Genesis 37
New King James Version
Joseph Dreams of Greatness
37 Now Jacob dwelt in the land (A)where his father was a [a]stranger, in the land of Canaan. 2 This is the history of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought (B)a bad report of them to his father.
3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was (C)the son of his old age. Also he (D)made him a tunic of many colors. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they (E)hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.
5 Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 6 So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: 7 (F)There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”
8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
9 Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, (G)the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”
10 So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and (H)your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” 11 And (I)his brothers envied him, but his father (J)kept the matter in mind.
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
12 Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in (K)Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.”
So he said to him, “Here I am.”
14 Then he said to him, “Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.” So he sent him out of the Valley of (L)Hebron, and he went to Shechem.
15 Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?”
16 So he said, “I am seeking my brothers. (M)Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.”
17 And the man said, “They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in (N)Dothan.
18 Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, (O)they conspired against him to kill him. 19 Then they said to one another, “Look, this [b]dreamer is coming! 20 (P)Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”
21 But (Q)Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.
23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they (R)stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. 24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25 (S)And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of (T)Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, (U)balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. 26 So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and (V)conceal his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and (W)let not our hand be upon him, for he is (X)our brother and (Y)our flesh.” And his brothers listened. 28 Then (Z)Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, (AA)and sold him to the Ishmaelites for (AB)twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.
29 Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he (AC)tore his clothes. 30 And he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad (AD)is no more; and I, where shall I go?”
31 So they took (AE)Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. 32 Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, “We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?”
33 And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A (AF)wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob (AG)tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and (AH)mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters (AI)arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, “For (AJ)I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.” Thus his father wept for him.
36 Now (AK)the [c]Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
Footnotes
- Genesis 37:1 sojourner, temporary resident
- Genesis 37:19 Lit. master of dreams
- Genesis 37:36 MT Medanites
창세기 37
Korean Bible: Easy-to-Read Version
꿈장이 요셉
37 야곱은 자기 아버지가 살던 가나안 땅에 머물렀다. 2 야곱의 집안의 역사는 이러하다.
요셉은 열일곱 살의 젊은이로서 야곱의 아내들인 빌하와 실바가 낳은 형들과 함께 양 떼를 돌보고 있었는데 아버지에게 와서 형들에 관해 나쁘게 말하였다.
3 그런데 이스라엘은 다른 어느 아들보다 요셉을 더 사랑하였다. 요셉은 이스라엘이 늘그막에 얻은 아들이었기 때문이다. 야곱은 요셉에게 긴 소매가 달린 겉옷을 지어 입혔다. 4 그의 형들은 아버지가 자기들 가운데 어느 누구보다도 요셉을 더 사랑하는 것을 알고는 요셉을 미워하였다. 그들은 요셉에게 정다운 말 한 마디 건네지 않았다.
5 한번은 요셉이 꿈을 꾸고 그 꿈 이야기를 형들에게 들려주었다. 그러자 형들이 요셉을 더욱 미워하게 되었다. 6 요셉이 그들에게 말하였다. “내가 꾼 꿈 이야기 좀 들어 보세요. 7 우리가 밭에서 곡식을 단으로 묶고 있었어요. 그런데 갑자기 내가 묶은 단이 일어나 벌떡 서는 거예요. 그러자 형들이 묶은 단들이 내가 묶은 단 둘레로 모여 들더니 엎드려 절을 하지 않겠어요.”
8 형들이 그에게 말하였다. “네가 우리에게 왕 노릇이라도 하겠다는 거냐? 네가 정말로 우리를 다스릴 참이냐?” 요셉의 형들은 요셉이 꾸었다는 꿈과 그가 그들에게 한 이야기 때문에 그를 한층 더 미워하였다.
9 그런 다음 요셉이 또 다른 꿈을 꾸고 그것을 형들에게 이야기하였다. “들어 보세요. 내가 다른 꿈을 또 꾸었어요. 이번엔 해와 달과 열한 개의 별이 나에게 절을 하고 있었어요.”
10 요셉이 아버지와 형들에게 그 꿈 이야기를 하자 아버지가 요셉을 꾸짖으며 말하였다. “그게 도대체 무슨 꿈이냐? 네 어머니와 나와 네 형들이 네게 와서 땅에 엎드려 절을 하리라는 말이냐?” 11 요셉의 형들은 그를 시기하였다. 그러나 그의 아버지는 이 일을 흘려버리지 않고 마음에 새겨 두었다.
12 요셉의 형들이 아버지의 양 떼에게 풀을 뜯기려고 세겜 가까운 곳으로 갔다. 13 이스라엘이 요셉에게 말하였다. “너도 알다시피 네 형들이 세겜 가까운 곳에서 양 떼에게 풀을 뜯기고 있다. 그러니 내가 너를 형들에게 좀 보내야겠다.”
요셉이 대답하였다. “예, 제가 가겠습니다.”
14 그래서 이스라엘이 요셉에게 말하였다. “가서 네 형들과 양 떼가 잘 있는지 살펴보고 와서 내게 알려다오.” 그의 아버지는 헤브론 골짜기에서 그를 떠나보냈다.
요셉이 세겜에 이르렀다. 15 어떤 사람이 요셉이 들판에서 헤매고 있는 것을 보고 물었다. “네가 무엇을 찾고 있느냐?”
16 요셉이 대답하였다. “제 형님들을 찾고 있습니다. 제 형님들이 어디서 양 떼에게 풀을 뜯기고 있는지 알려 주실 수 있겠습니까?”
17 그 사람이 말하였다. “그들은 벌써 여기를 떠났다. 그들이 ‘도단으로 가자’라고 말하는 것을 들었다.”
그래서 요셉은 형들을 뒤쫓아 도단 가까운 곳에서 그들을 찾았다.
요셉이 노예로 팔리다
18 요셉의 형들이 멀리서 요셉이 오고 있는 것을 보았다. 그가 형들에게 닿기 전에 형들은 그를 죽여 없앨 계획을 세웠다.
19 “저기 그 꿈쟁이가 온다.” 그들은 서로에게 말하였다. 20 “자, 이제 저 녀석을 죽여서 이 우물들 가운데 아무 우물에나 던져 넣고 사나운 들짐승이 잡아먹었다고 하자. 그런 다음 녀석의 꿈이 어떻게 되나 보자.”
21 르우벤은 이 말을 듣고 요셉을 그들의 손에서 구해 주려고 이렇게 말하였다. “그 애의 목숨만은 해치지 말자. 22 그 애의 피는 흘리지 말아라. 여기 광야에 있는 이 우물에 그 애를 던져 넣기만 하여라. 그 애를 너희 손으로 해치지는 말아라.” 르우벤은 그들에게서 요셉을 건져 내어 아버지에게 돌려보낼 속셈으로 이렇게 말한 것이다.
23 그래서 요셉이 형들에게 이르자 형들은 그가 입은 소매 달린 긴 겉옷을 벗기고 24 그를 들어 우물 안으로 던져 버렸다. 그런데 그 우물은 물이 말라 텅 비어 있었다.
25 그들이 앉아서 음식을 먹고 있는데 마침 이스마엘 상인 한 무리가 길르앗에서 오고 있는 것이 눈에 띄었다. 그들은 향료와 유황과 몰약을 낙타에 싣고 이집트로 내려가는 길이었다.
26 유다가 형제들에게 말하였다. “우리가 동생을 죽이고 그 애의 피를 덮어 봤자 우리에게 무슨 이익이 있겠어? 27 자, 그 애를 우리 손으로 해치는 대신 저 이스마엘 사람들[a]에게 팔아버리자. 결국 그 애는 우리와 살과 피를 나눈 형제가 아니냐.” 다른 형제들도 모두 찬성하였다.
28 그래서 미디안의 상인들이 지나갈 때에 그들은 요셉을 우물에서 끌어 올려 은 이십 세겔[b]을 받고 이스마엘 사람들에게 팔아 넘겼다. 이스마엘 사람들은 요셉을 이집트로 데려갔다.
29 그 뒤에 르우벤이 우물로 돌아와 보니 요셉이 거기 없었다. 그는 입은 옷을 찢으며 30 형제들에게 돌아가 말하였다. “그 애가 없어졌다. 이제 나는 어디로 가야 한단 말이냐?” 31 그들은 염소를 한 마리 죽인 다음 요셉이 입었던 겉옷을 가져와 염소의 피에 적셨다. 32 그런 다음 그들은 소매 달린 긴 겉옷을 아버지에게 보이면서 이렇게 전하게 하였다. “저희가 이 옷을 주웠습니다. 혹시 아버님의 아들의 옷이 아닌지 살펴보십시오.”
33 그가 그 옷을 알아보고 울부짖었다. “이것은 내 아들의 옷이다. 어떤 사나운 짐승이 그 애를 삼켰구나. 요셉은 갈기갈기 찢겨 죽은 것이 틀림없다.”
34 야곱은 옷을 찢고, 거친 베옷을 입고, 아들의 죽음을 여러 날 동안 슬퍼하였다. 35 다른 아들딸들이 모두 와서 그를 위로하려 하였으나 그는 아예 위로 받으려 하지 않았다. 야곱이 말하였다. “아니다. 나는 차라리 이렇게 슬퍼하면서 내 아들이 있는 스올로 내려가겠다.” 아버지는 잃은 아들을 생각하며 울었다.
36 그러는 동안에 미디안 상인들은 이집트에 이르러 요셉을 보디발에게 팔았다. 보디발은 파라오의 신하 가운데 하나로서 그의 경호대장이었다.
Genesis 37
English Standard Version
Joseph's Dreams
37 Jacob lived in (A)the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan.
2 These are the generations of Jacob.
Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought (B)a bad report of them to their father. 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was (C)the son of his old age. And he made him (D)a robe of many colors.[a] 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.
5 Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, (E)my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and (F)bowed down to my sheaf.” 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.
9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10 But when 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? Shall I and (G)your mother and your brothers indeed come (H)to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” 11 And (I)his brothers were jealous of him, (J)but his father kept the saying in mind.
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
12 Now his brothers went to pasture their father's flock near (K)Shechem. 13 And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock at Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “Here I am.” 14 So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of (L)Hebron, and he came to Shechem. 15 And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?” 16 “I am seeking my brothers,” he said. “Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock.” 17 And the man said, “They have gone away, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to (M)Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at (N)Dothan.
18 They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them (O)they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer. 20 Come now, (P)let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits.[b] Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when (Q)Reuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—(R)that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, (S)the robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and (T)threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a (U)caravan of (V)Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing (W)gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it (X)if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and (Y)let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then (Z)Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and (AA)sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels[c] of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
29 When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he (AB)tore his clothes 30 and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy (AC)is gone, and I, where shall I go?” 31 Then they took (AD)Joseph's robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood. 32 And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son's robe or not.” 33 And he identified it and said, “It is my son's robe. (AE)A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.” 34 Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35 All his sons and all his daughters (AF)rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, (AG)I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile (AH)the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, (AI)the captain of the guard.
Footnotes
- Genesis 37:3 See Septuagint, Vulgate; or (with Syriac) a robe with long sleeves. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain; also verses 23, 32
- Genesis 37:20 Or cisterns; also verses 22, 24
- Genesis 37:28 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2021 by Bible League International
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
