CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Genesis 37 Christian Standard Bible</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/genesis/37.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/genesis/37-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="http://biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CSB</a> > Genesis 37</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="../menu.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../genesis/36.htm" title="Genesis 36">◄</a> Genesis 37 <a href="../genesis/38.htm" title="Genesis 38">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top">Christian Standard Bible</td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/p/csb/esv/genesis/37.shtml" style="color:#001320" title="Parallel Verses"> Par ▾ </a></tr></table></div><section epub:type="chapter" id="csb-Genesis.37" /><h3 class="head1">Joseph’s Dreams</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.1" /><A name="2"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-1.htm"><b>1</b></a></span>Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.1.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.2" /> <A name="3"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-2.htm"><b>2</b></a></span>These are the family records of Jacob.</p><p class="scripture">At seventeen years of age, Joseph tended sheep with his brothers. The young man was working with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.2.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> and he brought a bad report about them to their father.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.2.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.3" /> <A name="4"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-3.htm"><b>3</b></a></span>Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was a son born to him in his old age,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.3.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> and he made a long-sleeved robe<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Genesis.37.3.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> for him. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.4" /> <A name="5"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-4.htm"><b>4</b></a></span>When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not bring themselves to speak peaceably to him.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.5" /> <A name="6"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-5.htm"><b>5</b></a></span>Then Joseph had a dream. When he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.6" /> <A name="7"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-6.htm"><b>6</b></a></span>He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.7" /> <A name="8"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-7.htm"><b>7</b></a></span>There we were, binding sheaves of grain in the field. Suddenly my sheaf stood up, and your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.7.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.8" /> <A name="9"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-8.htm"><b>8</b></a></span>“Are you really going to reign over us? ” his brothers asked him. “Are you really going to rule us? ” So they hated him even more because of his dream and what he had said.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.9" /> <A name="10"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-9.htm"><b>9</b></a></span>Then he had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun, moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.10" /> <A name="11"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-10.htm"><b>10</b></a></span>He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had? ” he said. “Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you? ” <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.11" /> <A name="12"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-11.htm"><b>11</b></a></span>His brothers were jealous of him,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.11.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> but his father kept the matter in mind.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.11.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a></p><h3 class="head1">Joseph Sold into Slavery</h3><p class="noind"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.12" /> <A name="13"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-12.htm"><b>12</b></a></span>His brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.13" /> <A name="14"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-13.htm"><b>13</b></a></span>Israel said to Joseph, “Your brothers, you know, are pasturing the flocks at Shechem. Get ready. I’m sending you to them.”</p><p class="scripture">“I’m ready,” Joseph replied.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.14" /> <A name="15"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-14.htm"><b>14</b></a></span>Then Israel said to him, “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are doing, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the Hebron<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.14.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> Valley, and he went to Shechem.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.15" /> <A name="16"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-15.htm"><b>15</b></a></span>A man found him there, wandering in the field, and asked him, “What are you looking for? ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.16" /> <A name="17"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-16.htm"><b>16</b></a></span>“I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph said. “Can you tell me where they are pasturing their flocks? ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.17" /> <A name="18"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-17.htm"><b>17</b></a></span>“They’ve moved on from here,” the man said. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’ ”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.17.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> So Joseph set out after his brothers and found them at Dothan.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.18" /> <A name="19"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-18.htm"><b>18</b></a></span>They saw him in the distance, and before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.18.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.19" /> <A name="20"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-19.htm"><b>19</b></a></span>They said to one another, “Oh, look, here comes that dream expert!<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Genesis.37.19.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.20" /> <A name="21"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-20.htm"><b>20</b></a></span>So now, come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Genesis.37.20.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams! ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.21" /> <A name="22"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-21.htm"><b>21</b></a></span>When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Genesis.37.21.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> He said, “Let’s not take his life.”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.21.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.22" /> <A name="23"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-22.htm"><b>22</b></a></span>Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him” — intending to rescue him from them and return him to his father.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.23" /> <A name="24"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-23.htm"><b>23</b></a></span>When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe, the robe of many colors that he had on. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.24" /> <A name="25"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-24.htm"><b>24</b></a></span>Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty, without water.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.24.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.25" /> <A name="26"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-25.htm"><b>25</b></a></span>They sat down to eat a meal,<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.25.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> and when they looked up, there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.25.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a> Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.25.3"><span class="xrfAlphabet">c</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.26" /> <A name="27"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-26.htm"><b>26</b></a></span>Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.27" /> <A name="28"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-27.htm"><b>27</b></a></span>Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and his brothers agreed. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.28" /> <A name="29"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-28.htm"><b>28</b></a></span>When Midianite<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.28.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.28.2"><span class="xrfAlphabet">b</span></a></p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.29" /> <A name="30"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-29.htm"><b>29</b></a></span>When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.29.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.30" /> <A name="31"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-30.htm"><b>30</b></a></span>He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone! What am I going to do? ”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#fn.Genesis.37.30.1"><span class="fnAlphabet">A</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.31" /> <A name="32"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-31.htm"><b>31</b></a></span>So they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a male goat, and dipped the robe in its blood. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.32" /> <A name="33"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-32.htm"><b>32</b></a></span>They sent the long-sleeved robe to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it. Is it your son’s robe or not? ”</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.33" /> <A name="34"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-33.htm"><b>33</b></a></span>His father recognized it. “It is my son’s robe,” he said. “A vicious animal has devoured him. Joseph has been torn to pieces! ”<a epub:type="noteref" href="#xrf.Genesis.37.33.1"><span class="xrfAlphabet">a</span></a> <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.34" /> <A name="35"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-34.htm"><b>34</b></a></span>Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. <span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.35" /> <A name="36"></a><span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-35.htm"><b>35</b></a></span>All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” And his father wept for him.</p><p class="scripture"><span epub:type="z3998:verse" id="start-Genesis.37.36" /> <span class="reftext"><a href="/genesis/37-36.htm"><b>36</b></a></span>Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guards.</p><br /><section id="footnotes-Genesis.37" class="fnSection"><aside id="fn.Genesis.37.3.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.3">37:3</a></span> Or <span class="italic">an ornate robe</span> ; see 2Sm 13:18,19</aside><aside id="fn.Genesis.37.19.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.19">37:19</a></span> Lit <span class="italic">comes the lord of the dreams</span></aside><aside id="fn.Genesis.37.20.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.20">37:20</a></span> Or <span class="italic">cisterns</span></aside><aside id="fn.Genesis.37.21.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.21">37:21</a></span> Lit <span class="italic">their hands</span></aside><aside id="fn.Genesis.37.30.1"><span class="footnote-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.30">37:30</a></span> Lit <span class="italic">And I, where am I going?</span></aside><br /><section id="cross-references-Genesis.37" class="xrfSection"><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.1.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.1">37:1</a></span> Gn 26:3</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.2.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.2">37:2</a></span> Gn 30:1–13</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.2.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.2">37:2</a></span> 1Sm 2:22–24</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.3.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.3">37:3</a></span> Gn 44:20</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.7.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.7">37:7</a></span> Gn 42:6,9; 43:26; 44:14</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.11.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.11">37:11</a></span> Ac 7:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.11.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.11">37:11</a></span> Dn 7:28; Lk 2:19,51</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.14.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.14">37:14</a></span> Gn 13:18; 35:27</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.17.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.17">37:17</a></span> 2Kg 6:13</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.18.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.18">37:18</a></span> Ps 31:13; 37:12,32; Mk 14:1; Jn 11:53; Ac 23:12</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.21.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.21">37:21</a></span> Gn 42:22</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.24.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.24">37:24</a></span> Jr 38:6</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.25.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.25">37:25</a></span> Gn 42:21</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.25.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.25">37:25</a></span> Gn 39:1</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.25.3"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.25">37:25</a></span> Gn 43:11; Jr 8:22; 46:11</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.28.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.28">37:28</a></span> Dt 25:5,7; Jdg 8:22–24; Mt 22:24; Mk 12:19; Lk 20:28</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.28.2"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.28">37:28</a></span> Gn 45:4–5; Ps 105:17; Ac 7:9</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.29.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.29">37:29</a></span> Gn 44:13; Nm 14:6; 2Sm 1:11; 3:31; Jb 1:20</aside><aside id="xrf.Genesis.37.33.1"><span class="cross-reference"><a href="#start-Genesis.37.33">37:33</a></span> Gn 44:28</aside><br /><section id="study-notes-Genesis.37" class="snSection"><br /></div><div id="botbox"><div class="padbot"><div align="center">The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved. <br><br><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /><br /><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span></div></div></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../genesis/36.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Genesis 36"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Genesis 36" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../genesis/38.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Genesis 38"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Genesis 38" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>