothers' hatred for Joseph, ignited by his father's favoritism and his own dreams of leadership, led them to a monstrous act. They stripped him, cast him into a pit, and later sold him into slavery. Their intent was to eliminate Joseph and, by extension, his dreams.
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The Ineffectiveness of Human Malice Against Divine Providence
c. 1750 BC
Jacob's Family Settles in Canaan
Jacob and his large family, including his favored son Joseph, live in Canaan. This period is marked by favoritism towards Joseph, fueling his brothers' resentment.
c. 1750 BC
Joseph's Dreams and Brothers' Envy
Joseph recounts dreams that predict his brothers and parents bowing to him, intensifying their hatred and envy. His father, Jacob, 'observes the saying' while his brothers plot against him.
c. 1750 BC
Joseph Sent to Dothan
Jacob sends Joseph from Hebron to check on his brothers, who are tending flocks in Shechem, and later Dothan. This journey places Joseph directly in his brothers' path.
c. 1750 BC— this verse
Brothers Plot and Cast Joseph into a Pit
Seeing Joseph approach, his brothers conspire to kill him. Reuben intervenes, proposing they throw him into a pit instead of killing him directly.
c. 1750 BC
Joseph Sold to Ishmaelites
While Joseph is in the pit, a caravan of Ishmaelites from Gilead, carrying spices to Egypt, passes by. Judah suggests selling Joseph to them, which they do for twenty pieces of silver.
c. 1750 BC
Deception of Jacob
Joseph's brothers kill a goat, dip his colorful coat in its blood, and present it to Jacob, who laments that a wild beast has devoured his favorite son.
This passage describes Jeremiah being thrown into a cistern, which, like Joseph's pit, was empty of water and served as a place of imprisonment and potential death by starvation.
Psalm 76:10This psalm speaks of God restraining the remainder of wrath, which directly parallels how Joseph's brothers' desire to kill him was restrained, leading to his being cast into a pit instead of being murdered.
Amos 6:6This verse condemns those who are 'not grieved for the affliction of Joseph,' highlighting the callousness of Joseph's brothers who feasted while he suffered in the pit.
Proverbs 1:11-12This proverb describes wicked men plotting to shed blood and lie in wait for the innocent, mirroring the conspiracy of Joseph's brothers who intended to kill him and then deceive their father.
calvinGenesis 37:1-36: "And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan."
These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
Istae sunt generationes Iahacob. Joseph filius septendecim annorum pascebat cum fratribus suis pecudes, et erat puer cum filiis Bil…
cambridgeGenesis 37:24: "And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it."
24 . the pit was empty ] Cf. the incident in the life of Jeremiah ( Jeremiah 38:6 ). Presumably this was the reason why Reuben proposes to “cast him into this pit” ( Genesis 37:22 ).
The deliberate mention that the pit was empty and had no water isn't just descriptive; it subtly highlights a flicker of Reuben’s desperate, if misguided, mercy. It suggests the pit was chosen not for a swift death by drowning, but for Joseph to languish and potentially die of thirst or starvation, a slightly less direct path to murder than immediate violence.
Joseph's brothers, consumed by jealousy over his favored status and his prophetic dreams, finally act on their hatred. After stripping him of his special coat, they seize him and throw him into a dry pit, planning to leave him to die and then concoct a story about a wild animal. As they settle down to eat, a caravan of Ishmaelites approaches, presenting them with an opportunity to sell Joseph rather than murder him outright.
Joseph's brothers, consumed by jealousy over his favored status and his prophetic dreams, finally act on their hatred. After stripping him of his special coat, they seize him and throw him into a dry pit, planning to leave him to die and then concoct a story about a wild animal. As they settle down to eat, a caravan of Ishmaelites approaches, presenting them with an opportunity to sell Joseph rather than murder him outright.
"And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it." — The deliberate mention that the pit was empty and had no water isn't just descriptive; it subtly highlights a flicker of Reuben’s desperate, if misguided, mercy. It suggests the pit was chosen no…
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Last reviewed October 2026