Génesis 37:18

18 Y como ellos lo vieron de lejos, antes que cerca de ellos llegara, proyectaron contra él para matarle.

Génesis 37:18 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:18

And when they saw him afar off
They knew him as soon as they saw him, by his stature, his gesture or manner of walking, and especially by his coat of various colours he now had on, ( Genesis 37:23 ) ;

even before he came near unto them;
the distance he was from them when they first spied him is particularly remarked and repeated, not to show the quickness of their sight, but for the sake of what follows; to observe how soon their passions were raised, how intense and prepense their malice, and which put them upon devising ways and means to destroy him, for it follows:

they conspired against him, to slay him;
they entered into a consultation, and devised the most crafty methods they could think of to take away his life, and yet conceal the murder.

Génesis 37:18 In-Context

16 Y él respondió: Busco á mis hermanos: ruégote que me muestres dónde pastan.
17 Y aquel hombre respondió: Ya se han ido de aquí; yo les oí decir: Vamos á Dothán. Entonces José fué tras de sus hermanos, y hallólos en Dothán.
18 Y como ellos lo vieron de lejos, antes que cerca de ellos llegara, proyectaron contra él para matarle.
19 Y dijeron el uno al otro: He aquí viene el soñador;
20 Ahora pues, venid, y matémoslo y echémosle en una cisterna, y diremos: Alguna mala bestia le devoró: y veremos qué serán sus sueños.
The Reina-Valera Antigua (1602) is in the public domain.