Genesis 37:1-10

Joseph's Dream

1 Now Jacob lived in 1the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan.
2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when 2seventeen * years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with 3the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought back a 4bad report about them to their father.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was 5the son of his old age; and he made him a 6varicolored tunic.
4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers; and so they 7hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms.
5 Then Joseph 8had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more *.
6 He said to them, "Please listen to this dream which I have had;
7 for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf rose up and also stood erect; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and 9bowed down to my sheaf."
8 Then his brothers said to him, "10Are you actually going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?" So they hated him even more * for his dreams and for his words.
9 Now he had still another dream, and related it to his brothers, and said, "Lo, I have had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven * stars were bowing down to me."
10 He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and 11your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?"

Genesis 37:1-10 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.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Genesis 17:8; Genesis 28:4
  • 2. Genesis 41:46
  • 3. Genesis 35:25, 26
  • 4. 1 Samuel 2:22-24
  • 5. Genesis 44:20
  • 6. Genesis 37:23, 32
  • 7. Genesis 27:41; 1 Samuel 17:28
  • 8. Genesis 28:12; Genesis 31:10, 11, 24
  • 9. Genesis 42:6, 9; Genesis 43:26; Genesis 44:14
  • 10. Genesis 49:26; Deuteronomy 33:16
  • 11. Genesis 27:29

Footnotes 8

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, California.  All rights reserved.