Focused Passage

Genesis 37:1-11

Joseph Is Hated by His Brothers, Given Dreams of Rule, and Sent Down into Egypt Under God’s Hidden Providence

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1 Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had resided, the land of Canaan.

2 This is the account of Jacob. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he was tending the flock with his brothers, the sons of his father’s wives Bilhah and Zilpah, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons, because Joseph had been born to him in his old age; so he made him a robe of many colors.

4 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

5 Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.

6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had:

7 We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to mine.”

8 “Do you intend to reign over us?” his brothers asked. “Will you actually rule us?” So they hated him even more because of his dream and his statements.

9 Then Joseph had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”

10 He told his father and brothers, but his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream that you have had? Will your mother and brothers and I actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”

11 And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Now Jacob יַעֲקֹ֔ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular lived וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב H3427 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular in the land בְּאֶ֖רֶץ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct where his father אָבִ֑יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular had resided מְגוּרֵ֣י H4033 Noun - masculine plural construct the land בְּאֶ֖רֶץ H776 Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct of Canaan כְּנָֽעַן׃ H3667 Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

This אֵ֣לֶּה׀ H428 Pronoun - common plural is the account תֹּלְד֣וֹת H8435 Noun - feminine plural construct of Jacob יַעֲקֹ֗ב H3290 Noun - proper - masculine singular When Joseph יוֹסֵ֞ף H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular [was] seventeen שְׁבַֽע־ H7651 Number - feminine singular construct . . . עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה H6240 Number - feminine singular years שָׁנָה֙ H8141 Noun - feminine singular old בֶּן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct he was הָיָ֨ה H1961 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular tending רֹעֶ֤ה H7462 Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular the flock בַּצֹּ֔אן H6629 Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular . . . וְה֣וּא H1931 Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular with אֶת־ H854 Preposition his brothers אֶחָיו֙ H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular - נַ֗עַר H5288 Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H854 Preposition the sons בְּנֵ֥י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct of his father’s אָבִ֑יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular wives נְשֵׁ֣י H802 Noun - feminine plural construct Bilhah בִלְהָ֛ה H1090 Noun - proper - feminine singular . . . וְאֶת־ H854 Conjunctive waw | Preposition . . . בְּנֵ֥י H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct and Zilpah זִלְפָּ֖ה H2153 Noun - proper - feminine singular and he יוֹסֵ֛ף H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker brought וַיָּבֵ֥א H935 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular their father אֲבִיהֶֽם׃ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural a bad רָעָ֖ה H7451 Adjective - feminine singular report דִּבָּתָ֥ם H1681 Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural about them אֶל־ H413 Preposition
Verse 3

Original words

Now Israel וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל H3478 Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular loved אָהַ֤ב H157 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker Joseph יוֹסֵף֙ H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular more than מִכָּל־ H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct his other sons בָּנָ֔יו H1121 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular because כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction Joseph ה֖וּא H1931 Pronoun - third person masculine singular had been born בֶן־ H1121 Noun - masculine singular construct to him ל֑וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular in his old age זְקֻנִ֥ים H2208 Noun - masculine plural so he made וְעָ֥שָׂה H6213 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular him ל֖וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular a robe כְּתֹ֥נֶת H3801 Noun - feminine singular construct of many colors פַּסִּֽים׃ H6446 Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

  • Possibly a robe with long sleeves; also in verses 23 and 32
Verse 4

Original words

When [Joseph’s] brothers אֶחָ֗יו H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular saw וַיִּרְא֣וּ H7200 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural that כִּֽי־ H3588 Conjunction their father אֲבִיהֶם֙ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine plural loved אָהַ֤ב H157 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular him אֹת֞וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular more than any מִכָּל־ H3605 Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct [of them] אֶחָ֔יו H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular they hated וַֽיִּשְׂנְא֖וּ H8130 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural him אֹת֑וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular and could יָכְל֖וּ H3201 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural not וְלֹ֥א H3808 Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle speak דַּבְּר֥וֹ H1696 Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular a kind word to him לְשָׁלֹֽם׃ H7965 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 5

Original words

Then Joseph יוֹסֵף֙ H3130 Noun - proper - masculine singular had a dream וַיַּחֲלֹ֤ם H2492 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . חֲל֔וֹם H2472 Noun - masculine singular and when he told וַיַּגֵּ֖ד H5046 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular it to his brothers לְאֶחָ֑יו H251 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular they hated שְׂנֹ֥א H8130 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct him אֹתֽוֹ׃ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular even more וַיּוֹסִ֥פוּ H3254 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural . . . ע֖וֹד H5750 Adverb
Verse 6

Original words

He said וַיֹּ֖אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular to them אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם H413 Preposition | third person masculine plural Listen שִׁמְעוּ־ H8085 Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural . . . נָ֕א H4994 Interjection to this הַזֶּ֖ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular - אֲשֶׁ֥ר H834 Pronoun - relative dream I had חָלָֽמְתִּי׃ H2492 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular . . . הַחֲל֥וֹם H2472 Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 7

Original words

- וְ֠הִנֵּה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection We אֲנַ֜חְנוּ H587 Pronoun - first person common plural were binding מְאַלְּמִ֤ים H481 Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural sheaves of grain אֲלֻמִּים֙ H485 Noun - feminine plural in בְּת֣וֹךְ H8432 Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct the field הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה H7704 Article | Noun - masculine singular and suddenly וְהִנֵּ֛ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection my sheaf אֲלֻמָּתִ֖י H485 Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular rose קָ֥מָה H6965 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular and וְגַם־ H1571 Conjunction stood upright נִצָּ֑בָה H5324 Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person feminine singular . . . וְהִנֵּ֤ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection while your sheaves אֲלֻמֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם H485 Noun - feminine plural construct | second person masculine plural gathered around תְסֻבֶּ֙ינָה֙ H5437 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural and bowed down וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖יןָ H7812 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural to [mine] לַאֲלֻמָּתִֽי׃ H485 Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 8

Original words

Do you intend to reign הֲמָלֹ֤ךְ H4427 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תִּמְלֹךְ֙ H4427 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular over us עָלֵ֔ינוּ H5921 Preposition | first person common plural . . . אִם־ H518 Conjunction his brothers אֶחָ֔יו H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular asked וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Will you actually rule מָשׁ֥וֹל H4910 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute . . . תִּמְשֹׁ֖ל H4910 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular us בָּ֑נוּ Preposition | first person common plural So they hated שְׂנֹ֣א H8130 Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct him אֹת֔וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular even more וַיּוֹסִ֤פוּ H3254 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural . . . עוֹד֙ H5750 Adverb because of עַל־ H5921 Preposition his dream חֲלֹמֹתָ֖יו H2472 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular . . . וְעַל־ H5921 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and his statements דְּבָרָֽיו׃ H1697 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Verse 9

Original words

Then [Joseph] had another עוֹד֙ H5750 Adverb . . . אַחֵ֔ר H312 Adjective - masculine singular dream וַיַּחֲלֹ֥ם H2492 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . חֲל֣וֹם H2472 Noun - masculine singular and told וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר H5608 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - אֹת֖וֹ H853 Direct object marker | third person masculine singular it to his brothers לְאֶחָ֑יו H251 Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Look הִנֵּ֨ה H2009 Interjection he said וַיֹּ֗אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular I had another ע֔וֹד H5750 Adverb . . . וְהִנֵּ֧ה H2009 Conjunctive waw | Interjection dream חָלַ֤מְתִּֽי H2492 Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular . . . חֲלוֹם֙ H2472 Noun - masculine singular and this time the sun הַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ H8121 Article | Noun - common singular and moon וְהַיָּרֵ֗חַ H3394 Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular and eleven וְאַחַ֤ד H259 Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singular construct . . . עָשָׂר֙ H6240 Number - masculine singular stars כּֽוֹכָבִ֔ים H3556 Noun - masculine plural were bowing down מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֖ים H7812 Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine plural to me לִֽי׃ Preposition | first person common singular
Verse 10

Original words

He told וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר H5608 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular . . . אֶל־ H413 Preposition his father אָבִיו֮ H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular . . . וְאֶל־ H413 Conjunctive waw | Preposition and brothers אֶחָיו֒ H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular but his father אָבִ֔יו H1 Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular rebuked וַיִּגְעַר־ H1605 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular him בּ֣וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular and said וַיֹּ֣אמֶר H559 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular - ל֔וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular What מָ֛ה H4100 Interrogative is this dream הַזֶּ֖ה H2088 Article | Pronoun - masculine singular that אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834 Pronoun - relative you have had הַחֲל֥וֹם H2472 Article | Noun - masculine singular . . . חָלָ֑מְתָּ H2492 Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular Will your mother וְאִמְּךָ֣ H517 Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular and brothers וְאַחֶ֔יךָ H251 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular and I אֲנִי֙ H589 Pronoun - first person common singular actually הֲב֣וֹא H935 Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute come נָב֗וֹא H935 Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural and bow down לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֥ת H7812 Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct to the ground אָֽרְצָה׃ H776 Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular before you לְךָ֖ Preposition | second person masculine singular
Verse 11

Original words

And his brothers אֶחָ֑יו H251 Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular were jealous וַיְקַנְאוּ־ H7065 Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural of him ב֖וֹ Preposition | third person masculine singular but his father וְאָבִ֖יו H1 Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular kept in mind שָׁמַ֥ר H8104 Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular what he had said הַדָּבָֽר׃ H1697 Article | Noun - masculine singular - אֶת־ H853 Direct object marker

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.