Skip to Content

Genesis

Changes this passage only. Set your default for every passage.

Genesis 37

1And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father’s sojournings, in the land of Canaan.

2These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and he was a lad with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought the evil report of them unto their father.

1And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

2These 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.

Commentary · verses 1-2

"Sons of Bilhah" - Dan and Naphtali, "Sons of Zilpah" - Gad and Asher. Bilhah was referred to as Jacob's concubine just after Benjamin was born. Now, Bilhah, along with Zilpah, were referred to as Jacob's wives. Perhaps, Leah invited both of them into her marriage with Jacob sometime after Rachel died.

3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colors.

3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

Commentary · verse 3

Israel's love for Joseph was apparent to all, the coat of many colors would have signified this. This was also symbolic of a position of favor and princely standing. This would not have been a garment worn by a working man but of privilege and status.

4And his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren; and they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

5And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

4And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

5And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Commentary · verses 4-5

Israel's greater love for Joseph caused his brothers to hate Joseph. Joseph had his first recorded dream/vision.

6And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 7for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves came round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

8And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

6And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

7For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

8And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

Commentary · verses 6-8

Joseph's brothers hated him more because of his dreams and his words. Notice, Joseph's brothers interpreted this dream.

9And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed yet a dream; and, behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars made obeisance to me.

10And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind.

9And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

10And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Commentary · verses 9-11

This dream was interpreted by Jacob. Joseph's brothers were envious (jealous) of him. It did not say that Jacob was jealous of Joseph but he did consider and remember this second dream. Remember, Jacob had a powerful dream about a ladder to Heaven. Perhaps Jacob realized none of his other sons had dreams, only Joseph. The other reason Jacob may have considered the dream is that Jacob may have been wondering who the "moon" was in the dream since Rachel (Joseph's mother) was dead and wouldn't be able to bow to Joseph. Notice, Jacob rebuked Joseph with questions. Rebuke meant "to confront sharply." The best way to do this is through questions.

12And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.

13And Israel said unto Joseph, Are not thy brethren feeding the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

14And he said to him, Go now, see whether it is well with thy brethren, and well with the flock; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

12And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.

13And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

14And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

Commentary · verses 12-14

Jacob sent Joseph to check on his brothers in Shechem. Remember, Shechem raped Dinah, their sister, and Simeon and Levi massacred all the males in the city.

15And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

16And he said, I am seeking my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they are feeding the flock.

17And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

18And they saw him afar off, and before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

15And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

16And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.

17And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.

18And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

Commentary · verses 15-18

Joseph ended up going to Dothan. Benjamin was not part of this conspiracy. He was too young.

19And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, An evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

19And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.

Commentary · verses 19-20

The brothers discuss the plan to kill Joseph.

Doctrines on this passage

21And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, Let us not take his life.

22And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him: that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.

21And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

22And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

Commentary · verses 21-22

Remember, Reuben (Leah's eldest) laid with Bilhah (Rachel's handmaid). Perhaps, Reuben wanted to make up for what he had done to Jacob.

23And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him; 24and they took him, and cast him into the pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

25And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

23And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

24And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

25And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

Commentary · verses 23-25

The other brothers sold Joseph, without Reuben's knowledge, to the Ishmaelites (Arabs). Remember, the Ishmaelites were the result of Abram and Sarai attempting to fulfill God's promise in their own strength.

26And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?

27Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened unto him.

28And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt.

26And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

27Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

28Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

Commentary · verses 26-28

It looked like this was Judah's idea. Joseph was sold to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver...two pieces per brother?

29And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

30And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

31And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the blood; 32and they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, This have we found: know now whether it is thy son’s coat or not.

29And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

30And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

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

32And 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.

Commentary · verses 29-32

Reuben did not want to be a part of this plan, to the point that he would not face his father. Perhaps he was even asking his brothers if they would sell him as well. The brothers came up with a plan. They did not lie to Jacob but they did not give all of the information.

33And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat: an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.

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

35And 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 to Sheol to my son mourning. And his father wept for him.

33And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

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

35And 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.

Commentary · verses 33-35

"Daughters" - plural?

Commentary · verse 35

Verse 35 was the first time the word "Sheol" was used in the ASV. This is one of the Hebrew words used as a name for "hell; hades; the underworld."

36And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard.

36And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard.

Commentary · verse 36

Potiphar was a high ranking officer and chief of the executioners.

Up and down arrows move between verses, Enter selects one, Shift with an arrow takes in a run. Tab then reaches Save, Add Note and Copy.