And Reuben said to them: since the previous verse ends with Reuben speaking, some adjustment may be needed here. Some translations say “And then he said” or “He went on to say.” Others join the speeches of Reuben in verses 21 and 22 into a single speech and do not repeat “he said” here.

Shed no blood repeats in different words what Reuben has just said in verse 21. Note that Good News Translation does not repeat it.

Cast him into this pit here in the wilderness: Reuben is against killing Joseph but is in agreement to throw him into one of the empty cisterns. The Hebrew word rendered pit by Revised Standard Version and “well” by Good News Translation may also refer to a cistern for catching runoff water. According to verse 24 this hole in the ground was dry at the time. “Well” should not be used if the local word refers only to a hole containing water.

But lay no hand upon him: this expression is another way of saying “but do not injure him” or “leave him unhurt.”

That he might rescue him out of their hand: he is Reuben and him is Joseph. Their hand refers to the brothers who want to kill Joseph. Translators may need to make clear how that he might … father is related to Reuben’s instructions to his brothers. Note Good News Translation: “He said this, planning to save him….” We may also translate, for example, “Reuben said this because he wanted to rescue Joseph and return him to his father” or “He was thinking of getting Joseph out and taking him back to his father; that’s why he said that.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .