ScriptureDepth's study of Genesis 37
“When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him;”
Genesis 37:23
Joseph's brothers strip him of his coat, marking the beginning of their violent conspiracy against him and setting in motion his eventual sale into slavery.
What Genesis 37 is about
Genesis chapter 37 introduces the story of Joseph, one of Jacob's twelve sons, who is favored by his father. This chapter highlights the deepening animosity between Joseph and his brothers, stemming from Jacob's overt favoritism, symbolized by the 'robe of many colors' he gives Joseph. Joseph's dreams, which indicate his future supremacy over his family, exacerbate the tensions as his brothers become jealous and conspire against him. Ultimately, they betray their brother, stripping him of his robe and selling him into slavery in Egypt, all while deceiving their father Jacob into believing that Joseph has been killed by a wild beast. This act sets the stage for future developments in Joseph's life and the unfolding of God's plan for His people.
The key themes in this chapter include the consequences of favoritism and jealousy, the prophetic nature of dreams, and the role of divine providence in difficult circumstances. Joseph's journey, though fraught with betrayal and hardship, demonstrates how God works through our trials for a greater purpose. The narrative's theological significance underscores the concept of God's sovereignty, as He orchestrates events in Joseph's life that will eventually lead to the preservation of His chosen people during a time of famine. Joseph's suffering and eventual rise to power foreshadow themes of redemption and reconciliation that resonate throughout the biblical narrative.
Genesis 37 at a glance
- Genesis 37:1–4Joseph's Favoritism and Brothers' Hatred
- Genesis 37:5–11Joseph's Dreams and Increased Jealousy
- Genesis 37:12–20Brothers Conspire Against Joseph
- Genesis 37:21–28Joseph Sold into Slavery
- Genesis 37:29–36Deception and Mourning
Key verse: Genesis 37:23
One thing to notice
Joseph's dreams in vv. 6-9 provoke his brothers' hatred. They respond with hostility, asking, 'Will you indeed reign over us?' Their envy grows as they react emotionally to his dreams. This conflict escalates as events unfold throughout the chapter.
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
Read Genesis 37 (WEB)
Joseph's Favoritism and Brothers' Hatred Genesis 37:1–4
1Verse 1. Jacob lived in the land of his father’s travels, in the land of Canaan. 2Verse 2. This is the history of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph brought an evil report of them to their father. 3Verse 3. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a coat of many colors. 4Verse 4. His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn’t speak peaceably to him.
Joseph's Dreams and Increased Jealousy Genesis 37:5–11
5Verse 5. Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. 6Verse 6. He said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7Verse 7. for behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8Verse 8. His brothers said to him, “Will you indeed reign over us? Or will you indeed have dominion over us?” They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words. 9Verse 9. He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, “Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.”
10Verse 10. 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? Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to you to the earth?” 11Verse 11. His brothers envied him, but his father kept this saying in mind.
Brothers Conspire Against Joseph Genesis 37:12–20
12Verse 12. His brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. 13Verse 13. Israel said to Joseph, “Aren’t your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” He said to him, “Here I am.” 14Verse 14. He said to him, “Go now, see whether it is well with your brothers, and well with the flock; and bring me word again.” So he sent him out of the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15Verse 15. A certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. The man asked him, “What are you looking for?” 16Verse 16. He said, “I am looking for my brothers. Tell me, please, where they are feeding the flock.”
17Verse 17. The man said, “They have left here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan. 18Verse 18. They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him. 19Verse 19. They said to one another, “Behold, this dreamer comes. 20Verse 20. Come now therefore, and let’s kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, ‘An evil animal has devoured him.’ We will see what will become of his dreams.”
Joseph Sold into Slavery Genesis 37:21–28
21Verse 21. Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, “Let’s not take his life.” 22Verse 22. Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father. 23Verse 23. When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him; 24Verse 24. and they took him, and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it. 25Verse 25. They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
26Verse 26. Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27Verse 27. Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.” His brothers listened to him. 28Verse 28. Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt.
Deception and Mourning Genesis 37:29–36
29Verse 29. Reuben returned to the pit; and saw that Joseph wasn’t in the pit; and he tore his clothes. 30Verse 30. He returned to his brothers, and said, “The child is no more; and I, where will I go?” 31Verse 31. They took Joseph’s coat, and killed a male goat, and dipped the coat in the blood. 32Verse 32. They took the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, “We have found this. Examine it, now, whether it is your son’s coat or not.” 33Verse 33. He recognized it, and said, “It is my son’s coat. An evil animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.”
34Verse 34. Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. 35Verse 35. All his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said, “For I will go down to Sheol to my son mourning.” His father wept for him. 36Verse 36. The Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard.
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in Genesis 37
favoritism
Jacob shows favoritism towards Joseph, his son from Rachel, as seen in v. 3 where 'Israel loved Joseph more than all his children.' This favoritism breeds hatred among Joseph's brothers, who cannot speak peaceably to him, as mentioned in v. 4. The narrative moves forward with the consequences of this favoritism, leading to jealousy and conspiracy against Joseph.
jealousy
The brothers' jealousy towards Joseph escalates after he shares his dreams in vv. 5-8. In v. 8, they react with increased hatred, questioning whether he will indeed reign over them. This jealousy is further deepened when Joseph recounts another dream, which they interpret as a sign of his superiority, fueling their resentment and actions against him.
betrayal
Betrayal surfaces when Joseph's brothers conspire to kill him as he approaches them in v. 18. In v. 20, they say, 'We will see what will become of his dreams,' revealing their intent to undermine him. Ultimately, they betray him further by selling him to the Ishmaelites in v. 28, illustrating the depth of their betrayal.
divine providence
Divine providence is hinted at through the unfolding events as Joseph is sold into Egypt in v. 28. The chapter does not directly mention God's involvement but sets the stage for Joseph's later rise, suggesting that God is orchestrating these events. The conclusion in v. 36 indicates that Joseph's fate leads him to Potiphar, ultimately placing him in a position that will serve larger purposes.
Chapter outline
How Genesis 37 unfolds
Genesis 37:1–4 Joseph's Favoritism and Brothers' Hatred
Jacob lives in Canaan (v. 1), and Joseph, favored by Israel, brings an 'evil report' about his brothers (v. 2). His coat of many colors intensifies his brothers' hatred (vv. 3-4).
Genesis 37:5–11 Joseph's Dreams and Increased Jealousy
Joseph shares his dreams, which imply his future dominance over his brothers (vv. 5-8). This increases their jealousy and leads to conflict, with Jacob rebuking Joseph (vv. 9-11).
Genesis 37:12–20 Brothers Conspire Against Joseph
Jacob sends Joseph to check on his brothers who are feeding the flock in Shechem (vv. 12-14). When Joseph arrives in Dothan, his brothers see him from afar and conspire to kill him, saying, 'Behold, this dreamer comes' (vv. 18-20).
Genesis 37:21–28 Joseph Sold into Slavery
Reuben intervenes to save Joseph from death (vv. 21-22). The brothers ultimately decide to sell him to the Ishmaelites, marking his transition into slavery (vv. 26-28).
Genesis 37:29–36 Deception and Mourning
Reuben discovers Joseph is missing (v. 29) and his brothers deceive Jacob by presenting the bloody coat (vv. 31-33). Jacob mourns deeply for his presumed loss (vv. 34-35), while Joseph is sold into Egypt (v. 36).
Key verses
Genesis 37:23Joseph's brothers strip him of his coat, marking the beginning of their violent conspiracy against him and setting in motion his eventual sale into slavery.
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Study questions
Questions for studying Genesis 37
- observeIn v3, what does Jacob give to Joseph that shows his favoritism?
- observeWhat do Joseph's brothers do to him in v24 after stripping him of his coat?
- interpretJoseph's dreams in vv. 7-9: how do they contribute to his brothers' jealousy?
- interpretIn v10, how does Jacob respond to Joseph's second dream about the sun and moon?
- applyWhen have you felt envy like Joseph's brothers did in v11?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo Genesis 37
- Genesis 42Genesis 37:7 and Genesis 42:6Both bow down: Genesis 37:7 Joseph's sheaf arose, while Genesis 42:6 his brothers bowed down to him.
- Genesis 50Genesis 37:18 and Genesis 50:20Both meant evil: Genesis 37:18 brothers conspired against Joseph, while Genesis 50:20 God meant it for good.
- Genesis 44Genesis 37:7 and Genesis 44:14Both bow down: Genesis 37:7 Joseph's sheaf stood upright, while Genesis 44:14 Judah and brothers bowed down.
- Genesis 43Genesis 37:25 and Genesis 43:11Both bring gifts: Genesis 37:25 a caravan approached, while Genesis 43:11 Jacob instructs to take present.
- Acts 7Genesis 37:11 and Acts 7:9Both envied: Genesis 37:11 brothers envied Joseph, while Acts 7:9 patriarchs were moved with jealousy.
- 1 Samuel 17Genesis 37:4 and 1 Samuel 17:28Both angered by love: Genesis 37:4 brothers hated Joseph, while 1 Samuel 17:28 Eliab's anger burned.
Related chapters
Chapters that connect with Genesis 37
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