Bible/Genesis/37

Genesis 37:2

37:1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. wherein: Heb. of his father's sojournings
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.

KJV

Save image

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.

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.

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought to his father their evil report.

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 colours. colours: or, pieces

What does Genesis 37:2 mean?

Genesis 37:2 is a verse in the book of Genesis, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include תּוֹלְדָה (tôwlᵉdâh), יַעֲקֹב (Yaʻăqôb), יוֹסֵף (Yôwçêph). It connects to 14 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

Full chapter interlinear →
These
are
the
generationsתּוֹלְדָהtôwlᵉdâh/to-led-aw'/H8435(plural only) descent, i.e. family; (figuratively) history
of
Jacob.יַעֲקֹבYaʻăqôb/yah-ak-obe'/H3290Jaakob, the Israelitish patriarch
Joseph,יוֹסֵףYôwçêph/yo-safe'/H3130Joseph, the name of seven Israelites
being
seventeenעָשָׂרʻâsâr/aw-sawr'/H6240ten (only in combination), i.e. -teen; also (ordinal) -teenth
yearsשָׁנֶהshâneh/shaw-neh'/H8141a year (as a revolution of time)
old,בֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
was
feedingרָעָהrâʻâh/raw-aw'/H7462to tend a flock; i.e. pasture it; intransitively, to graze (literally or figuratively); generally to rule; by extension, to associate with (as a friend)
the
flockצֹאןtsôʼn/tsone/H6629a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
with
his
brethren;אָחʼâch/awkh/H251a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))
and
the
ladנַעַרnaʻar/nah'-ar/H5288(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)
was
with
the
sonsבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
of
Bilhah,בִּלְהָהBilhâh/bil-haw'/H1090Bilhah, the name of one of Jacob's concubines; also of a place in Palestine
and
with
the
sonsבֵּןbên/bane/H1121a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
of
Zilpah,זִלְפָּהZilpâh/zil-paw/H2153Zilpah, Leah's maid
his
father'sאָבʼâb/awb/H1father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
wives:אִשָּׁהʼishshâh/ish-shaw'/H802a woman
and
JosephיוֹסֵףYôwçêph/yo-safe'/H3130Joseph, the name of seven Israelites
broughtבּוֹאbôwʼ/bo/H935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
unto
his
fatherאָבʼâb/awb/H1father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
their
evilרַעraʻ/rah/H7451bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral)
report.דִּבָּהdibbâh/dib-baw'/H1681slander

Commentary on Genesis 37:2

HENRY_FULL · Genesis 37:2
r that had been long barren. His story is so remarkably divided between his humiliation and his exaltation that we cannot avoid seeing something of Christ in it, who was first humbled and then exalted, and, in many instances, so as to answer the type of Joseph. It also shows the lot of Christians, who must through many tribulations enter into the kingdom. In this chapter we have, I. The malice his brethren bore against him. They hated him, 1. Because he informed his father of their wickedness, ver. 1, 2 . 2. Because his father loved him, ver. 3, 4 . 3. Because he dreamed of his dominion over them, ver. 5-11 . II. The mischiefs his brethren designed and did to him. 1. The kind visit he made them gave an opportunity, ver. 12-17 . 2. They designed to slay him, but determined to starve him, ver. 18-24 . 3. They changed their purpose, and sold him for a slave, ver. 25-28 . 4. They made their father believe that he was torn in pieces, ver. 29-35 . 5. He was sold into Egypt to Potiphar, ver. 36 . And all this was working together for good. The History of Joseph. ( b. c. 1729.) 1 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, be

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 2:4

These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,

Genesis 5:1

This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

Genesis 6:9

These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. perfect: or, upright

Genesis 10:1

Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood.

Genesis 30:4

And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife: and Jacob went in unto her.

Genesis 30:9

When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife.

Genesis 35:22

And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine: and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve:

Genesis 35:25

And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid; Dan, and Naphtali:

Genesis 35:26

And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher: these are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padanaram.

1 Samuel 2:22

Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. assembled: Heb. assembled by troops

John 7:7

The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

1 Corinthians 1:11

For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

1 Corinthians 5:1

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.

1 Corinthians 11:18

For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. divisions: or, schisms

Topics

Zilpah

People & places in this verse

People

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Genesis 37:2.

Genesis 11:25

And Nahor lived after he begat Terah an hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 17:25

And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.

Genesis 47:28

And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. the whole: Heb. the days of the years of his life

Exodus 12:40

Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

Exodus 34:3

And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.

Genesis 11:13

And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters.

Genesis 12:4

So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

Genesis 14:5

And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlaomer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaims in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzims in Ham, and the Emims in Shaveh Kiriathaim, Shaveh: or, The plain of Kiriathaim

Frequently asked questions

What does Genesis 37:2 say?

Genesis 37:2 (King James Version) reads: "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."

Is Genesis 37:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Genesis 37:2 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Genesis.

Who wrote the book of Genesis?

The book of Genesis is traditionally attributed to Moses.

Reflect

As you read Genesis 37:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

Plan a sermon or study on Genesis 37:2
37:1Read all of Genesis 3737:3