Genesis 37:2 kjv

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

Genesis 37:2 nkjv

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 a bad report of them to his father.

Genesis 37:2 niv

This is the account of Jacob's family line. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.

Genesis 37:2 esv

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 a bad report of them to their father.

Genesis 37:2 nlt

This is the account of Jacob and his family. When Joseph was seventeen years old, he often tended his father's flocks. He worked for his half brothers, the sons of his father's wives Bilhah and Zilpah. But Joseph reported to his father some of the bad things his brothers were doing.

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 2 Meaning

Genesis 37:2 opens the main narrative of Joseph, beginning with the common "These are the generations" (Hebrew: tol'dot) formula found throughout Genesis. It establishes Joseph, at seventeen years old, as a central figure in Jacob's household, noting his youthful association with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah while pasturing the flock. Critically, the verse reveals that Joseph brought an "evil report" or "bad report" about his brothers to their father, Jacob, immediately introducing the profound familial conflict that drives much of the ensuing story and sets the stage for the dramatic events and God's sovereign plan.

Genesis 37 2 Context

Genesis 37:2 marks a significant transition within the book of Genesis. It introduces the "generations of Jacob," moving the narrative's focus from the lineage of Esau (chapter 36), Jacob's brother, to the continuation of the line of promise through Jacob's own family, particularly Joseph. This verse directly opens the lengthy Joseph narrative (Gen 37-50), which is foundational to the formation of Israel as a nation and their descent into Egypt. The broader context includes Jacob's large family, born to multiple wives and maidservants, leading to complex and often dysfunctional relationships, marked by favoritism (Jacob's love for Rachel, then Joseph) and intense sibling rivalry that foreshadows the events to come. Joseph's initial role as a reporter about his brothers' behavior immediately positions him in conflict with them, escalating existing tensions within the family.

Genesis 37 2 Word analysis

• These are the generations (תּוֹלְדֹת, tol'dot): A pivotal Hebrew literary marker in Genesis, meaning "account of origins" or "descendants." It introduces new sections focusing on key figures or family lines. Here, it marks the shift from Esau's line to Jacob's, signaling Joseph as the central figure of this new development, even though Jacob is named. It indicates a theological progression towards the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.
• of Jacob. (יַעֲקֹב, Ya'akov): Despite the tol'dot being "of Jacob," the ensuing narrative immediately shifts to Joseph, indicating Joseph's crucial role in Jacob's continuing story and God's plan for Jacob's descendants. Jacob's family history is intertwined with Joseph's.
• Joseph, (יוֹסֵף, Yosef): The primary subject. His name means "He adds" or "May he add," prophetically hinting at his future role in preserving the family and increasing them in Egypt.
• being seventeen years old, (שֶׁבַע עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה, sheva 'esreh shanah): Highlights his youth, making his position of favoritism and his actions (reporting) more impactful and potentially perceived as immature or arrogant by his older brothers. This age implies a time of transition from childhood to young adulthood.
• was pasturing the flock (רֹעֶה אֶת־הַצֹּאן, ro'eh et-ha-tzo'n): A common and esteemed occupation in their nomadic pastoral society, shared by patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and later David. However, the context shows discord even in this seemingly mundane activity.
• with his brothers. (אֶת־אֶחָיו, et-echav): While a shared activity, it immediately hints at the presence of the problematic brothers, setting the scene for conflict.
• He was a boy (וְהוּא נַעַר, v'hu na'ar): "Boy" (נַעַר, na'ar) implies youthfulness, but culturally also a junior status or one still under tutelage, not yet a fully independent man. This adds to the tension with his older, more experienced brothers. It might also subtly highlight his less robust character in contrast to the rugged older brothers.
• with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, (אֶת־בְּנֵי בִלְהָה וּבְנֵי זִלְפָּה, et-b'nei Bilhah u'v'nei Zilpah): These are Dan, Naphtali (from Bilhah), and Gad, Asher (from Zilpah). They were maidservants given by Rachel and Leah to Jacob (Gen 30:1-13). Joseph, as Rachel's son, perhaps associated more closely with the sons of the maidservants, who might also have experienced some degree of social distinction within the family. This segregation might suggest social hierarchies or even that these particular brothers were known for more unruly behavior.
• his father's wives. (נְשֵׁי אָבִיו, neshei aviv): Refers to Bilhah and Zilpah in a legal context, signifying their legitimate, though secondary, marital status to Jacob, producing legitimate children.
• And Joseph brought to his father a bad report of them. (וַיָּבֵא יוֹסֵף אֶת־דִּבָּתָם רָעָה אֶל־אֲבִיהֶם., va-yave Yosef et-dibbatam ra'ah el-avihem): This is the climactic statement. "Bad report" (dibbatam ra'ah) suggests an account of their evil actions or slander. It immediately creates animosity. Whether the report was entirely true, exaggerated, or an act of self-righteousness on Joseph's part is debated, but its consequence is undeniable: it highlights existing sin in the family and sparks intense hatred from the brothers. This act of "telling tales" underscores Joseph's unique, isolated position and contributes to his brothers' resentment.

Genesis 37 2 Bonus section

The seemingly innocent detail of Joseph pasturing the flock with the "sons of Bilhah and Zilpah" rather than the sons of Leah (Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun) and his full brother Benjamin (who was much younger and not with them) may be significant. This grouping hints at a social dynamic or existing rivalries, suggesting a separation or distinct associations among Jacob's many sons. It also might suggest that Joseph, still quite young, gravitated towards those perceived as junior or from a lower status in the household, rather than the elder or more prominent sons. This subtly sets him apart even before his brothers' more overt hostility due to favoritism and dreams. Some scholars suggest this grouping with the sons of the maidservants could even imply they were the ones most likely to engage in disreputable behavior, reinforcing the context of Joseph's "bad report" about them specifically. This initial snapshot of familial relationships immediately signals deep-seated issues that are not merely surface-level squabbles but ingrained divisions.

Genesis 37 2 Commentary

Genesis 37:2 serves as the abrupt and tension-filled introduction to the epic of Joseph. The use of the tol'dot formula positions Joseph's narrative as the central "generations" through which God's covenant promises to Jacob will proceed, even as the previous tol'dot of Esau provided a contrast of those who would not carry the covenant line. Joseph's youth at seventeen, paired with his association with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah—who may have been seen as lower in status or perhaps less disciplined than the sons of Leah or Rachel herself—subtly highlights his unique and often isolated position within the family.

The most critical element is Joseph's act of bringing "a bad report" about his brothers to Jacob. This phrase implies a negative disclosure, perhaps truthful observations of misconduct, but possibly also a naive or self-righteous act on Joseph's part that inflamed an already tense familial environment characterized by Jacob's blatant favoritism. This single act immediately sets the stage for the brothers' deep-seated hatred, which eventually leads to Joseph's sale into slavery. Thus, the verse doesn't just introduce Joseph; it establishes the primary conflict, foreshadows the brothers' villainy, and subtly sets in motion God's sovereign plan that will use human sin to accomplish divine purposes of preservation and blessing for the future nation of Israel. It portrays a flawed family through which a divine purpose will still prevail.

• Example for practical usage: For believers, this verse underscores how discord in a family can arise from varied factors, including perceived favoritism and tattling. It serves as a reminder for individuals, especially in families, to seek wisdom in handling information about others, as careless words, even if truthful, can sow deep resentment. It also illustrates how even through familial dysfunction and human flaws, God works out His greater purpose, making crooked paths straight for His children.