Genesis 37:4

4 When his brothren sawe that their father loued him more than all his brethern they hated him and coude not speke one kynde worde vnto him.

Genesis 37:4 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:4

And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more
than all his brethren
Which they perceived by various things in his behaviour to him, by his words, his looks, his gestures, and particularly by the coat he had made him, which distinguished him from the rest:

they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him;
they not only inwardly hated him, but they could not conceal their hatred, but betrayed it by their speech unto him; they could not speak to him on any occasion, but in a cross, surly, ill natured manner; they could not salute him, or give him the common salutation, Peace be to thee, as Aben Ezra suggests.

Genesis 37:4 In-Context

2 And these are the generations of Iacob: when Ioseph was .xvij. yere olde he kepte shepe with his brethren and the lad was with the sonnes of Bilha and of Zilpha his fathers wyues. And he brought vnto their father an euyll saynge yt was of them.

3 And Israel loued Ioseph more than all his childern because he begat hym in his olde age and he made him a coote of many coloures.

4 When his brothren sawe that their father loued him more than all his brethern they hated him and coude not speke one kynde worde vnto him.

5 Moreouer Ioseph dreamed a dreawe and tolde it his brethren: wherfore they hated him yet the more.

6 And he sayde vnto them heare I praye yow this dreame which I haue dreamed: