Genesis 37:33

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 .

Genesis 37:33 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:33

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" ^F4; 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.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 (Prj Prj) "discerpendo discerptus est"; Drusius, Schmidt.

Genesis 37:33 In-Context

31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said , This have we found : know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.

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 .

34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted ; and he said , For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.