Genesis 37

Hebrew36 verses

How to read this: this is a word-for-word rendering straight from the original Hebrew, not a copyrighted translation — the top of each chip is the original word, the bottom is its plain-English sense. Faded chips mark words the Hebrew implies but wouldn't literally be spoken in English. Click any word for its full Strong's dictionary entry.

← Genesis 36Genesis 37Genesis 38 →

וַיֵּ֣שֶׁבand he dwelt יַעֲקֹ֔בJacob בְּאֶ֖רֶץin the land of מְגוּרֵ֣יthe sojournings of אָבִ֑יוfather his בְּאֶ֖רֶץin the land of כְּנָֽעַן׃Canaan

וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לand Israel אָהַ֤בhe loved אֶת־obj.יוֹסֵף֙Joseph מִכָּל־more than all בָּנָ֔יוsons his כִּֽי־for בֶן־was a son of זְקֻנִ֥יםold ages ה֖וּאheל֑וֹfor the himוְעָ֥שָׂהand he madeל֖וֹfor the himכְּתֹ֥נֶתa long garment of פַּסִּֽים׃palms and soles

וַיִּרְא֣וּand they saw אֶחָ֗יוbrothers his כִּֽי־that אֹת֞וֹobj. him אָהַ֤בhe loved אֲבִיהֶם֙father their מִכָּל־more than all אֶחָ֔יוbrothers his וַֽיִּשְׂנְא֖וּand they hated אֹת֑וֹobj. him וְלֹ֥אand not יָכְל֖וּthey were able דַּבְּר֥וֹto speak to him לְשָׁלֹֽם׃to welfare

וַיַּחֲלֹ֤םand he dreamed יוֹסֵף֙Joseph חֲל֔וֹםa dream וַיַּגֵּ֖דand he told it לְאֶחָ֑יוto brothers his וַיּוֹסִ֥פוּand they increased ע֖וֹדagain שְׂנֹ֥אto hate אֹתֽוֹ׃obj. him

וַיֹּ֖אמֶרand he said אֲלֵיהֶ֑םto them שִׁמְעוּ־hear נָ֕אplease הַחֲל֥וֹםthe dream הַזֶּ֖הthe this אֲשֶׁ֥רwhich חָלָֽמְתִּי׃I have dreamed

וְ֠הִנֵּהand there!אֲנַ֜חְנוּwe מְאַלְּמִ֤יםwere binding אֲלֻמִּים֙sheaves בְּת֣וֹךְin the middle of הַשָּׂדֶ֔הthe field וְהִנֵּ֛הand there!קָ֥מָהit arose אֲלֻמָּתִ֖יsheaf my וְגַם־and also נִצָּ֑בָהit stood upright וְהִנֵּ֤הand there!תְסֻבֶּ֙ינָה֙they gathered round אֲלֻמֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔םsheaves your וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖יןָand they bowed down לַאֲלֻמָּתִֽי׃to sheaf my

וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּand they saidלוֹ֙to the himאֶחָ֔יוbrothers his הֲמָלֹ֤ךְ¿ really to reign תִּמְלֹךְ֙will you reign עָלֵ֔ינוּover us אִם־or?מָשׁ֥וֹלcertainly to rule תִּמְשֹׁ֖לwill you ruleבָּ֑נוּover the usוַיּוֹסִ֤פוּand they increased עוֹד֙again שְׂנֹ֣אto hate אֹת֔וֹobj. him עַל־on חֲלֹמֹתָ֖יוdreams his וְעַל־and on דְּבָרָֽיו׃words his

וַיַּחֲלֹ֥םand he dreamed עוֹד֙again חֲל֣וֹםa dream אַחֵ֔רanother וַיְסַפֵּ֥רand he recounted אֹת֖וֹobj. it לְאֶחָ֑יוto brothers his וַיֹּ֗אמֶרand he said הִנֵּ֨הhere!חָלַ֤מְתִּֽיI have dreamed חֲלוֹם֙a dream ע֔וֹדagain וְהִנֵּ֧הand there!הַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁthe sun וְהַיָּרֵ֗חַand the moon וְאַחַ֤דand one plus עָשָׂר֙ten כּֽוֹכָבִ֔יםstars מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֖יםwere bowing downלִֽי׃to the me

וַיְקַנְאוּ־and they were jealousב֖וֹof himאֶחָ֑יוbrothers his וְאָבִ֖יוand father his שָׁמַ֥רhe kept אֶת־obj.הַדָּבָֽר׃the matter

וַיֵּלְכ֖וּand they went אֶחָ֑יוbrothers his לִרְע֛וֹתto pasture אֶׄתׄ־obj.צֹ֥אןthe flock of אֲבִיהֶ֖םfather their בִּשְׁכֶֽם׃at Shechem

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand he said יִשְׂרָאֵ֜לIsrael אֶל־to יוֹסֵ֗ףJoseph הֲל֤וֹא¿ not אַחֶ֙יךָ֙are brothers your רֹעִ֣יםpasturing בִּשְׁכֶ֔םat Shechem לְכָ֖הcome !וְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָ֣and I will send you אֲלֵיהֶ֑םto them וַיֹּ֥אמֶרand he saidל֖וֹto the himהִנֵּֽנִי׃here am I

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרand he saidל֗וֹto the himלֶךְ־go נָ֨אplease רְאֵ֜הsee אֶת־obj.שְׁל֤וֹםthe welfare of אַחֶ֙יךָ֙brothers your וְאֶת־and obj.שְׁל֣וֹםthe welfare of הַצֹּ֔אןthe flock וַהֲשִׁבֵ֖נִיand bring to me דָּבָ֑רword וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֙הוּ֙and he sent him מֵעֵ֣מֶקfrom the valley of חֶבְר֔וֹןHebron וַיָּבֹ֖אand he came שְׁכֶֽמָה׃Shechem towards

וַיִּמְצָאֵ֣הוּand he found him אִ֔ישׁa man וְהִנֵּ֥הand there!תֹעֶ֖הhe was wandering בַּשָּׂדֶ֑הin the open country וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֧הוּand he asked him הָאִ֛ישׁthe man לֵאמֹ֖רto saying מַה־what?תְּבַקֵּֽשׁ׃are you seeking

וַיֹּ֕אמֶרand he said אֶת־obj.אַחַ֖יbrothers my אָנֹכִ֣יI מְבַקֵּ֑שׁam seeking הַגִּֽידָה־tell !נָּ֣אpleaseלִ֔יto the meאֵיפֹ֖הwhere?הֵ֥םare they רֹעִֽים׃pasturing

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרand he said הָאִישׁ֙the man נָסְע֣וּthey have departed מִזֶּ֔הfrom here כִּ֤יfor שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙I heard them אֹֽמְרִ֔יםsaying נֵלְכָ֖הlet us go דֹּתָ֑יְנָהDothan towards וַיֵּ֤לֶךְand he went יוֹסֵף֙Joseph אַחַ֣רafter אֶחָ֔יוbrothers his וַיִּמְצָאֵ֖םand he found them בְּדֹתָֽן׃at Dothan

וַיִּרְא֥וּand they saw אֹת֖וֹobj. him מֵרָחֹ֑קfrom a distance וּבְטֶ֙רֶם֙and just before יִקְרַ֣בhe drew near אֲלֵיהֶ֔םto them וַיִּֽתְנַכְּל֥וּand they dealt deceptively with אֹת֖וֹobj. him לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃to kill him

וַיֹּאמְר֖וּand they said אִ֣ישׁeach אֶל־to אָחִ֑יוbrother his הִנֵּ֗הthere!בַּ֛עַלthe master of הַחֲלֹמ֥וֹתthe dreams הַלָּזֶ֖הthis בָּֽא׃is coming

וְעַתָּ֣ה׀and now לְכ֣וּcome וְנַֽהַרְגֵ֗הוּand let us kill him וְנַשְׁלִכֵ֙הוּ֙and let us throw him בְּאַחַ֣דin one of הַבֹּר֔וֹתthe pits וְאָמַ֕רְנוּand we will say חַיָּ֥הan animal רָעָ֖הwild אֲכָלָ֑תְהוּit has eaten him וְנִרְאֶ֕הand we may see מַה־what?יִּהְי֖וּwill they be חֲלֹמֹתָֽיו׃dreams his

וַיִּשְׁמַ֣עand he heard רְאוּבֵ֔ןReuben וַיַּצִּלֵ֖הוּand he rescued him מִיָּדָ֑םfrom hand their וַיֹּ֕אמֶרand he said לֹ֥אnot נַכֶּ֖נּוּlet us strike him נָֽפֶשׁ׃life

וַֽיְהִ֕יand it was כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־just when בָּ֥אhe came יוֹסֵ֖ףJoseph אֶל־to אֶחָ֑יוbrothers his וַיַּפְשִׁ֤יטוּand they stripped אֶת־obj.יוֹסֵף֙Joseph אֶת־obj.כֻּתָּנְתּ֔וֹlong garment his אֶת־obj.כְּתֹ֥נֶתthe long garment of הַפַּסִּ֖יםthe palms and soles אֲשֶׁ֥רwhich עָלָֽיו׃was on him

וַיִּ֨קָּחֻ֔הוּand they took him וַיַּשְׁלִ֥כוּand they threw אֹת֖וֹobj. him הַבֹּ֑רָהthe pit towards וְהַבּ֣וֹרand the pit רֵ֔קwas empty אֵ֥יןthere notבּ֖וֹin the itמָֽיִם׃was water

וַיֵּשְׁבוּ֮and they sat down לֶֽאֱכָל־to eat לֶחֶם֒bread וַיִּשְׂא֤וּand they lifted up עֵֽינֵיהֶם֙eyes their וַיִּרְא֔וּand they saw וְהִנֵּה֙and there!אֹרְחַ֣תa caravan of יִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֔יםIshmaelites בָּאָ֖הwas coming מִגִּלְעָ֑דfrom Gilead וּגְמַלֵּיהֶ֣םand camels their נֹֽשְׂאִ֗יםwere carrying נְכֹאת֙spice וּצְרִ֣יand balm וָלֹ֔טand myrrh הוֹלְכִ֖יםtraveling לְהוֹרִ֥ידto take them down מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃Egypt towards

וַיֹּ֥אמֶרand he said יְהוּדָ֖הJudah אֶל־to אֶחָ֑יוbrothers his מַה־what?בֶּ֗צַעis the profit כִּ֤יif נַהֲרֹג֙we will kill אֶת־obj.אָחִ֔ינוּbrother our וְכִסִּ֖ינוּand we will conceal אֶת־obj.דָּמֽוֹ׃blood his

לְכ֞וּcome וְנִמְכְּרֶ֣נּוּand let us sell him לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֗יםto the Ishmaelites וְיָדֵ֙נוּ֙and hand our אַל־may not תְּהִי־it beב֔וֹon the himכִּֽי־for אָחִ֥ינוּis brother our בְשָׂרֵ֖נוּflesh our ה֑וּאhe וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּand they listened אֶחָֽיו׃brothers his

וַיָּ֤שָׁבand he returned רְאוּבֵן֙Reuben אֶל־to הַבּ֔וֹרthe pit וְהִנֵּ֥הand there!אֵין־not יוֹסֵ֖ףJoseph בַּבּ֑וֹרwas in the pit וַיִּקְרַ֖עand he tore אֶת־obj.בְּגָדָֽיו׃clothes his

וַיָּ֥שָׁבand he returned אֶל־to אֶחָ֖יוbrothers his וַיֹּאמַ֑רand he said הַיֶּ֣לֶדthe boy אֵינֶ֔נּוּnot is he וַאֲנִ֖יand I אָ֥נָהwhere?אֲנִי־am I בָֽא׃going

וַיִּקְח֖וּand they took אֶת־obj.כְּתֹ֣נֶתthe long garment of יוֹסֵ֑ףJoseph וַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙and they slaughtered שְׂעִ֣ירa male goat of עִזִּ֔יםgoats וַיִּטְבְּל֥וּand they dipped אֶת־obj.הַכֻּתֹּ֖נֶתthe long garment בַּדָּֽם׃in the blood

וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֞וּand they sent אֶת־obj.כְּתֹ֣נֶתthe long garment of הַפַּסִּ֗יםthe palms and soles וַיָּבִ֙יאוּ֙and they brought it אֶל־to אֲבִיהֶ֔םfather their וַיֹּאמְר֖וּand they said זֹ֣אתthis מָצָ֑אנוּwe have found הַכֶּר־investigate נָ֗אplease הַכְּתֹ֧נֶת¿ the long garment of בִּנְךָ֛son your הִ֖ואis it אִם־or?לֹֽא׃not

וַיַּכִּירָ֤הּand he recognized it וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙and he said כְּתֹ֣נֶתit is the long garment of בְּנִ֔יson my חַיָּ֥הan animal רָעָ֖הwild אֲכָלָ֑תְהוּit has eaten him טָרֹ֥ףcertainly to tear טֹרַ֖ףhe has been torn to pieces יוֹסֵֽף׃Joseph

וַיִּקְרַ֤עand he tore יַעֲקֹב֙Jacob שִׂמְלֹתָ֔יוclothes his וַיָּ֥שֶׂםand he put שַׂ֖קsackcloth בְּמָתְנָ֑יוon loins his וַיִּתְאַבֵּ֥לand he mourned עַל־on בְּנ֖וֹson his יָמִ֥יםdays רַבִּֽים׃many

וַיָּקֻמוּ֩and they arose כָל־all בָּנָ֨יוsons his וְכָל־and all בְּנֹתָ֜יוdaughters his לְנַחֲמ֗וֹto comfort him וַיְמָאֵן֙and he refused לְהִתְנַחֵ֔םto be comforted וַיֹּ֕אמֶרand he said כִּֽי־that אֵרֵ֧דI will go down אֶל־to בְּנִ֛יson my אָבֵ֖לmourning שְׁאֹ֑לָהSheol towards וַיֵּ֥בְךְּand he wept for אֹת֖וֹobj. him אָבִֽיו׃father his

וְהַ֨מְּדָנִ֔יםand the Medanites מָכְר֥וּthey sold אֹת֖וֹobj. him אֶל־into מִצְרָ֑יִםEgypt לְפֽוֹטִיפַר֙to Potiphar סְרִ֣יסan official of פַּרְעֹ֔הPharaoh שַׂ֖רthe commander of הַטַּבָּחִֽים׃ פthe bodyguards

Frequently asked questions

Is this a Bible translation?

No — it's a word-for-word rendering of the original Hebrew text, tagged with Strong's numbers, so you can see exactly which original word underlies each part of the verse. For a devotional reading, see our Bible verses by topic section, which uses the King James Version.

What do the faded (italic) words mean?

They're words the Hebrew implies grammatically but that wouldn't be spoken as a separate word in natural English — shown here so nothing from the original text is hidden.

How do I look up what a word means?

Click any word — it links straight to that word's entry in our Strong's Concordance, with the full definition and how it's used elsewhere in the Bible.

← Genesis 36 All chapters Genesis 38 →

Need a different tool?

Explore the whole Calcs family here.

Think we tagged a word wrong?

Let us know.