In this verse Judah, the second son, takes the initiative.

What profit is it … blood?: see Good News Translation; or “What advantage will there be for us?” This question expects a negative answer: “No advantage at all,” “We will gain nothing.” Conceal his blood is literally “cover his blood.” The thought behind this expression is that covering the blood (that was his life) is to prevent his blood (life) from crying out for vengeance. In 4.10 the voice of Abel’s blood cried out to God from the ground. See also Job 16.18; Ezek 24.7. In translation we need to speak of hiding the murder of Joseph, not letting anyone know that they have killed Joseph.

We may translate verse 26, for example, “Then Judah said to his brothers, ‘What good would it do to murder our brother and then try to cover up his death?’ ”

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 .