Genesis 37

Joseph's Dreams

1 Jacob lived in g the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan.

2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought h a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was i the son of his old age. And he made him j a robe of many colors. 1 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, "Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, k my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and l bowed down to my sheaf." 8 His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, "Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me." 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and m your mother and your brothers indeed come n to bow ourselves to the ground before you?" 11 And o his brothers were jealous of him, p but his father kept the saying in mind.

Joseph Sold by His Brothers

12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near q 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 r 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 s Dothan.'" So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at s Dothan.

18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them t they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, "Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, u let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. 2 Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams." 21 But when v 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" - w 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, x the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and y 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 z caravan of a Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing b gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it c if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and d let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then e Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and f sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels 3 of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.

29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he g tore his clothes 30 and returned to his brothers and said, "The boy h is gone, and I, where shall I go?" 31 Then they took i 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. j 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 k rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, "No, l I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning." Thus his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile m the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, n the captain of the guard.

  1. Cross References
    Genesis 36:7
    For their possessions were too great for them to dwell together. The land of their sojournings could not support them because of their livestock.
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 2:23 - 24
    And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people.
  3. Cross References
    Genesis 44:20
    And we said to my lord, 'We have a father, an old man, and a young brother, the child of his old age. His brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother's children, and his father loves him.
  4. Cross References
    Genesis 37:23
    So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.
    Genesis 37:32
    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.
  5. Cross References
    Genesis 42:6
    Now Joseph was governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brothers came and bowed themselves before him with their faces to the ground.
    Genesis 42:9
    And Joseph remembered the dreams that he had dreamed of them. And he said to them, "You are spies; you have come to see the nakedness of the land.
  6. Cross References
    Genesis 43:26
    When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground.
    Genesis 44:14
    When Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house, he was still there. They fell before him to the ground.
  7. Cross References
    Genesis 35:18
    And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 37:7
    Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.
    Genesis 37:9
    Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, "Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.
  9. Cross References
    Acts 7:9
    And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him
  10. Cross References
    Luke 2:19
    But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.
    Luke 2:51
    And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
  11. Cross References
    Genesis 33:18
    And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city.
  12. Cross References
    Genesis 13:18
    So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the Lord.
    Genesis 35:27
    And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned.
  13. Cross References
    2 Kings 6:13
    And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan.
  14. Cross References
    2 Kings 6:13
    And he said, "Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him." It was told him, "Behold, he is in Dothan.
  15. Cross References
    Psalms 37:12
    The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him.
    Psalms 37:32
    The wicked watches for the righteous and seeks to put him to death.
  16. Cross References
    Genesis 37:26
    Then Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
  17. Cross References
    Genesis 42:22
    And Reuben answered them, "Did I not tell you not to sin against the boy? But you did not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.
  18. Cross References
    Genesis 37:29 - 30
    When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes
  19. Cross References
    Genesis 37:3
    Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors.
  20. Cross References
    Jeremiah 38:6
    So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son, which was in the court of the guard, letting Jeremiah down by ropes. And there was no water in the cistern, but only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.
    Lamentations 3:53
    They flung me alive into the pit and cast stones on me.
  21. Cross References
    Job 6:19
    The caravans of Tema look, the travelers of Sheba hope.
    Isaiah 21:13
    The oracle concerning Arabia. In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge, O caravans of Dedanites.
  22. Cross References
    Genesis 37:28
    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.
    Genesis 37:36
    Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.
    Genesis 39:1
    Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 43:11
    Then their father Israel said to them, "If it must be so, then do this: take some of the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry a present down to the man, a little balm and a little honey, gum, myrrh, pistachio nuts, and almonds.
    Jeremiah 8:22
    Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?
    Jeremiah 46:11
    Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt! In vain you have used many medicines; there is no healing for you.
  24. Cross References
    Genesis 37:20
    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.
  25. Cross References
    1 Samuel 18:17
    Then Saul said to David, "Here is my elder daughter Merab. I will give her to you for a wife. Only be valiant for me and fight the Lord 's battles." For Saul thought, "Let not my hand be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him.
  26. Cross References
    Genesis 37:36
    Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard.
    Judges 8:22
    Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson also, for you have saved us from the hand of Midian.
    Judges 8:24
    And Gideon said to them, "Let me make a request of you: every one of you give me the earrings from his spoil." (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)
  27. Cross References
    Genesis 45:4
    So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.
    Psalms 105:17
    He had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
    Acts 7:9
    And the patriarchs, jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt; but God was with him
  28. Cross References
    Genesis 44:13
    Then they tore their clothes, and every man loaded his donkey, and they returned to the city.
    Numbers 14:6
    And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes
    2 Samuel 1:11
    Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him.
    2 Samuel 3:31
    Then David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes and put on sackcloth and mourn before Abner." And King David followed the bier.
    Job 1:20
    Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.
  29. Cross References
    Genesis 42:13
    And they said, "We, your servants, are twelve b...
    Genesis 42:32
    We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One...
    Genesis 42:36
    And Jacob their father said to them, "You have ...
    Genesis 44:31
    As soon as he sees that the boy is not with us,...
    Jeremiah 31:15
    Thus says the Lord : "A voice is heard in Ramah...
    Lamentations 5:7
    Our fathers sinned, and are no more; and we bea...
  30. Cross References
    Genesis 37:23
    So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.
  31. Cross References
    Genesis 37:20
    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.
    Genesis 44:28
    One left me, and I said, Surely he has been torn to pieces, and I have never seen him since.
  32. Cross References
    2 Samuel 12:17
    And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground, but he would not, nor did he eat food with them.
  33. Cross References
    Genesis 42:38
    But he said, "My son shall not go down with you, for his brother is dead, and he is the only one left. If harm should happen to him on the journey that you are to make, you would bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.
    Genesis 44:29
    If you take this one also from me, and harm happens to him, you will bring down my gray hairs in evil to Sheol.
    Genesis 44:31
    As soon as he sees that the boy is not with us, he will die, and your servants will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol.
  34. Cross References
    Genesis 37:28
    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.
    Genesis 37:25
    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.
    Genesis 39:1
    Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
  35. Cross References
    Genesis 40:3 - 4
    And he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined.
    Genesis 41:10
    When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard.
    Genesis 41:12
    A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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