Genesis 37 בְּרֵאשִׁית פרק ל״ז

Masoretic Text, word by word with English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open Genesis 37 in the interlinear reader for transliteration, roots and notes.

1. 1

   וַיֵּשֶׁבand dweltיַעֲקֹבJacobבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofמְגוּרֵיthe sojournings ofאָבִיוhis fatherבְּאֶרֶץin the land ofכְּנָעַן׃Canaan

   And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

2. 2

   אֵלֶּהtheseתֹּלְדוֹתthe generations ofיַעֲקֹבJacobיוֹסֵףJosephבֶּן־שְׁבַע־עֶשְׂרֵהson of seventeenשָׁנָהyearsהָיָהwasרֹעֶהshepherdאֶת־אֶחָיוwith his brethrenבַּצֹּאןthe flockוְהוּאand heנַעַרa young manאֶת־בְּנֵיthe sons ofבִלְהָהBilhahוְאֶת־בְּנֵיand sons ofזִלְפָּהZilpahנְשֵׁיthe wives ofאָבִיוhis fatherוַיָּבֵאand he broughtיוֹסֵףJosephאֶת־דִּבָּתָםtheir reportרָעָהevilאֶל־אֲבִיהֶם׃to their father

   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.

3. 3

   וְיִשְׂרָאֵלand Israelאָהַבlovedאֶת־יוֹסֵףJosephמִכׇּל־בָּנָיוfrom all his sonsכִּי־בֶן־זְקֻנִיםbecause a son of his old ageהוּאheלוֹto himוְעָשָׂהand he madeלוֹto himכְּתֹנֶתtunicפַּסִּים׃of many colors

   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 colours.

4. 4

   וַיִּרְאוּand they sawאֶחָיוhis brethrenכִּי־אֹתוֹbecause himאָהַבlovedאֲבִיהֶםtheir fatherמִכׇּל־אֶחָיוfrom all his brethrenוַיִּשְׂנְאוּand they hatedאֹתוֹhimוְלֹאand notיָכְלוּthey couldדַּבְּרוֹto speak to himלְשָׁלֹם׃peaceably

   And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

5. 5

   וַיַּחֲלֹםand he dreamedיוֹסֵףJosephחֲלוֹםa dreamוַיַּגֵּדand he toldלְאֶחָיוunto his brethrenוַיּוֹסִפוּand they addedעוֹדyetשְׂנֹאto hateאֹתוֹ׃him

   And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

6. 6

   וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲלֵיהֶםto themשִׁמְעוּ־נָאhear you nowהַחֲלוֹםthe dreamהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichחָלָמְתִּי׃I have dreamed

   And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:

7. 7

   וְהִנֵּהand beholdאֲנַחְנוּweמְאַלְּמִיםwere bindingאֲלֻמִּיםsheavesבְּתוֹךְamongהַשָּׂדֶהthe fieldוְהִנֵּהand beholdקָמָהaroseאֲלֻמָּתִיmy sheafוְגַם־נִצָּבָהand also it stood uprightוְהִנֵּהand beholdתְסֻבֶּינָהthey gathered roundאֲלֻמֹּתֵיכֶםyour sheavesוַתִּשְׁתַּחֲוֶיןָand they bowed downלַאֲלֻמָּתִי׃to my sheaf

   For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

8. 8

   וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidלוֹto himאֶחָיוhis brethrenהֲמָלֹךְis it indeed reigningתִּמְלֹךְwill you reignעָלֵינוּover usאִם־מָשׁוֹלor shall you indeed ruleתִּמְשֹׁלwill you ruleבָּנוּin usוַיּוֹסִפוּand they addedעוֹדyetשְׂנֹאto hateאֹתוֹhimעַל־חֲלֹמֹתָיוfor his dreamsוְעַל־דְּבָרָיו׃and for his words

   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.

9. 9

   וַיַּחֲלֹםand he dreamedעוֹדyetחֲלוֹםa dreamאַחֵרotherוַיְסַפֵּרand he toldאֹתוֹitלְאֶחָיוunto his brethrenוַיֹּאמֶרand saidהִנֵּהbeholdחָלַמְתִּיI dreamedחֲלוֹםa dreamעוֹדyetוְהִנֵּהand beholdהַשֶּׁמֶשׁthe sunוְהַיָּרֵחַand the moonוְאַחַד־עָשָׂרand elevenכּוֹכָבִיםstarsמִשְׁתַּחֲוִיםwere bowing downלִי׃to me

   And he dreamed yet another 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.

10. 10

    וַיְסַפֵּרand he toldאֶל־אָבִיוto his fatherוְאֶל־אֶחָיוand his brethrenוַיִּגְעַר־בּוֹand he rebuked himאָבִיוhis fatherוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלוֹto himמָהwhatהַחֲלוֹםthe dreamהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichחָלָמְתָּyou have dreamedהֲבוֹאshall indeedנָבוֹאcomeאֲנִיIוְאִמְּךָand your motherוְאַחֶיךָand your brothersלְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺתto bow downלְךָfor youאָרְצָה׃to the ground

    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?

11. 11

    וַיְקַנְאוּ־בוֹand they envied himאֶחָיוhis brethrenוְאָבִיוand his fatherשָׁמַרobservedאֶת־הַדָּבָר׃the word

    And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

12. 12

    וַיֵּלְכוּand they wentאֶחָיוhis brethrenלִרְעוֹתto tendאֶׄתׄ־צֹאןthe flock ofאֲבִיהֶםtheir fatherבִּשְׁכֶם׃at Shechem

    And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.

13. 13

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelאֶל־יוֹסֵףto Josephהֲלוֹאis it notאַחֶיךָyour brothersרֹעִיםpasturingבִּשְׁכֶםat Shechemלְכָהcomeוְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָand I will send youאֲלֵיהֶםto themוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלוֹto himהִנֵּנִי׃here am I

    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.

14. 14

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidלוֹto himלֶךְ־נָאgo I prayרְאֵהseeאֶת־שְׁלוֹםthe welfare ofאַחֶיךָyour brothersוְאֶת־שְׁלוֹםand the welfare ofהַצֹּאןthe flockוַהֲשִׁבֵנִיand bring me wordדָּבָרagainוַיִּשְׁלָחֵהוּand he sent himמֵעֵמֶקfrom the vale ofחֶבְרוֹןHebronוַיָּבֹאand cameשְׁכֶמָה׃to Shechem

    And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see 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.

15. 15

    וַיִּמְצָאֵהוּand he found himאִישׁa manוְהִנֵּהand beholdתֹעֶהhe was wanderingבַּשָּׂדֶהin the fieldוַיִּשְׁאָלֵהוּand he asked himהָאִישׁthe manלֵאמֹרsayingמַה־תְּבַקֵּשׁ׃what do you seek

    And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

16. 16

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֶת־אַחַיmy brethrenאָנֹכִיIמְבַקֵּשׁseekהַגִּידָה־נָּאtell me nowלִיto meאֵיפֹהwhereהֵםtheyרֹעִים׃pasturing

    And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.

17. 17

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidהָאִישׁthe manנָסְעוּthey departedמִזֶּהfrom hereכִּיforשָׁמַעְתִּיI heardאֹמְרִיםthem sayingנֵלְכָהlet us goדֹּתָיְנָהto Dothanוַיֵּלֶךְand wentיוֹסֵףJosephאַחַרafterאֶחָיוhis brethrenוַיִּמְצָאֵםand he found themבְּדֹתָן׃at Dothan

    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 found them in Dothan.

18. 18

    וַיִּרְאוּand they sawאֹתוֹhimמֵרָחֹקfrom a distanceוּבְטֶרֶםand beforeיִקְרַבhe came nearאֲלֵיהֶםto themוַיִּתְנַכְּלוּand they dealt deceptively withאֹתוֹhimלַהֲמִיתוֹ׃to slay him

    And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

19. 19

    וַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidאִישׁeachאֶל־אָחִיוto his brotherהִנֵּהbeholdבַּעַלmaster ofהַחֲלֹמוֹתthe dreamsהַלָּזֶהthisבָּא׃came

    And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20. 20

    וְעַתָּהand nowלְכוּgoוְנַהַרְגֵהוּand let us kill himוְנַשְׁלִכֵהוּand let us throw himבְּאַחַדin oneהַבֹּרוֹתthe pitsוְאָמַרְנוּand we will sayחַיָּהa beastרָעָהwildאֲכָלָתְהוּit has eaten himוְנִרְאֶהand we shall seeמַה־יִּהְיוּwhat will beחֲלֹמֹתָיו׃his dreams

    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.

21. 21

    וַיִּשְׁמַעand heardרְאוּבֵןReubenוַיַּצִּלֵהוּbut delivered himמִיָּדָםout of their handsוַיֹּאמֶרand saidלֹאnotנַכֶּנּוּlet us kill himנָפֶשׁ׃a life

    And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

22. 22

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidאֲלֵהֶםunto themרְאוּבֵןReubenאַל־תִּשְׁפְּכוּ־דָםdo not shed bloodהַשְׁלִיכוּthrowאֹתוֹhimאֶל־הַבּוֹרto the pitהַזֶּהthisאֲשֶׁרwhichבַּמִּדְבָּרin the wildernessוְיָדand a handאַל־תִּשְׁלְחוּ־בוֹdo not lay upon himלְמַעַןin order thatהַצִּילto deliverאֹתוֹhimמִיָּדָםout of their handsלַהֲשִׁיבוֹto restore himאֶל־אָבִיו׃to his father

    And Reuben 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.

23. 23

    וַיְהִיand it came to passכַּאֲשֶׁר־בָּאwhen cameיוֹסֵףJosephאֶל־אֶחָיוto his brethrenוַיַּפְשִׁיטוּand they strippedאֶת־יוֹסֵףJosephאֶת־כֻּתׇּנְתּוֹhis coatאֶת־כְּתֹנֶתtunicהַפַּסִּיםof many colorsאֲשֶׁרwhichעָלָיו׃upon him

    And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

24. 24

    וַיִּקָּחֻהוּand they took himוַיַּשְׁלִכוּand they threwאֹתוֹhimהַבֹּרָהinto the pitוְהַבּוֹרand the pitרֵקemptyאֵיןthere is noבּוֹin itמָיִם׃water

    And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

25. 25

    וַיֵּשְׁבוּand they sat downלֶאֱכׇל־לֶחֶםto eat breadוַיִּשְׂאוּand liftedעֵינֵיהֶםtheir eyesוַיִּרְאוּand they sawוְהִנֵּהand beholdאֹרְחַתa caravan ofיִשְׁמְעֵאלִיםIshmaelitesבָּאָהcomingמִגִּלְעָדfrom Gileadוּגְמַלֵּיהֶםand their camelsנֹשְׂאִיםbearingנְכֹאתspiceוּצְרִיand balmוָלֹטand myrrhהוֹלְכִיםgoingלְהוֹרִידto bring downמִצְרָיְמָה׃to Egypt

    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.

26. 26

    וַיֹּאמֶרand saidיְהוּדָהJudahאֶל־אֶחָיוto his brethrenמַה־בֶּצַעwhat profitכִּיbecauseנַהֲרֹגwe slayאֶת־אָחִינוּour brotherוְכִסִּינוּand we will concealאֶת־דָּמוֹ׃his blood

    And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

27. 27

    לְכוּgoוְנִמְכְּרֶנּוּand let us sell himלַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִיםto the Ishmaelitesוְיָדֵנוּand our handאַל־תְּהִי־בוֹlet it not be upon himכִּי־אָחִינוּbecause our brotherבְשָׂרֵנוּour fleshהוּאheוַיִּשְׁמְעוּand they heardאֶחָיו׃his brethren

    Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

28. 28

    וַיַּעַבְרוּand there passed byאֲנָשִׁיםmenמִדְיָנִיםMidianitesסֹחֲרִיםtradersוַיִּמְשְׁכוּand they drewוַיַּעֲלוּand lifted upאֶת־יוֹסֵףJosephמִן־הַבּוֹרfrom the pitוַיִּמְכְּרוּand they soldאֶת־יוֹסֵףJosephלַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִיםto the Ishmaelitesבְּעֶשְׂרִיםfor twentyכָּסֶףpieces of silverוַיָּבִיאוּand broughtאֶת־יוֹסֵףJosephמִצְרָיְמָה׃to Egypt

    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.

29. 29

    וַיָּשׇׁבand returnedרְאוּבֵןReubenאֶל־הַבּוֹרto the pitוְהִנֵּהand beholdאֵין־יוֹסֵףthere is no Josephבַּבּוֹרin the pitוַיִּקְרַעand he toreאֶת־בְּגָדָיו׃his garments

    And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

30. 30

    וַיָּשׇׁבand returnedאֶל־אֶחָיוto his brethrenוַיֹּאמַרand saidהַיֶּלֶדthe childאֵינֶנּוּhe is notוַאֲנִיand Iאָנָהwhitherאֲנִי־בָא׃shall I go

    And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

31. 31

    וַיִּקְחוּand they tookאֶת־כְּתֹנֶתtunicיוֹסֵףJosephוַיִּשְׁחֲטוּand they slaughteredשְׂעִירa male goat ofעִזִּיםgoatsוַיִּטְבְּלוּand they dippedאֶת־הַכֻּתֹּנֶתthe coatבַּדָּם׃in the blood

    And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

32. 32

    וַיְשַׁלְּחוּand they sentאֶת־כְּתֹנֶתtunicהַפַּסִּיםof many colorsוַיָּבִיאוּand broughtאֶל־אֲבִיהֶםto their fatherוַיֹּאמְרוּand they saidזֹאתthisמָצָאנוּwe have foundהַכֶּר־נָאdiscern nowהַכְּתֹנֶתthe coat ofבִּנְךָyour sonהִואitאִם־לֹא׃if not

    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.

33. 33

    וַיַּכִּירָהּand he recognized itוַיֹּאמֶרand saidכְּתֹנֶתtunicבְּנִיmy sonחַיָּהa beastרָעָהwildאֲכָלָתְהוּit has eaten himטָרֹףsurelyטֹרַףhe has been torn to piecesיוֹסֵף׃Joseph

    And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

34. 34

    וַיִּקְרַעand he toreיַעֲקֹבJacobשִׂמְלֹתָיוhis clothesוַיָּשֶׂםand putשַׂקsackclothבְּמׇתְנָיוupon his loinsוַיִּתְאַבֵּלand he mournedעַל־בְּנוֹupon his sonיָמִיםdaysרַבִּים׃many

    And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

35. 35

    וַיָּקֻמוּand rose upכׇל־בָּנָיוall his sonsוְכׇל־בְּנֹתָיוand all his daughtersלְנַחֲמוֹto comfort himוַיְמָאֵןand he refusedלְהִתְנַחֵםto be comfortedוַיֹּאמֶרand saidכִּי־אֵרֵדbecause I might go downאֶל־בְּנִיto my sonאָבֵלmourningשְׁאֹלָהto Sheolוַיֵּבְךְּand he weptאֹתוֹfor himאָבִיו׃his father

    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.

36. 36

    וְהַמְּדָנִיםand the Medanitesמָכְרוּthey soldאֹתוֹhimאֶל־מִצְרָיִםto Egyptלְפוֹטִיפַרto Potipharסְרִיסan official ofפַּרְעֹהPharaohשַׂרcaptain ofהַטַּבָּחִים׃the guard

    And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.