Genesis 37

Genesis 37:2

wives

These women were servants of Leah and Rachel whom they had given to Jacob to produce children.

an unfavorable report about them

"a bad report about his brothers"

Genesis 37:3

loved

This refers to brotherly love or love for a friend or family member. This is natural human love between friends or relatives.

of his old age

"who was born when Israel was an old man"

He made him

"Israel made Joseph"

a beautifully decorated garment

"a beautiful robe"

Genesis 37:5

Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told his brothers about it. They hated him even more

This is a summary of the events that will happen in 37:6-11.

They hated him even more

"And Joseph's brothers hated him even more than they hated him before"

Genesis 37:7

Behold

The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.

we were

The word "we" refers to Joseph and includes all of his brothers.

tying bundles of grain

When grain is reaped it is tied into bundles and stacked until it is time to separate the grain from the straw.

behold

Here the word "behold" here shows that Joseph was surprised by what he saw.

my bundle rose and stood upright ... your bundles came around and bowed down

Here the bundles of grain are standing and kneeling as if they were people. These bundle represent Joseph and his brothers.

Genesis 37:8

Will you really reign over us? Will you actually rule over us?

"You will never be our king, and we will never bow down to you!"

reign over us

The word "us" refers to Joseph's brothers but not Joseph.

for his dreams and for his words

"because of his dreams and what he said"

Genesis 37:10

his father rebuked him. He said to him

"Israel scolded him, saying"

What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will your mother ... to the ground to you?

"This dream you had is not real. Your mother, brothers, and I will not bow down before you!"

Genesis 37:11

jealous

This means being angry because someone else is successful or more popular.

kept the matter in mind

"kept thinking about what the dream might mean"

Genesis 37:13

Are not your brothers tending the flock in Shechem?

"You brothers are tending the flock in Shechem."

Come

"Get ready"

Genesis 37:14

He said to him

"Israel said to Joseph"

bring me word

"come tell me what you find out" or "give me a report"

out of the Valley

"from the Valley"

Genesis 37:15

Behold

This marks the beginning of another event in the larger story. It may involve different people than the previous events. Your language may have a way of doing this.

What do you seek?

"What are you looking for?"

Genesis 37:17

Dothan

This is the name of a place that is about 22 kilometers from Shechem.

Genesis 37:18

They saw him from a distance

"Joseph's brothers saw him while he was far away"

Genesis 37:19

this master of dreams is approaching

"here comes the wonderful person who has great dreams." The phrase "this master of dreams" is sarcastic. If your language has a way of showing that the brothers used these words to show that they hated Joseph, you may want to use it here.

Genesis 37:20

Come now, therefore

"So now"

devoured

to eagerly have eaten

We will see what will become of his dreams

"That way we will make sure his dreams do not come true"

Genesis 37:21

heard it

"heard what they were saying"

from their hand

"from them" or "from their plans"

Let us not take his life

"Let us not kill Joseph"

Genesis 37:22

Shed no blood

"Do not spill any blood" or "Do not kill him"

that he might rescue him

"Rueben said this so that he might rescue Joseph"

out of their hand

"from them" or "from their plans"

to bring him back

"and return him"

Genesis 37:23

It came about that when

This phrase is used here to mark an important event in the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.

they stripped him of his beautifully decorated garment

"they tore his beautiful garment off of him"

Genesis 37:25

They sat down to eat bread

"They sat down to eat food" or "Joseph's brothers sat down to eat"

They lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a caravan

"They looked up and they suddenly saw a caravan"

bearing

carrying

spices

seasonings

balm

an oily substance with a sweet smell used for healing and protecting skin. "medicine"

traveling to carry them down to Egypt

"bringing them down to Egypt to sell them"

Genesis 37:26

What profit is it if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

"We do not gain a profit by killing our brother and covering up his blood"

cover up his blood

"hide his murder"

Genesis 37:27

to the Ishmaelites

"to these men who are descendants of Ishmael"

not lay our hands upon him

"not hurt him"

he is our brother, our flesh

"he is our blood relative"

His brothers listened to him

"Judah's brothers listened to him" or "Judah's brothers agreed with him"

Genesis 37:28

Midianite ... Ishmaelites

Both names refer to the same group of traders that Joseph's brothers meet.

for twenty pieces of silver

"for the price of 20 pieces of silver"

carried Joseph into Egypt

"took Joseph to Egypt"

Genesis 37:29

Reuben returned to the pit, and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit

"Reuben returned to the pit, and was surprised to see that Joseph was not there." The word "behold" here shows that Reuben was surprised to find out Joseph was gone.

He tore his clothes

"He was so grieved that he tore his clothes"

Genesis 37:30

The boy is not there! And I, where can I go?

"The boy is gone! I cannot go back home now!"

Genesis 37:31

Joseph's garment

This refers to the beautiful garment that his father made for him.

the blood

"the goat's blood"

Genesis 37:33

has devoured him

"has eaten him"

Joseph has certainly been torn to pieces

"It has certainly torn Joseph to pieces"

Genesis 37:34

Jacob tore his garments

"Jacob was so grieved that he tore his garments"

put sackcloth upon his loins

"put on sackcloth"

Genesis 37:35

rose up

"came to him"

but he refused to be comforted

"but he would not let them comfort him"

Indeed I will go down to Sheol mourning

"Indeed when I die and go down to Sheol I will still be mourning"

Genesis 37:36

The Midianites sold him

"The Midianites sold Joseph"

the captain of the bodyguard

"the leader of the soldiers who guarded the king"