Genesis — Chapter 37
King James Version (KJV)
Reading Mode: 📖 Read the complete KJV chapter below. After verse 36, continue to 📚 Study This Chapter for explanations and memory checks.
Genesis 37:1 And Jacob dwelt in the land RTwherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.
Genesis 37:3 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 Tcolours.
Genesis 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they Rhated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
Genesis 37:5 And Joseph Rdreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
Genesis 37:6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
Genesis 37:7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, Ryour sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
Genesis 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
Genesis 37:9 And he dreamed yet Ranother dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
Genesis 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
Genesis 37:11 And his brethren Renvied him; but his father observed the saying.
Genesis 37:12 And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.
Genesis 37:13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
Genesis 37:14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, RTsee whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
Genesis 37:15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
Genesis 37:16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.
Genesis 37:17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and Rfound them in Dothan.
Genesis 37:18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they Rconspired against him to slay him.
Genesis 37:19 And they said one to another, Behold, this Tdreamer cometh.
Genesis 37:20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.
Genesis 37:21 And RReuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.
Genesis 37:22 And RReuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.
Genesis 37:23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they Rstript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many Tcolours that was on him;
Genesis 37:24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
Genesis 37:25 And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.
Genesis 37:26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
Genesis 37:27 Come, and let us Rsell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren Twere content.
Genesis 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Genesis 37:29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and Rhe rent his clothes.
Genesis 37:30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
Genesis 37:31 And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and Rdipped the coat in the blood;
Genesis 37:32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son’s coat or no.
Genesis 37:33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an Revil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.
Genesis 37:34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
Genesis 37:35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.
Genesis 37:36 And Rthe Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an Tofficer of Pharaoh’s, and Tcaptain of the guard.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Genesis 37:1–11 — Joseph’s Coat and Dreams
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Israel loves Joseph and gives him a coat of many colours. Joseph’s dreams of sheaves and of the sun, moon, and stars increase his brothers’ hatred and envy.
Key Truth: The chapter introduces Joseph’s dreams and the growing conflict within his family.
Check What You Remember
1. What did Israel make for Joseph? (Genesis 37:3)
Find it in Genesis 37:3 (KJV).
2. What bowed to Joseph’s sheaf in the first dream? (Genesis 37:7)
Find it in Genesis 37:7 (KJV).
3. How many stars appeared in his second dream? (Genesis 37:9)
Find it in Genesis 37:9 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Genesis 37:12–24 — Joseph Is Cast into a Pit
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Joseph seeks his brothers and finds them at Dothan. They plan against him, but Reuben urges them not to kill him. They strip his coat and put him into an empty pit.
Key Truth: Reuben seeks to preserve Joseph’s life while the brothers act against him.
Check What You Remember
1. Where did Joseph find his brothers? (Genesis 37:17)
Find it in Genesis 37:17 (KJV).
2. Which brother said not to kill Joseph? (Genesis 37:21)
Find it in Genesis 37:21 (KJV).
3. Was there water in the pit? (Genesis 37:24)
Find it in Genesis 37:24 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Genesis 37:25–36 — Joseph Is Sold into Egypt
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
Joseph is sold for twenty pieces of silver and brought to Egypt. His brothers use his bloodied coat to deceive their father. Joseph is sold to Potiphar, captain of the guard.
Key Truth: The brothers’ deception brings grief to Jacob, and Joseph’s story moves to Egypt.
Check What You Remember
1. For how many pieces of silver was Joseph sold? (Genesis 37:28)
Find it in Genesis 37:28 (KJV).
2. What did the brothers dip Joseph’s coat in? (Genesis 37:31)
Find it in Genesis 37:31 (KJV).
3. To whom was Joseph sold in Egypt? (Genesis 37:36)
Find it in Genesis 37:36 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. What contrasting responses follow Joseph’s dreams?
2. What hidden purpose does the narrator give for Reuben’s suggestion about the pit?
3. How does Judah support the proposal to sell Joseph rather than kill him?
4. How does the bloodied coat lead to Jacob’s conclusion?
5. What contrast does the final verse create with Jacob’s belief about Joseph?
Notes
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