Genesis 37:12-36

12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem.
13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.”
14 So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
15 And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?”
16 “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.”
17 And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.
19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer.
20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”
21 But when Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.”
22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father.
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.
24 And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt.
26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.
28 Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes
30 and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?”
31 Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.
32 And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.”
33 And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.”
34 Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.
35 All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.
36 Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.

Genesis 37:12-36 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 37

In this chapter begins the history of Joseph, with whom the remaining part of this book is chiefly concerned; and here are related the hatred of his brethren to him, because he brought an ill report of them to his father, and because his father loved him, and which was increased by the dream he dreamed, and told them of, Ge 37:1-11; a visit of his to his brethren in the fields, whom he found after a long search of them, Ge 37:12-17; their conspiracy on sight of him to slay him, but by the advice of Reuben it was agreed to cast him into a pit, which they did, Ge 37:18-24; and after that, at the motion of Judah, sold him to the Ishmaelites, who were going to Egypt, Ge 37:25-28; this being done, Reuben being absent, and not finding Joseph in the pit, was in great distress, Ge 37:29,30; their contrivance to deceive their father, and make him believe that Joseph was destroyed by a wild beast, which on the sight of the coat he credited, and became inconsolable, Ge 37:31-35; and the chapter concludes with the sale of Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, Ge 37:36.

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Cross References 50

  • 1. 37:12 See ch. 33:18
  • 2. 37:14 ch. 13:18; 35:27
  • 3. 37:17 2 Kgs. 6:13
  • 4. 37:18 [Ps. 37:12, 32]
  • 5. 37:20 ver. 26
  • 6. 37:21 ch. 42:22
  • 7. 37:22 ver. 29, 30
  • 8. 37:23 ver. 3
  • 9. 37:24 [Jer. 38:6; Lam. 3:53]
  • 10. 37:25 Job 6:19; Isa. 21:13
  • 11. 37:26 ver. 20
  • 12. 37:27 [1 Sam. 18:17]
  • 13. 37:28 ver. 36; Judg. 8:22, 24
  • 14. 37:29 ch. 44:13; Num. 14:6; 2 Sam. 1:11; 3:31; Job 1:20
  • 15. 37:30 ch. 42:13, 32, 36; 44:31; Jer. 31:15; Lam. 5:7
  • 16. 37:31 ver. 23
  • 17. 37:33 ver. 20; ch. 44:28
  • 18. 37:35 [2 Sam. 12:17]
  • 19. 37:36 ver. 28; [ver. 25; ch. 39:1]
  • 20. 37:36 ch. 40:3, 4; 41:10, 12
  • 21. 37:35 ch. 42:38; 44:29, 31
  • 22. 37:28 ch. 45:4; Ps. 105:17; Acts 7:9
  • 23. 37:25 [ver. 28, 36; ch. 39:1]
  • 24. 37:17 2 Kgs. 6:13
  • 25. 37:25 ch. 43:11; Jer. 8:22; 46:11
  • 26. See Genesis 33:18
  • 27. Genesis 13:18; Genesis 35:27
  • 28. 2 Kings 6:13
  • 29. 2 Kings 6:13
  • 30. [Psalms 37:12, 32]
  • 31. ver. 26
  • 32. Genesis 42:22
  • 33. ver. 29, 30
  • 34. ver. 3
  • 35. [Jeremiah 38:6; Lamentations 3:53]
  • 36. Job 6:19; Isaiah 21:13
  • 37. [ver. 28, 36; Genesis 39:1]
  • 38. Genesis 43:11; Jeremiah 8:22; Jeremiah 46:11
  • 39. ver. 20
  • 40. [1 Samuel 18:17]
  • 41. ver. 36; Judges 8:22, 24
  • 42. Genesis 45:4; Psalms 105:17; Acts 7:9
  • 43. Genesis 44:13; Numbers 14:6; 2 Samuel 1:11; 2 Samuel 3:31; Job 1:20
  • 44. Genesis 42:13, 32, 36; Genesis 44:31; Jeremiah 31:15; Lamentations 5:7
  • 45. ver. 23
  • 46. ver. 20; Genesis 44:28
  • 47. [2 Samuel 12:17]
  • 48. Genesis 42:38; Genesis 44:29, 31
  • 49. ver. 28; [ver. 25; Genesis 39:1]
  • 50. Genesis 40:3, 4; Genesis 41:10, 12

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or cisterns; also verses 22, 24
  • [b]. A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.