Genesis 37 8

Genesis 37:8 kjv

And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

Genesis 37:8 nkjv

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.

Genesis 37:8 niv

His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.

Genesis 37:8 esv

His brothers said to him, "Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?" So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Genesis 37:8 nlt

His brothers responded, "So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them.

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 8 meaning

Genesis 37:8 describes the strong negative reaction of Joseph's brothers to his second dream, where he narrated their sheaves bowing down to his sheaf. This verse shows their intense indignation and disbelief that he, their younger brother, would presume to rule over them. Their questions "Shall you indeed reign over us? or shall you indeed have dominion over us?" convey contempt and challenge. As a direct result of these dreams and his telling of them, their hatred towards Joseph escalated further.

Genesis 37 8 Context

Genesis chapter 37 marks a significant turning point in the patriarchal narratives, shifting focus to Jacob's favorite son, Joseph. Joseph is seventeen, known for being favored by Jacob, receiving a "coat of many colors," and bringing bad reports about his brothers. This pre-existing family tension forms the immediate backdrop. Joseph then recounts two vivid, divinely-inspired dreams. The first (Gen 37:7) describes his brothers' sheaves bowing to his, explicitly indicating their subservience. It is this dream, directly asserting Joseph's future dominion over his older siblings, that provokes the outburst recorded in verse 8. Historically and culturally, in ancient Near Eastern patriarchal societies, birth order typically dictated authority, and the notion of a younger brother ruling over older ones was an absolute inversion of the expected social hierarchy. Dreams were also considered legitimate avenues for divine communication, adding gravity to Joseph's claims and thus further fueling his brothers' fear, envy, and ultimately, hatred.

Genesis 37 8 Word analysis

• And his brothers said to him: This shows a direct, confrontational response. The "brothers" emphasize the close familial relationship being strained by intense animosity.
• Shall you indeed reign over us?
  • הֲמָלֹךְ תִּמְלֹךְ (ha-mālôkh timlôkh): This is a Hebrew infinitive absolute construction (mālôkh, "to reign" + timlôkh, "you shall reign"). It intensifies the verb, expressing absolute disbelief, scorn, and strong indignation. It can be translated as "Are you truly to be king over us?" or "Will you surely rule over us?" It conveys a sense of shock and affront at the very idea.
  • מָלֹךְ (mālôkh): The root means "to rule," "to be king," "to govern." It signifies sovereign authority, implying a position of political power and control, possibly even judicial power.
  • עָלֵינוּ (ʿalênû): "Over us." This directly identifies the implied subjects of Joseph's presumed rule – his own older brothers.
• or shall you indeed have dominion over us?
  • וְאִם־מָשׁוֹל תִּמְשֹׁל בָּנוּ (wĕʾim-māšôl timšōl bānû): Another infinitive absolute construction (māšôl, "to rule" + timšōl, "you shall rule"), parallel to the previous one, reiterating and reinforcing their indignant question. The "וְאִם" (wĕʾim, "and if") emphasizes a rhetorical "surely not" or an impossible thought, reinforcing their incredulity and rejection.
  • מָשׁוֹל (māšôl): The root means "to rule," "to govern," "to have dominion." It also has connotations of absolute power, but also to make parables or use proverbs, a nuance not relevant here but interesting for the breadth of the root. Here, it complements and strengthens "mālôkh."
  • בָּנוּ (bānû): "Among us" or "over us." Similar to 'alênû, it designates the subjects of this unwelcome dominion.
• So they hated him even more:
  • וַיּוֹסִפוּ עוֹד שְׂנֹא אוֹתוֹ (wayyôsīpū ʿôd śnōʾ ʾôṯô): "And they added yet more to hate him." "וַיּוֹסִפוּ" (wayyôsīpū) means "they added" or "they continued to increase." The word "עוֹד" (ʿôd) means "yet" or "still," further emphasizing the escalation of existing hatred (Gen 37:4 had already mentioned their hatred).
  • שְׂנֹא אוֹתוֹ (śnōʾ ʾôṯô): "To hate him." The hatred here is a deep-seated animosity, not just a passing annoyance. It is the core emotion that drives their later actions.
• for his dreams and for his words:
  • עַל־חֲלֹמֹתָיו וְעַל־דְּבָרָיו (ʿal-ḥălomōtāw wĕʿal-dĕbārāw): "On account of his dreams and on account of his words." The preposition "עַל" (ʿal) means "on account of" or "concerning." This clearly states the direct cause of their intensified hatred.
  • חֲלֹמֹתָיו (ḥălomōtāw): "His dreams." The divine revelations themselves were offensive to them.
  • דְּבָרָיו (dĕbārāw): "His words." This implies that Joseph's act of verbally recounting the dreams, thereby asserting his future position, was a key irritant. It was not just the dreams' content but his open articulation of them that solidified their animosity.

Words-group analysis:

• "Shall you indeed reign over us? or shall you indeed have dominion over us?": This rhetorical question is a double emphasis of strong indignation, disbelief, and outright rejection of the very idea of Joseph's preeminence. The repetitive use of infinitive absolutes (mālôkh timlôkh, māšôl timšōl) serves to underline their fury at such a thought.
• "So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words": This phrase succinctly connects the cause and effect. The "dreams" are the divinely inspired content, but the "words" are Joseph's vocal communication of them, indicating his perceived audacity or arrogance in sharing what challenged the existing familial hierarchy. This heightened hatred serves as the narrative catalyst for the ensuing plot, particularly their eventual plot against him.

Genesis 37 8 Bonus section

• Irony of Fulfillment: The brothers' intense hatred and their subsequent actions (selling Joseph into slavery) were the very means through which God positioned Joseph to fulfill these exact dreams in Gen 42:6 and 44:14, and 45:7-8, when they bowed down before him, reliant on him for sustenance.
• Christological Parallels: Joseph's rejection by his brothers, their intent to kill him, and his ultimate exaltation to save his family are profound types foreshadowing Christ. Jesus, too, was hated, rejected by His own people ("His own did not receive Him," Jn 1:11), and ultimately crucified, yet exalted to save those who rejected Him (Acts 3:13-15). The parallel question "We do not want this man to reign over us" in Lk 19:14 is particularly striking.
• Joseph's Naivety (or Divine Command?): Scholars debate whether Joseph was naive or prideful in sharing these highly inflammatory dreams. However, from a biblical perspective, dreams were a legitimate form of divine communication. Joseph's sharing might not have been out of arrogance, but an honest communication of what he perceived as divine revelation. It was the brothers' carnal interpretation and envy that transformed it into fuel for hatred.
• Human vs. Divine Will: This verse immediately establishes the tension between human will (the brothers' rejection and hatred) and God's sovereign will (the predestined fulfillment of the dreams). Despite overwhelming opposition, God's plan cannot be thwarted.

Genesis 37 8 Commentary

Genesis 37:8 captures the profound indignation and growing hatred Joseph's brothers harbored, inflamed by his explicit dreams of future dominion. Their rhetorical questions, amplified by the Hebrew infinitive absolute, convey contempt and outright rejection of any notion that Joseph, the favored younger son, could ascend to a position of authority over them. This verse highlights the deep-seated envy and pride that blinded them to the possibility of divine orchestration through an unexpected vessel. Their intensified hatred for both the prophetic content of the dreams and Joseph's audacity in vocalizing them sets the stage for their wicked intentions, ironically becoming the unwitting instruments through which God would bring the very dreams they hated to pass. This narrative beautifully illustrates God's sovereign hand, able to fulfill His purposes despite and even through human sin and malice.