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Genesis 37
Good News Translation

Joseph and His Brothers

37 Jacob continued to live in the land of Canaan, where his father had lived, 2 and this is the story of Jacob's family.

Joseph, a young man of seventeen, took care of the sheep and goats with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's concubines. He brought bad reports to his father about what his brothers were doing.

3 Jacob loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he had been born to him when he was old. He made a long robe with full sleeves[a] for him. 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than he loved them, they hated their brother so much that they would not speak to him in a friendly manner.

5 One time Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him even more. 6 He said, “Listen to the dream I had. 7 We were all in the field tying up sheaves of wheat, when my sheaf got up and stood up straight. Yours formed a circle around mine and bowed down to it.”

8 “Do you think you are going to be a king and rule over us?” his brothers asked. So they hated him even more because of his dreams and because of what he said about them.

9 Then Joseph had another dream and told his brothers, “I had another dream, in which I saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing down to me.”

10 He also told the dream to his father, and his father scolded him: “What kind of a dream is that? Do you think that your mother, your brothers, and I are going to come and bow down to you?” 11 (A)Joseph's brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept thinking about the whole matter.

Joseph Is Sold and Taken to Egypt

12 One day when Joseph's brothers had gone to Shechem to take care of their father's flock, 13 Jacob said to Joseph, “I want you to go to Shechem, where your brothers are taking care of the flock.”

Joseph answered, “I am ready.”

14 His father told him, “Go and see if your brothers are safe and if the flock is all right; then come back and tell me.” So his father sent him on his way from Hebron Valley.

Joseph arrived at Shechem 15 and was wandering around in the country when a man saw him and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

16 “I am looking for my brothers, who are taking care of their flock,” he answered. “Can you tell me where they are?”

17 The man said, “They have already left. I heard them say that they were going to Dothan.” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

18 They saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted against him and decided to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes that dreamer. 20 Come on now, let's kill him and throw his body into one of the dry wells. We can say that a wild animal killed him. Then we will see what becomes of his dreams.”

21 Reuben heard them and tried to save Joseph. “Let's not kill him,” he said. 22 “Just throw him into this well in the wilderness, but don't hurt him.” He said this, planning to save him from them and send him back to his father. 23 When Joseph came up to his brothers, they ripped off his long robe with full sleeves.[b] 24 Then they took him and threw him into the well, which was dry.

25 While they were eating, they suddenly saw a group of Ishmaelites traveling from Gilead to Egypt. Their camels were loaded with spices and resins. 26 Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother and covering up the murder? 27 Let's sell him to these Ishmaelites. Then we won't have to hurt him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed, 28 (B)and when some Midianite traders came by, the brothers[c] pulled Joseph out of the well and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.

29 When Reuben came back to the well and found that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes in sorrow. 30 He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there! What am I going to do?”

31 Then they killed a goat and dipped Joseph's robe in its blood. 32 They took the robe to their father and said, “We found this. Does it belong to your son?”

33 He recognized it and said, “Yes, it is his! Some wild animal has killed him. My son Joseph has been torn to pieces!” 34 Jacob tore his clothes in sorrow and put on sackcloth. He mourned for his son a long time. 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “I will go down to the world of the dead still mourning for my son.” So he continued to mourn for his son Joseph.

36 Meanwhile, in Egypt the Midianites had sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of the king's officers, who was the captain of the palace guard.

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 37:3 robe with full sleeves; or decorated robe.
  2. Genesis 37:23 robe with full sleeves; or decorated robe.
  3. Genesis 37:28 the brothers; Hebrew they.
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Génesis 37
La Biblia de las Américas

José y sus hermanos

37 Y Jacob habitó en la tierra donde había peregrinado su padre[a], en la tierra de Canaán(A). 2 Esta es la historia de las generaciones de Jacob:

José, cuando tenía diecisiete años(B), apacentaba el rebaño con sus hermanos; el joven estaba con los hijos de Bilha y con los hijos de Zilpa(C), mujeres de su padre. Y José trajo a su padre malos informes sobre ellos(D). 3 Y amaba Israel a José más que a todos sus hijos, porque era para él el hijo de su vejez(E); y le hizo una túnica de muchos colores[b](F). 4 Y vieron sus hermanos que su padre lo amaba más que a todos sus hermanos; por eso lo odiaban y no podían hablarle amistosamente[c](G).

Sueños de José

5 Y José tuvo[d] un sueño(H) y cuando lo contó a sus hermanos, ellos lo odiaron aún más. 6 Y él les dijo: Os ruego que escuchéis este sueño que he tenido[e]. 7 He aquí, estábamos atando gavillas en medio del campo, y he aquí que mi gavilla se levantó y se puso derecha, y entonces[f] vuestras gavillas se ponían alrededor y se inclinaban hacia mi gavilla(I). 8 Y sus hermanos le dijeron: ¿Acaso reinarás sobre nosotros? ¿O acaso te enseñorearás sobre nosotros(J)? Y lo odiaron aún más por causa de sus sueños y de sus palabras. 9 Tuvo[g] aún otro sueño, y lo contó a sus hermanos, diciendo[h]: He aquí, he tenido[i] aún otro sueño; y he aquí, el sol, la luna y once estrellas se inclinaban ante mí. 10 Y él lo contó a su padre y a sus hermanos; y su padre lo reprendió, y le dijo: ¿Qué es este sueño que has tenido[j]? ¿Acaso yo, tu madre y tus hermanos vendremos a inclinarnos hasta el suelo ante ti(K)? 11 Y sus hermanos le tenían envidia(L), pero su padre reflexionaba sobre[k] lo dicho(M).

José va en busca de sus hermanos

12 Después sus hermanos fueron a apacentar el rebaño de su padre en Siquem. 13 E Israel dijo a José: ¿No están tus hermanos apacentando el rebaño en Siquem(N)? Ven y te enviaré a ellos. Y él le dijo: Iré[l]. 14 Entonces Israel le dijo: Ve ahora y mira cómo están tus hermanos y cómo está el rebaño; y tráeme noticias de ellos. Lo envió, pues, desde el valle de Hebrón(O), y José fue a Siquem. 15 Y estando él dando vueltas por el campo, un hombre lo encontró, y el hombre le preguntó, diciendo: ¿Qué buscas? 16 Y él respondió: Busco a mis hermanos; te ruego que me informes dónde están apacentando el rebaño. 17 Y el hombre respondió: Se han ido de aquí, pues yo les oí decir: «Vamos a Dotán(P)». Entonces José fue tras sus hermanos y los encontró en Dotán.

Complot de los hermanos de José

18 Cuando ellos lo vieron de lejos, y antes que se les acercara, tramaron contra él para matarlo(Q). 19 Y se dijeron unos a otros: Aquí viene el soñador[m]. 20 Ahora pues, venid, matémoslo y arrojémoslo a uno de los pozos; y diremos: «Una fiera lo devoró(R)». Entonces veremos en qué quedan sus sueños. 21 Pero Rubén oyó esto y lo libró de sus manos, y dijo: No le quitemos la vida[n](S). 22 Rubén les dijo además: No derraméis sangre. Echadlo en este pozo del[o] desierto, pero no le pongáis la mano encima. Esto dijo para poder librarlo de las manos de ellos y volverlo a su padre. 23 Y sucedió que cuando José llegó a sus hermanos, despojaron a José de su túnica[p], la túnica de muchos colores que llevaba puesta; 24 y lo tomaron y lo echaron en el pozo. Y el pozo estaba vacío, no había agua en él.

José vendido como esclavo

25 Entonces se sentaron a comer[q], y cuando levantaron los ojos y miraron, he aquí, una caravana de ismaelitas(T) venía de Galaad con sus camellos cargados de resina aromática(U), bálsamo(V) y mirra, que iban bajando hacia Egipto. 26 Y Judá dijo a sus hermanos: ¿Qué ganaremos con matar a nuestro hermano y ocultar su sangre(W)? 27 Venid, vendámoslo a los ismaelitas y no pongamos las[r] manos sobre él(X), pues es nuestro hermano, carne nuestra. Y sus hermanos le hicieron caso[s]. 28 Pasaron entonces unos mercaderes madianitas(Y), y ellos sacaron a José, subiéndolo del pozo, y vendieron a José a los ismaelitas por veinte piezas de plata(Z). Y estos llevaron a José a Egipto(AA).

Jacob llora a José

29 Cuando Rubén volvió al pozo, he aquí, José no estaba en el pozo; entonces rasgó sus vestidos(AB). 30 Y volvió a sus hermanos y les dijo: El muchacho no está allí(AC); y yo, ¿adónde iré[t]? 31 Entonces tomaron la túnica de José(AD) y mataron un macho cabrío, y empaparon la túnica en la sangre; 32 y enviaron la túnica de muchos colores y la llevaron a su padre, y dijeron: Encontramos esto; te rogamos que lo examines[u] para ver si es la túnica de tu hijo o no. 33 Él la examinó[v], y dijo: Es la túnica de mi hijo. Una fiera lo ha devorado(AE); sin duda José ha sido despedazado(AF). 34 Y Jacob rasgó sus vestidos(AG), puso cilicio sobre sus lomos y estuvo de duelo por su hijo muchos días. 35 Y todos sus hijos y todas sus hijas vinieron[w] para consolarlo, pero él rehusó ser consolado, y dijo: Ciertamente enlutado bajaré al Seol[x] por causa de mi hijo(AH). Y su padre lloró por él. 36 Mientras tanto, los madianitas[y] lo vendieron en Egipto a Potifar(AI), oficial de Faraón, capitán de la guardia.

Footnotes

  1. Génesis 37:1 Lit., de las peregrinaciones de su padre
  2. Génesis 37:3 O, túnica larga
  3. Génesis 37:4 Lit., en paz
  4. Génesis 37:5 Lit., soñó
  5. Génesis 37:6 Lit., soñado
  6. Génesis 37:7 Lit., y he aquí
  7. Génesis 37:9 Lit., Soñó
  8. Génesis 37:9 Lit., y dijo
  9. Génesis 37:9 Lit., soñado
  10. Génesis 37:10 Lit., soñado
  11. Génesis 37:11 Lit., guardaba
  12. Génesis 37:13 Lit., Heme aquí
  13. Génesis 37:19 Lit., Ved, este experto en sueños viene
  14. Génesis 37:21 Lit., No hiramos su alma
  15. Génesis 37:22 Lit., que está en el
  16. Génesis 37:23 O, túnica larga
  17. Génesis 37:25 Lit., a comer pan
  18. Génesis 37:27 Lit., y no sean nuestras
  19. Génesis 37:27 Lit., escucharon
  20. Génesis 37:30 Lit., iré yo
  21. Génesis 37:32 O, reconozcas
  22. Génesis 37:33 Lit., reconoció
  23. Génesis 37:35 Lit., se levantaron
  24. Génesis 37:35 I.e., región de los muertos
  25. Génesis 37:36 Lit., medanitas
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Genesis 37
New International Version

Joseph’s Dreams

37 Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed,(A) the land of Canaan.(B)

2 This is the account(C) of Jacob’s family line.

Joseph,(D) a young man of seventeen,(E) was tending the flocks(F) with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah(G) and the sons of Zilpah,(H) his father’s wives, and he brought their father a bad report(I) about them.

3 Now Israel(J) loved Joseph more than any of his other sons,(K) because he had been born to him in his old age;(L) and he made an ornate[a] robe(M) for him.(N) 4 When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him(O) and could not speak a kind word to him.

5 Joseph had a dream,(P) and when he told it to his brothers,(Q) they hated him all the more.(R) 6 He said to them, “Listen to this dream I had: 7 We were binding sheaves(S) of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it.”(T)

8 His brothers said to him, “Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?”(U) And they hated him all the more(V) because of his dream and what he had said.

9 Then he had another dream,(W) and he told it to his brothers. “Listen,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars(X) were bowing down to me.”(Y)

10 When he told his father as well as his brothers,(Z) his father rebuked(AA) him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”(AB) 11 His brothers were jealous of him,(AC) but his father kept the matter in mind.(AD)

Joseph Sold by His Brothers

12 Now his brothers had gone to graze their father’s flocks near Shechem,(AE) 13 and Israel(AF) said to Joseph, “As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem.(AG) Come, I am going to send you to them.”

“Very well,” he replied.

14 So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers(AH) and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron.(AI)

When Joseph arrived at Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?”

17 “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.(AJ)’”

So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. 18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.(AK)

19 “Here comes that dreamer!(AL)” they said to each other. 20 “Come now, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns(AM) and say that a ferocious animal(AN) devoured him.(AO) Then we’ll see what comes of his dreams.”(AP)

21 When Reuben(AQ) heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said.(AR) 22 “Don’t shed any blood. Throw him into this cistern(AS) here in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him.” Reuben said this to rescue him from them and take him back to his father.(AT)

23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe—the ornate robe(AU) he was wearing— 24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern.(AV) The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.

25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites(AW) coming from Gilead.(AX) Their camels were loaded with spices, balm(AY) and myrrh,(AZ) and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.(BA)

26 Judah(BB) said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?(BC) 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother,(BD) our own flesh and blood.(BE)” His brothers agreed.

28 So when the Midianite(BF) merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern(BG) and sold(BH) him for twenty shekels[b] of silver(BI) to the Ishmaelites,(BJ) who took him to Egypt.(BK)

29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.(BL) 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”(BM)

31 Then they got Joseph’s robe,(BN) slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.(BO) 32 They took the ornate robe(BP) back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”

33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal(BQ) has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”(BR)

34 Then Jacob tore his clothes,(BS) put on sackcloth(BT) and mourned for his son many days.(BU) 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him,(BV) but he refused to be comforted.(BW) “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son(BX) in the grave.(BY)” So his father wept for him.

36 Meanwhile, the Midianites[c](BZ) sold Joseph(CA) in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.(CB)

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 37:3 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verses 23 and 32.
  2. Genesis 37:28 That is, about 8 ounces or about 230 grams
  3. Genesis 37:36 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac (see also verse 28); Masoretic Text Medanites
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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

  1. Genesis 37:1 sojourner, temporary resident
  2. Genesis 37:19 Lit. master of dreams
  3. Genesis 37:36 MT Medanites
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