Add parallel Print Page Options

37 And Jacob dwelt in the land where his father sojourned—in the land of Canaan.

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, fed the flock with his brethren; and he was doing service with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought to his father an evil report of them.

And Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was son of his old age; and he made him a vest of many colours.

And his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, and they hated him, and could not greet him with friendliness.

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and told [it] to his brethren, and they hated him yet the more.

And he said to them, Hear, I pray you, this dream, which I have dreamt:

Behold, we were binding sheaves in the fields, and lo, my sheaf rose up, and remained standing; and behold, your sheaves came round about and bowed down to my sheaf.

And his brethren said to him, Wilt thou indeed be a king over us? wilt thou indeed rule over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words.

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamt another dream, and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.

10 And he told [it] to his father and to his brethren. And his father rebuked him, and said to him, What is this dream which thou hast dreamt? Shall we indeed come, I and thy mother and thy brethren, to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

11 And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying.

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

13 And Israel said to Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed [the flock] at Shechem? Come, that I may send thee to them. And he said to him, Here am I.

14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see after the welfare of thy brethren, and after the welfare of the flock; and bring me word again. And he sent him out of the vale of Hebron; and he came towards Shechem.

15 And a man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the country; and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

16 And he said, I am seeking my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed [their flocks].

17 And the man said, They have removed from this; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them at Dothan.

18 And when they saw him from afar, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to put him to death.

19 And they said one to another, Behold, there comes that dreamer!

20 And now come and let us kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, An evil beast has devoured him; and we will see what becomes of his dreams.

21 And Reuben heard [it], and delivered him out of their hand, and said, Let us not take his life.

22 And Reuben said to them, Shed no blood: cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness; but lay no hand upon him—in order that he might deliver him out of their hand, to bring him to his father again.

23 And it came to pass when Joseph came to his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his vest, the vest of many colours, which he had on;

24 and they took him and cast him into the pit; now the pit was empty—there was no water in it.

25 And they sat down to eat bread; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites came from Gilead; and their camels bore tragacanth, and balsam, and ladanum—going to carry [it] down to Egypt.

26 And Judah said to his brethren, What profit is it that we kill our brother and secrete his blood?

27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites; but let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened [to him].

28 And Midianitish men, merchants, passed by; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty silver-pieces; and they brought Joseph to Egypt.

29 And Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph [was] not in the pit; and he rent his garments,

30 and returned to his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, where shall I go?

31 And they took Joseph's vest, and slaughtered a buck of the goats, and dipped the vest in the blood;

32 and they sent the vest of many colours and had it carried to their father, and said, This have we found: discern now whether it is thy son's vest or not.

33 And he discerned it, and said, [It is] my son's vest! an evil beast has devoured him: Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces!

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

35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted, and said, For I will go down to my son into Sheol mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt, to Potiphar, a chamberlain of Pharaoh, the captain of the life-guard.

José y sus hermanos

37 Y Jacob habitó en la tierra donde había peregrinado su padre[a], en la tierra de Canaán(A). 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). 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). 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

Y José tuvo[d] un sueño(H) y cuando lo contó a sus hermanos, ellos lo odiaron aún más. Y él les dijo: Os ruego que escuchéis este sueño que he tenido[e]. 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). 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. 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

Joseph Dreams of Greatness

37 Now Jacob dwelt in the land (A)where his father was a [a]stranger, in the land of Canaan. 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.

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. 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.

Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: (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.”

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.

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