Genesis 37:5

5 And it befelled that he told to his brethren a sweven that he saw, which cause was the seed of more hatred. (And it befell that he told his brothers about a dream that he had, which was the reason, yea, the seed, of even more hatred.)

Genesis 37:5 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:5

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told [it] his brethren,
&c.] As a dream, in the simplicity of his heart; not understanding it, or imagining there was any meaning in it; he told it not with any design to affront them, but as an amusement, and for their diversion, there being something in it odd and ridiculous, as he himself might think:

and they hated him yet the more;
not only because he had carried an ill report of them to his father, and because he loved him more than they, but still more because of this dream; the meaning of which they at once understood, though he did not, which yet they supposed he did, and that he told them it in a boasting manner, and to irritate them.

Genesis 37:5 In-Context

3 Forsooth Israel loved Joseph above all his sons, for he had begotten him in his eld (age); and he made to Joseph a coat of many colours (and he made a coat of many colours for Joseph).

4 Forsooth his brethren saw that he was loved of the father more than all they, and they hated him, and might not speak anything peaceably to him. (And his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than he loved any of them, and so they hated him, and would not say a kind word to him.)

5 And it befelled that he told to his brethren a sweven that he saw, which cause was the seed of more hatred. (And it befell that he told his brothers about a dream that he had, which was the reason, yea, the seed, of even more hatred.)

6 And Joseph said to his brethren, Hear ye the sweven which I saw,

7 I guessed that we bound together sheaves, or handfuls, [in the field,] and that as mine handful rose up, and stood (upright), and that your handfuls stood about, and worshipped mine handful. (I saw that we all bound up sheaves in the field, and when my sheaf rose up, and stood upright, all your sheaves stood around, and bowed before my sheaf.)