Genesis 37:4 kjv

And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

Genesis 37:4 nkjv

But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

Genesis 37:4 niv

When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.

Genesis 37:4 esv

But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.

Genesis 37:4 nlt

But his brothers hated Joseph because their father loved him more than the rest of them. They couldn't say a kind word to him.

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 4 Meaning

Genesis 37:4 illustrates the severe dysfunction within Jacob's family, directly attributing the brothers' hatred for Joseph to Jacob's overt favoritism towards him. This intense dislike manifested as an inability to even exchange civil greetings, indicating a complete breakdown of healthy familial communication and setting the stage for deep animosity and future conflict.

Genesis 37 4 Context

Genesis 37:4 occurs at the beginning of the "Joseph story," which is a pivotal narrative in the Book of Genesis. It immediately follows the introduction of Joseph, highlighting his unique position as Jacob's son born in his old age from his beloved wife Rachel (Gen 37:2-3). Jacob's open display of favoritism, symbolized by the "coat of many colors" given to Joseph, directly precedes this verse. This favoritism rekindles the pattern of sibling rivalry and dysfunction seen in earlier patriarchal families, such as Isaac and Rebekah's favoritism causing division between Esau and Jacob. The verse sets the primary conflict for the rest of Joseph's narrative, explaining the root of his brothers' malice which eventually leads to his sale into slavery and the ensuing separation of the family. The context shows Jacob's human failings leading to bitter consequences for his household.

Genesis 37 4 Word analysis

• And: (וְ wǝ) A conjunctive, linking this consequence directly to the preceding actions, specifically Jacob's overt favoritism towards Joseph mentioned in Gen 37:3. It signals a cause-and-effect relationship.
• when his brothers: (אֶחָיו ’eḥayv) Refers specifically to the ten elder sons of Jacob (excluding Benjamin, born later), establishing the group responsible for the antagonism.
• saw: (רָאוּ ra’û) Implies a clear perception and undeniable observation. They not only knew of the favoritism but also visually perceived its effects and symbols (like the coat), intensifying their reaction.
• that their father loved him: (אֹהֵב אֹתוֹ ’ohēḇ ’ôṯô) Jacob’s specific affection. The word אֹהֵב (from אהב, ’āhaḇ) denotes deep affection and preferential treatment. This love was not merely private but displayed publicly, compounding the brothers' bitterness.
• more than all his brothers: (מִכָּל אֶחָיו mikkol ’eḥayv) This phrase emphasizes the degree of favoritism. Jacob’s love for Joseph superseded his affection for all other sons, making the discrimination evident and severe. It indicates a clear hierarchy of affection.
• they hated him: (וַיִּשְׂנְאוּ אֹתוֹ wayyiśnǝ’û ’ôṯô) A direct, intense, and active emotion. The verb שָׂנֵא (sane’) signifies strong abhorrence, far beyond simple dislike. This was a deep-seated enmity fueled by envy and resentment of their father’s partiality. This hatred directly counters the divine command to love (Lev 19:18).
• and could not speak: (וְלֹא יָכְלוּ דַּבְּרוֹ wǝlō’ yaklû dabbǝrô) The verb יָכְלוּ (yakal) implies an inability or powerlessness. Their hatred was so consuming that it made normal, peaceful interaction impossible. It wasn't just a choice to remain silent, but a complete breakdown in the capacity for cordial engagement.
• peaceably to him: (לְשָׁלוֹם ləšālôm) The Hebrew word שָׁלוֹם (shalom) means peace, wholeness, prosperity, or well-being. Here, לְשָׁלוֹם suggests being unable to speak in a friendly manner, with goodwill, or to offer a proper greeting. It indicates a lack of cordiality, a breakdown of communication, and an absence of a desire for his welfare. They could not even utter the customary greeting of shalom with sincerity, their hearts filled with malice.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers": This clause establishes the cause. The brothers’ negative reaction stems directly from their observation of Jacob’s unequal affection for Joseph. The "seeing" signifies their awareness of this preferential treatment, particularly embodied by symbols like the "ornate tunic" from the previous verse, deepening their envy.
• "they hated him": This is the direct effect of Jacob's favoritism. It’s a powerful statement of raw emotion, indicating not mere jealousy but a deep-seated antagonism. This hatred becomes the driving force behind the dramatic events that follow.
• "and could not speak peaceably to him": This clause describes the manifestation of their hatred. It means they were unable to even engage in common courtesy or civil conversation. Their animosity was so profound that any interaction would have been laced with hostility or utter silence. This signifies a severe breakdown in familial bonds and a premonition of conflict.

Genesis 37 4 Bonus section

The dysfunctional dynamics in Jacob's household in Gen 37:4 echo a persistent theme throughout Genesis, highlighting a repeated pattern of sibling rivalry, favoritism, and strife (e.g., Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau). This verse shows that Jacob, despite experiencing the pain of favoritism firsthand in his own youth, replicated the very same detrimental behavior with his own children, underscoring the generational nature of unresolved family issues if not addressed and overcome. The narrative implicitly teaches against the perils of showing partiality, a principle later reiterated in wisdom literature (Prov 28:21) and the New Testament (Jas 2:9). The inability of the brothers to speak "peaceably" is more than just awkwardness; it implies an intentional denial of well-being, a wish for ill-fortune, or even active hostility concealed beneath silence, laying bare their deep-seated malevolence. This foretells that their animosity would escalate far beyond verbal animosity, ultimately leading to direct harmful action against Joseph.

Genesis 37 4 Commentary

Genesis 37:4 succinctly reveals the core issues underlying the Joseph narrative: the destructive power of parental favoritism and the venomous nature of sibling hatred it breeds. Jacob, repeating the mistakes of his own parents, disproportionately loved Joseph, Rachel's firstborn, signaling his rejection of the elder sons. This favoritism was a deliberate act that the brothers could not ignore. Their hatred, intense and raw, transcended mere jealousy; it poisoned their hearts to such an extent that even basic human courtesy was impossible. The inability to speak "peaceably" to Joseph highlights the complete breakdown of familial warmth and the establishment of a hostile environment. This verse thus lays the foundation for Joseph's subsequent trials, demonstrating how human failings (Jacob's favoritism, the brothers' hatred) are woven into God's sovereign plan for the eventual deliverance and reconciliation of Jacob's family and the formation of the nation of Israel (Gen 50:20). It serves as a potent reminder of the perils of favoritism and the corrosive nature of unaddressed hatred within families, showing that love for one can, when unequally applied, create deep divisions among others.