Genesis 37 10

Genesis 37:10 kjv

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?

Genesis 37:10 nkjv

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 your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?"

Genesis 37:10 niv

When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked 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?"

Genesis 37:10 esv

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 your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?"

Genesis 37:10 nlt

This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. "What kind of dream is that?" he asked. "Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?"

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 10 meaning

Genesis 37:10 describes Jacob's immediate and stern rebuke of his son Joseph upon hearing his second, even more audacious, dream. This dream involved the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing down to Joseph. Jacob instantly interpreted this to mean himself, Joseph's mother, and his brothers would humble themselves before Joseph, an act that directly challenged the patriarchal authority and established family hierarchy of the time. This verse encapsulates the escalating tension and resentment within the family, fueled by Joseph's favored status and now, his prophetic visions of superiority, setting the stage for the dramatic events that follow.

Genesis 37 10 Context

This verse is situated immediately after Joseph recounts his second dream to his family. Chapter 37 introduces Joseph as Jacob's favorite son, adorned with a "coat of many colors" (37:3) and marked by an underlying current of jealousy among his ten older brothers. Joseph's first dream, where his brothers' sheaves bowed to his, intensified their hatred (37:8). The second dream, involving celestial bodies, implied even greater authority, extending beyond his brothers to include his parents, the "sun" and "moon." Jacob's harsh rebuke, even though he knew the implications of divine dreams from his own experience (Gen 28, 31), underscores the familial tension and Joseph's perceived arrogance due to his youth and favored status. This dramatic exchange precipitates the brothers' final decision to eliminate Joseph, ultimately leading to his enslavement and descent into Egypt, ironically paving the way for the dream's fulfillment.

Genesis 37 10 Word analysis

• And when he told it: The narrative emphasizes Joseph’s action of openly declaring the dream, highlighting his directness or perhaps his lack of prudence given the existing family tension.
• to his father: Refers to Jacob, the patriarch, the highest authority figure in the family. Joseph’s dream directly challenges Jacob's patriarchal standing.
• and to his brothers: Signifies Joseph addressing his dream not only to the immediate parties (father, mother), but also to those who already deeply resented him.
• his father rebuked him: The Hebrew word ga'ar (גער) implies a strong, stern, often indignant reproof or scolding. It conveys deep displeasure and opposition. Jacob is genuinely troubled by the dream’s implications.
• and said to him: Introduces Jacob's direct address, articulating his interpretation and disapproval.
• “What is this dream that you have dreamed?”: A rhetorical question conveying astonishment, disbelief, and disapproval rather than seeking information. Jacob immediately grasps the dream's meaning and expresses his strong negative reaction.
• “Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves: The interrogative “Shall I” (ha’bā’ - הֲבֹא֙) expresses incredulity and rejection. It reflects the radical nature of the dream's implied reversal of the natural order and filial piety.
  • I: Jacob, the father, patriarch. The "sun" in the dream.
  • your mother: This refers to the "moon" in Joseph's dream. Scholars discuss if this literally refers to Rachel, who had already passed away (Gen 35:19), suggesting a symbolic representation for Jacob's household generally or perhaps Leah as the active "mother" figure, or even God's overarching plan defying human understanding of physical presence. The immediate understanding is that Joseph’s natural mother is Rachel, creating an interpretative tension.
  • your brothers: The "eleven stars," representing all of Joseph's remaining brothers, who are actively present and deeply resentful.
  • indeed come to bow ourselves: The Hebrew hishtahawa (השתחוה) is the Hithpael form of shachah, meaning to bow down, prostrate oneself, to do obeisance, or to worship. It implies deep reverence, submission, and recognition of superiority. Jacob's phrasing conveys the utter unthinkableness of such an act for them.
• to the ground before you?”: Emphasizes full prostration, signifying complete submission and a reversal of status where the family (father, mother, older brothers) would defer entirely to the younger Joseph.

Genesis 37 10 Bonus section

• Reversal of Roles: The dream in Gen 37:10 (and the preceding 37:7) fundamentally challenges the typical biblical pattern of primogeniture (older son inheriting prominence). Like Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, and later Ephraim over Manasseh, Joseph's dreams predict the elevation of the younger over the elder, a consistent theme of God choosing differently than human tradition.
• Patriarchal Authority: Jacob's strong rebuke underscores the sacred and inviolable nature of patriarchal authority in ancient Israelite culture. For a younger son to suggest such dominance was a profound insult and challenge to the existing social and familial order.
• The Power of Divine Dreams: Despite Jacob's rebuke and the brothers' hatred, the dreams are indeed from God. The unfolding narrative in Genesis ultimately proves the veracity and divine origin of these dreams, emphasizing God's omnipotence and faithfulness in bringing His word to fruition regardless of human opposition.
• Prophetic Foretelling vs. Human Interpretation: While Jacob correctly interpreted the symbols, he utterly rejected the possibility of its fulfillment, demonstrating how even those close to God can struggle to accept aspects of His plan that defy their understanding or comfort. This foreshadows a pattern of human resistance to divine will seen throughout biblical history.

Genesis 37 10 Commentary

Genesis 37:10 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating the direct confrontation between Joseph's prophetic destiny and human expectation. Jacob, a man well-acquainted with divine dreams, ironically rebukes his son, unable to accept the radical implication of the dream: his own subordination to a younger son. This immediate and harsh parental rejection, along with the lingering bitterness of the brothers, highlights the inherent conflict between God's sovereign plan and human resistance. The question of "your mother" in the dream, given Rachel's death, hints at the mysterious nature of divine prophecy, perhaps implying a broader symbolic representation of the family unit, or an adoptive mother figure like Leah, eventually bowing. Jacob's correct interpretation of the dream's symbolism, even as he fiercely opposes its fulfillment, sets the stage for God to meticulously bring His purposes to pass through the very human actions intended to thwart them. The perceived arrogance in Joseph's youth becomes, paradoxically, the vehicle for his later humble exaltation.