Genesis 37:15 kjv

And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

Genesis 37:15 nkjv

Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, "What are you seeking?"

Genesis 37:15 niv

a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, "What are you looking for?"

Genesis 37:15 esv

And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, "What are you seeking?"

Genesis 37:15 nlt

When he arrived there, a man from the area noticed him wandering around the countryside. "What are you looking for?" he asked.

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 15 Meaning

Genesis 37:15 describes a pivotal moment in Joseph's story. Joseph, sent by his father Jacob to check on his brothers and their flocks, is depicted as lost and disoriented, "wandering in the field" searching for them. At this crucial juncture, an unnamed "man" providentially encounters him. This man inquires about Joseph's search, setting in motion the chain of events that leads Joseph to find his brothers in Dothan, leading directly to his betrayal and being sold into slavery. The verse highlights Joseph's lostness and the seemingly coincidental, yet divinely orchestrated, intervention that redirects his path toward God's ultimate purpose for him and his family.

Genesis 37 15 Context

Genesis chapter 37 initiates the unfolding drama of Joseph's life. Following the genealogies and accounts of Jacob's family, the narrative focuses on Jacob's special favor towards Joseph, giving him a coat of many colors. This favor, coupled with Joseph's dreams of preeminence over his brothers, ignites intense jealousy and hatred among them. Joseph is sent by his father from Hebron to Shechem, where his brothers are tending their flocks. Upon arriving in Shechem, Joseph is unable to locate his brothers. Verse 37:15 describes this critical juncture: Joseph is alone and lost, searching in the open country for his brothers who had moved to Dothan. This momentary disorientation and the subsequent encounter with an unnamed man are crucial turning points, as the man provides the information that sends Joseph to Dothan, leading directly to his betrayal by his brothers. This seemingly chance encounter sets in motion the providential unfolding of Joseph's story, leading him eventually to Egypt, fulfilling God's overarching plan for the preservation of Jacob's household and the future nation of Israel.

Genesis 37 15 Word analysis

• And a certain man (וַיִּמְצָאֵהוּ אִישׁ – va-yimtza'ehu ish):

  • וַיִּמְצָאֵהוּ (va-yimtza'ehu): Literally "and he found him." The prefix 'va-' (ו) signifies a sequential action, emphasizing the suddenness and narrative progression. The root "מצא" (matza) means to find, discover, or attain. Its use here indicates Joseph's prior state of being lost or seeking, implying discovery rather than mere encounter.
  • אִישׁ (ish): Man, individual, person. The Hebrew does not provide a name or any specific identifier, highlighting that this man is simply "a man." This anonymity serves to emphasize the providential nature of the encounter; the focus is not on the man's identity but on his role as an instrument in God's plan.

• found him (וַיִּמְצָאֵהוּ – va-yimtza'ehu): Repetition from above, emphasizing the act of finding. This signifies that Joseph was not just walking, but truly lost and in a state to be discovered.

• and, behold (וְהִנֵּה – v'hinneh):

  • וְהִנֵּה (v'hinneh): "And behold!" This interjection is often used to draw the reader's attention to something new, significant, or surprising that is about to happen or is revealed. It creates a sense of immediate narrative focus and heightens the dramatic impact of Joseph's situation and the subsequent inquiry.

• he was wandering (תֹּעֶה – to'eh):

  • תֹּעֶה (to'eh): Participle from the root "תעה" (ta'ah), meaning to stray, wander, go astray, err, or be lost. This word emphasizes Joseph's state of disorientation and confusion, both literally in finding his way and metaphorically as his life path is about to drastically change. This portrays Joseph's vulnerability and aimless state, having missed his destination and his brothers.

• in the field (בַּשָּׂדֶה – ba-sadeh):

  • בַּשָּׂדֶה (ba-sadeh): In the field, in the open country. This setting further highlights Joseph's isolation and exposure, away from settlements or help. The term often refers to uncultivated land, pasture land, emphasizing a vast, solitary area.

• and the man asked him, saying (וַיִּשְׁאָלֵהוּ הָאִישׁ לֵאמֹר – vayish'alehu ha'ish lemor):

  • וַיִּשְׁאָלֵהוּ (vayish'alehu): "And he asked him." From the root "שאל" (sha'al), to ask, inquire. This marks the initiation of the conversation, pivotal for redirecting Joseph.
  • הָאִישׁ (ha'ish): "The man." The definite article "ha-" emphasizes that it is that specific man who found him, reiterating his significant role in the encounter.
  • לֵאמֹר (lemor): "Saying" or "to say." A common biblical construct that introduces direct speech, preparing the reader for the question to follow.

• What seekest thou? (מַה תְּבַקֵּשׁ – mah t'vakesh):

  • מַה (mah): What.
  • תְּבַקֵּשׁ (t'vakesh): From the root "בקש" (baqash), meaning to seek, search for, desire, require. This direct question is simple yet profoundly significant. It invites Joseph to vocalize his situation, which he promptly does, and this disclosure becomes the means by which the man offers directions leading Joseph into the hands of his brothers.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field": This phrase combines discovery (found him), attention-grabbing emphasis (behold), Joseph's state of being lost (wandering), and the isolated location (in the field). This paints a complete picture of Joseph's vulnerability and the critical nature of this seemingly chance encounter. It sets the stage for the next dramatic turn in the narrative, revealing God's hand moving through an ordinary interaction. The specific choice of "wandering" highlights Joseph's aimlessness after his initial search for his brothers proved fruitless in Shechem.

Genesis 37 15 Bonus section

The anonymous nature of the "man" in Gen 37:15 has led to various interpretations over centuries. While the text simply calls him ish (man), some early Jewish commentaries (e.g., in Targums or Midrash) and later Christian interpretations have pondered if this was an angel in human form or a divinely sent messenger. This is not explicitly stated in the text, yet it highlights the profound theological impact of this brief encounter – that such an ordinary figure could play such a critical, almost angelic, role in redirecting the path of a chosen servant of God towards a destiny of such significance. This theme resonates with instances like angels appearing as men (e.g., Gen 18 for Abraham). Regardless of his identity, the man acts as an agent of destiny, pushing Joseph onto the precise path necessary for God's redemptive purposes to unfold for Jacob's family and the nascent nation of Israel. The very ordinary context underscores the hidden, yet pervasive, operation of God's unseen hand in human affairs.

Genesis 37 15 Commentary

Genesis 37:15 is a concisely powerful verse that pivots the entire Joseph narrative. Joseph, tasked with a seemingly simple errand, finds himself adrift and disoriented. The description "wandering in the field" is poignant, capturing not just a physical state of being lost but also prefiguring his upcoming journey into spiritual and physical displacement, far from his father's house. The appearance of the unnamed "man" is key. He is an ordinary figure, yet his role is anything but. Biblical scholars often interpret this encounter as an example of divine providence working through everyday circumstances. God's intervention is not through a spectacular miracle, but through a casual conversation.

The man's question, "What seekest thou?", serves as a catalyst. Joseph's truthful answer directly leads him to Dothan, where his brothers plot against him. This seemingly helpful encounter turns into the pathway for Joseph's immediate suffering, setting in motion God's greater plan. This highlights how God orchestrates even seemingly random or painful events to fulfill His ultimate purposes, much as evil intentions are often turned for good (Gen 50:20). Joseph, like a lost sheep, is "found" by this man only to be then led to his "wolves" – his brothers – initiating his path to becoming the savior of his family. The encounter demonstrates God's sovereignty over every detail, guiding human steps even when those steps lead into hardship, ultimately for the salvation and spiritual growth of His people.