Genesis 37 9

Genesis 37:9 kjv

And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.

Genesis 37:9 nkjv

Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, "Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me."

Genesis 37:9 niv

Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

Genesis 37:9 esv

Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, "Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me."

Genesis 37:9 nlt

Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. "Listen, I have had another dream," he said. "The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!"

Genesis 37 verses

Genesis 37 9 meaning

This verse describes Joseph's second prophetic dream, in which he saw the sun, the moon, and eleven stars bowing down to him. This dream vividly foreshadowed his future position of authority and preeminence, where his father, mother, and all his brothers would show him great homage and submission, confirming God's specific plan for his life.

Genesis 37 9 Context

Genesis chapter 37 marks a significant turn in the narrative of Jacob's family, introducing Joseph as the favored son. His colorful tunic and prophetic dreams immediately set him apart and fuel the envy of his ten older brothers. The previous verse, Genesis 37:8, explicitly states the brothers' anger and their perception that Joseph intended to "reign over" or "have dominion" over them based on his first dream of sheaves bowing. This verse, Gen 37:9, recounts Joseph's second dream, amplifying the imagery of his preeminence by including the cosmic symbols of the sun, moon, and eleven stars. It confirms the profound and far-reaching nature of God's plan for Joseph, a plan that would affect his entire family, even his parents. This context highlights the conflict between divine purpose revealed through dreams and human sin (envy, hatred, pride), ultimately setting the stage for Joseph's descent into Egypt and subsequent exaltation. Culturally, dreams were widely accepted as channels for divine or supernatural communication in the Ancient Near East, making Joseph's recounting impactful and understandable to his audience. The immediate and clear interpretation by his family underlines the accepted symbolism of celestial bodies representing a patriarchal family structure.

Genesis 37 9 Word analysis

• And he dreamed yet another dream: This emphasizes the recurrence and divine consistency. The Hebrew chalam (חָלַם), "dreamed," indicates a significant, possibly divine, vision. The repetition signifies importance.
• and told it his brethren: Joseph's nature or naivety; he genuinely shares, unaware of the deep offense it would cause.
• and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more: Reiterates the continuation of divine communication and Joseph's growing certainty, though possibly lacking wisdom in presentation.
• and, behold, the sun and the moon: shemesh (שֶׁמֶשׁ) for sun and yareach (יָרֵחַ) for moon. Immediately interpreted by Jacob (Gen 37:10) as his father and mother. This symbolizes the primary authorities of the patriarchal family unit. In Ancient Near Eastern contexts, celestial bodies were often deified, but here, they are mere figures in a divine plan, serving a human, subtly pointing to God's supremacy over pagan deities.
• and the eleven stars: kokavim (כּוֹכָבִים) for stars. Represents Joseph's eleven brothers (since he is the twelfth son), signifying their subordinate positions to him in the future. Stars in biblical contexts can also symbolize offspring or rulers.
• made obeisance to me: shachah (שָׁחָה), "bowed down," indicates deep reverence, submission, and homage, typically due to a superior. This term signifies worship when directed towards God, but here it clearly points to profound earthly subservience and respect. The act vividly illustrates future submission.

Words-group analysis

• "he dreamed yet another dream": Highlights a divine pattern and continuity, signifying that Joseph's experiences are part of a greater, pre-ordained plan rather than random occurrences.
• "the sun and the moon and the eleven stars": This cosmic imagery encompasses the entire familial sphere, representing the patriarchal structure. The use of celestial bodies elevates the dream's significance, hinting at God's omniscient orchestrating of events beyond human control.
• "made obeisance to me": This central phrase defines the dream's core message. It foretells a reversal of social hierarchy, where Joseph, the youngest favored son, would hold authority over his entire immediate family, including his parents.

Genesis 37 9 Bonus section

• Jacob's response in Gen 37:10-11 indicates he "kept the saying in mind." This implies that even though he rebuked Joseph, he did not entirely dismiss the prophetic nature of the dreams. This demonstrates a tension between immediate familial irritation and a deeper, reverent acknowledgement of potential divine communication.
• The detail of "eleven stars" signifies the totality of Joseph's immediate family structure, excluding himself, reinforcing the dream's clear message of every member, including his parents, acknowledging his supremacy. This is fulfilled not necessarily by them literally bowing down (though the brothers did), but by their dependence on Joseph for survival, showing true submission to his authority.
• The inclusion of his "mother" (moon) is particularly poignant as Rachel, Joseph's biological mother, was already deceased (Gen 35:19-20). This suggests that either the "moon" represents Leah (as Jacob's remaining principal wife and mother of most of his children), or it is a general symbolic representation of the matriarchal figure without necessitating her physical presence at the time of the bowing, signifying Jacob's family as a whole unit, living and departed. This reflects the symbolic nature of dreams that can transcend literal fulfillment.

Genesis 37 9 Commentary

Genesis 37:9 captures the second prophetic revelation granted to Joseph, a dream even grander in scope than the first. While the initial dream featured sheaves in a field, this one employs cosmic elements: the sun (father), moon (mother), and eleven stars (brothers), all bowing in submission to Joseph. The dream's symbolism was immediately clear to Jacob and his sons, fueling their intense resentment and sparking the chain of events that would lead to Joseph's suffering and eventual exaltation.

This verse profoundly illustrates God's sovereign hand in human affairs, demonstrating His ability to reveal future events and bring His plans to fruition despite human envy, betrayal, and suffering. It highlights Joseph's unique role as a vessel of divine revelation and a type of Christ—rejected by his own, subjected to trials, but ultimately exalted to a position of power to save his people. The immediate understanding of the dream's meaning underscores its divine origin and stark clarity. Despite Jacob's initial rebuke, he pondered the words, implicitly acknowledging their potential truth, a detail that hints at God preparing his heart. The scene sets in motion the foundational story of the deliverance of Israel through one man, culminating in their dwelling in Egypt, all according to God's precise and intricate foreknowledge.