Thematic Bible

Themes in Genesis 37

AMP

Themes in Genesis 37

Genesis 37:1 (show verse)

So Jacob (Israel) lived in the land where his father [Isaac] had been a stranger (sojourner, resident alien), in the land of Canaan.

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jacob » Lives in the land of canaan

These are the generations of Jacob.

Joseph, when he was seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers [Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher]; the boy was with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s [secondary] wives; and Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.

Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Bilhah » Rachael's servant » Bears children by jacob
Concubinage » Laws concerning » Called wives
Talebearer » Instances of » Joseph
Zilpah » Mother of gad and asher by jacob

Genesis 37:3 (show verse)

Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a [distinctive] multicolored tunic.

Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Children » Parents, duty to » Partiality toward
Children » Partiality of parents among » Jacob for joseph
Clothing » Coats
Dress » Clothing » Coats
Favoritism » Instances of » Jacob for joseph
Garments » Colors of, mentioned » Different colors
Gifts » Parental gifts » expression of love » A beautiful garment
Home » Parental indulgence » Partiality of parents
Home » Parental indulgence » Parental pride
Home » parental love » Parental feelings and emotions » A beautiful garment
jacob » His partiality for his son, joseph, and the consequent jealousy of his other sons
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's favorite child
Parents » Examples of fathers' love » Partiality
Parents » Parental affection exemplified by » jacob
Parents » Prayers » Pride
Parents » Partiality of » Jacob for joseph
Parents » Parental gifts » expression of love » A beautiful garment
Partiality » Parents

Genesis 37:4 (show verse)

His brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than all of his brothers; so they hated him and could not [find it within themselves to] speak to him on friendly terms.

Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Children » Partiality of parents among » Jacob for joseph
Envy » Instances of » Joseph's brethren, of joseph
Family » Trouble instances of » Joseph and his brethren
Favoritism » Instances of » Jacob for joseph
Hatred » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren
Hatred » Examples of » Joseph's brethren
Home » Family trouble » Instances of » Joseph and his brethren
jacob » His partiality for his son, joseph, and the consequent jealousy of his other sons
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Jealousy » Examples of human » Joseph's brethren
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's favorite child
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Man » Jealousy of » Joseph's brethren
Man's » Jealousy » Joseph's brethren
Parents » Parental affection exemplified by » jacob
Partiality » Its effect on other children
Sin » Its progressiveness exemplified in joseph's brothers » 1. Jealousy
Trouble » Business family » Joseph and his brethren

Genesis 37:5 (show verse)

Now Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him even more.

Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Dream » Instances of » Of joseph, concerning the sheaves
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Joseph
Envy » Instances of » Joseph's brethren, of joseph
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Summary of his life » A youthful dreamer
Joseph » Son of jacob » His prophetic dreams of his fortunes in egypt

Genesis 37:6 (show verse)

He said to them, “Please listen to [the details of] this dream which I have dreamed;

Genesis 37:7 (show verse)

we [brothers] were binding sheaves [of grain stalks] in the field, and lo, my sheaf [suddenly] got up and stood upright and remained standing; and behold, your sheaves stood all around my sheaf and bowed down [in respect].”

Agriculture » Operations in » Binding
Agriculture or husbandry » Operations in » Binding
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Bowing » In obeisance
Dream » Instances of » Of joseph, concerning the sheaves
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Joseph
Envy » Instances of » Joseph's brethren, of joseph
Harvest » Persons engaged in » Binders
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Summary of his life » A youthful dreamer
Joseph » Son of jacob » His prophetic dreams of his fortunes in egypt
Obeisance » Obeisance
Reaping » Corn after, was bound up into sheaves

Genesis 37:8 (show verse)

His brothers said to him, “Are you actually going to reign over us? Are you really going to rule and govern us as your subjects?” So they hated him even more for [telling them about] his dreams and for his [arrogant] words.

Genesis 37:9 (show verse)

But Joseph dreamed still another dream, and told it to his brothers [as well]. He said, “See here, I have again dreamed a dream, and lo, [this time I saw] eleven stars and the sun and the moon bowed down [in respect] to me!”

Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Dream » Instances of » Of joseph, concerning the sheaves
Dreams » Mentioned in scripture, of » Joseph
Envy » Instances of » Joseph's brethren, of joseph
jacob » Joseph's prophetic dream concerning
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Summary of his life » A youthful dreamer
Joseph » Son of jacob » His prophetic dreams of his fortunes in egypt
Moon » Joseph's dream concerning
The sun » Illustrative » Of supreme rulers

Genesis 37:10 (show verse)

He told it to his father as well as to his brothers; but his father rebuked him and said to him [in disbelief], “What is [the meaning of] this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow down to the ground [in respect] before you?”

Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Dream » Instances of » Of joseph, concerning the sheaves
Envy » Instances of » Joseph's brethren, of joseph
jacob » Joseph's prophetic dream concerning
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His prophetic dreams of his fortunes in egypt
Salutations » By bowing

Genesis 37:11 (show verse)

Joseph’s brothers were envious and jealous of him, but his father kept the words [of Joseph] in mind [wondering about their meaning].

Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Envy » Forbidden » Examples of
Envy » Instances of » Joseph's brethren, of joseph
Envy » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren
Home » Family » Hard to bear causes of » Envy
jacob » Joseph's prophetic dream concerning
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Joseph » Son of jacob » His prophetic dreams of his fortunes in egypt

Genesis 37:12 (show verse)

Then his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock near Shechem.

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Shechem » General references to
Shechem » Also called sichem and sychem, a district in the central part of the land of canaan » The flocks and herds of jacob kept in
or shechem Sychar » General references to

Genesis 37:13 (show verse)

Israel (Jacob) said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing [the flock] at Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he said, “Here I am [ready to obey you].”

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Shechem » Also called sichem and sychem, a district in the central part of the land of canaan » The flocks and herds of jacob kept in

Genesis 37:14 (show verse)

Then Jacob said to him, “Please go and see whether everything is all right with your brothers and all right with the flock; then bring word [back] to me.” So he sent him from the Hebron Valley, and he went to Shechem.

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Care » Family » Solicitude
Children » Promises to special promises to children, examples of » Solicitude for
Family » Cares » Parental solicitude
Home » parental love » Parental feelings and emotions » Solicitude
Parents » Prayers » Solicitude
Shechem » Also called sichem and sychem, a district in the central part of the land of canaan » The flocks and herds of jacob kept in
Valleys » Mentioned in scripture » Hebron

Genesis 37:15 (show verse)

Now a certain man found Joseph, and saw that he was wandering around and had lost his way in the field; so the man asked him, “What are you looking for?”

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Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat

Genesis 37:16 (show verse)

He said, “I am looking for my brothers. Please tell me where they are pasturing our flocks.”

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Genesis 37:17 (show verse)

Then the man said, “[They were here, but] they have moved on from this place. I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

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Dothan » A district » A district

Genesis 37:18 (show verse)

And when they saw him from a distance, even before he came close to them, they plotted to kill him.

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Conspiracy » General examples of
Conspiracy » Instances of » Joseph's brother, against joseph
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Murder » The wicked » Devise
Plotting » General examples of
Sin » Its progressiveness exemplified in joseph's brothers » 2. Conspiracy

Genesis 37:19 (show verse)

They said to one another, “Look, here comes this dreamer.

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Conspiracy » Instances of » Joseph's brother, against joseph
Envy » Instances of » Joseph's brethren, of joseph
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Malice » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren
Reviling and reproaching » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren

Genesis 37:20 (show verse)

Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits (cisterns, underground water storage); then we will say [to our father], ‘A wild animal killed and devoured him’; and we shall see what will become of his dreams!”

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Conspiracy » Instances of » Joseph's brother, against joseph
Envy » Instances of » Joseph's brethren, of joseph
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Malice » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren
Murder » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren
Sin » Its progressiveness exemplified in joseph's brothers » 3. Murder

Genesis 37:21 (show verse)

Now Reuben [the eldest] heard this and rescued him from their hands and said, “Let us not take his life.”

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Brother » Reuben's love for joseph
intercession » Christ's intercession with the father for mankind » Examples of man's with his fellow-men
intercession » Instances of » Reuben for joseph
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Prayer » Intercessory Christ's intercession with the father for mankind » Examples of man's with his fellow-men
Reuben » Adroitly seeks to save joseph from the conspiracy of his brothers

Genesis 37:22 (show verse)

Reuben said to them, “Do not shed his blood, but [instead] throw him [alive] into the pit that is here in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him [to kill him]”—[he said this so] that he could rescue him from them and return him [safely] to his father.

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Brother » Reuben's love for joseph
intercession » Instances of » Reuben for joseph
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Murder » Saints » Should warn others against
Reuben » Adroitly seeks to save joseph from the conspiracy of his brothers

Genesis 37:23 (show verse)

Now when Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him of his tunic, the [distinctive] multicolored tunic which he was wearing;

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Reuben » Adroitly seeks to save joseph from the conspiracy of his brothers

Genesis 37:24 (show verse)

then they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Cruelty » Examples of
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Reuben » Adroitly seeks to save joseph from the conspiracy of his brothers

Genesis 37:25 (show verse)

Then they sat down to eat their meal. When they looked up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead [east of the Jordan], with their camels bearing ladanum resin [for perfume] and balm and myrrh, going on their way to carry the cargo down to Egypt.

Balm » A medicinal balsam
Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Business life » Miscellaneous topics relating to » Merchants
Camel » Uses of » For carrying burdens
Camels » Used for » Carrying burdens
Commerce » Carried on by means of caravans
Commerce » Carried on by » Ishmaelites
Commerce » Articles of » Balm
Egypt » Exports of
Egypt » Imports of
Exports » From gilead » Of spices
Gilead » Exported spices » Balm » myrrh
Imports » Of egypt » Spices
Ishmaelites » Merchants of, buy joseph
The ishmaelites » Were the merchants of the east
The ishmaelites » Travelled in large companies or caravans
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Midianites » Called ishmaelites
myrrh » Traffic in
Reuben » Adroitly seeks to save joseph from the conspiracy of his brothers
Spices » Exported from gilead
Travelers » Often collected together and formed caravans

Genesis 37:26 (show verse)

Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood (murder)?

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
intercession » Christ's intercession with the father for mankind » Examples of man's with his fellow-men
intercession » Instances of » Judah for joseph
Ishmaelites » Merchants of, buy joseph
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Judah » Son of jacob
Judah » Son of jacob » Intercedes for joseph's life when his brothers were about to kill him, and proposes that they sell him to the ishmaelites
Prayer » Intercessory Christ's intercession with the father for mankind » Examples of man's with his fellow-men
Reuben » Adroitly seeks to save joseph from the conspiracy of his brothers
Servant » Instances of » Joseph
Worldliness » Instances of » Judah

Genesis 37:27 (show verse)

Come, let us [instead] sell him to these Ishmaelites [and Midianites] and not lay our hands on him, because he is our brother and our flesh.” So his brothers listened to him and agreed.

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Commerce » Carried on by means of caravans
Commerce » Ishmaelites
intercession » Instances of » Judah for joseph
Ishmaelites » Merchants of, buy joseph
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Joseph » Son of jacob » Sold as a slave into egypt
Judah » Son of jacob » Intercedes for joseph's life when his brothers were about to kill him, and proposes that they sell him to the ishmaelites
Reuben » Adroitly seeks to save joseph from the conspiracy of his brothers
Servant » Instances of » Joseph
Worldliness » Instances of » Judah

Genesis 37:28 (show verse)

Then as the Midianite [and Ishmaelite] traders were passing by, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And so they took Joseph [as a captive] into Egypt.

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Commerce » Persons engaged in, called » Merchants
Commerce » Articles of » Slaves
Commerce » Ishmaelites
Egypt » History of israel in » Joseph sold into
Ishmaelites » Called midianites
Ishmaelites » Merchants of, buy joseph
jacob » Summary of his character » Disciplined by affliction
Jealousy » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren
Joseph » Son of jacob » Sold as a slave into egypt
Men » Traffic in
Midianites » Engaged in commerce
Midianites » Called ishmaelites
Midianites » Buy joseph and sell him to potiphar
Midianites » Were merchantmen
Money » Was given » For slaves
Reuben » Adroitly seeks to save joseph from the conspiracy of his brothers
Servant » Bond » Bought and sold
Servant » Instances of » Joseph
Silver » Used as money from the earliest age

Genesis 37:29 (show verse)

Now Reuben [unaware of what had happened] returned to the pit, and [to his great alarm found that] Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his clothes [in deep sorrow].

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Deception » Instances of » In representing to their father that joseph had been destroyed by wild beasts
Falsehood » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, in deceiving their father into a belief that joseph was killed by wild beasts
Ishmaelites » Merchants of, buy joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » Is falsely reported to his father as killed by wild beasts
Reuben » Adroitly seeks to save joseph from the conspiracy of his brothers

Genesis 37:30 (show verse)

He rejoined his brothers and said, “The boy is not there; as for me, where shall I go [to hide from my father]?”

Genesis 37:31 (show verse)

Then they took Joseph’s tunic, slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood;

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Deceit » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren
Deception » Instances of » In representing to their father that joseph had been destroyed by wild beasts
Falsehood » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, in deceiving their father into a belief that joseph was killed by wild beasts
Goat » The young of » Called kids
Ishmaelites » Merchants of, buy joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » Is falsely reported to his father as killed by wild beasts
Lying » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren

Genesis 37:32 (show verse)

and they brought the multicolored tunic to their father, saying, “We have found this; please examine it and decide whether or not it is your son’s tunic.”

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
Deceit » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren
Deception » Instances of » In representing to their father that joseph had been destroyed by wild beasts
Falsehood » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, in deceiving their father into a belief that joseph was killed by wild beasts
Ishmaelites » Merchants of, buy joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » Is falsely reported to his father as killed by wild beasts
Lying » Exemplified » Joseph's brethren

Genesis 37:33 (show verse)

He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces!”

Genesis 37:34 (show verse)

So Jacob tore his clothes [in grief], put on sackcloth and mourned many days for his son.

Bereavement » Instances of » Jacob, of joseph
Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Bible stories for children » The beautiful coat
The Dead » Mourning for, often » Lasted many days
The Dead » Mourning for, often » Testified by rending the garments
Deception » Instances of » In representing to their father that joseph had been destroyed by wild beasts
Falsehood » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, in deceiving their father into a belief that joseph was killed by wild beasts
Ishmaelites » Merchants of, buy joseph
jacob » His grief over the loss of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » Is falsely reported to his father as killed by wild beasts
Sackcloth » Was worn » Girt about the loins
Sackcloth » Worn » By jacob
Sorrow » From bereavement » Of jacob for joseph

Genesis 37:35 (show verse)

Then all his sons and daughters attempted to console him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “I will go down to Sheol (the place of the dead) in mourning for my son.” And his father wept for him.

Bereavement » Instances of » Jacob, of joseph
Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Children » Grief occasioned by loss of
The Dead » Mourning for » Examples of grief
Deception » Instances of » In representing to their father that joseph had been destroyed by wild beasts
Falsehood » Instances of » Joseph's brothers, in deceiving their father into a belief that joseph was killed by wild beasts
Family » Examples of fathers' love » jacob
Fathers » Examples of fathers' love » jacob
Home » Examples of fathers' love » jacob
Ishmaelites » Merchants of, buy joseph
jacob » His grief over the loss of joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » His father's favorite child
Joseph » Son of jacob » Is falsely reported to his father as killed by wild beasts
Love » Examples of fathers' love » jacob
Love » Paternal » jacob
Love » Fathers » jacob
Mourning » Examples of grief
Parents » Examples of fathers' love » jacob
Paternal love » Examples of fathers' love » jacob
Sorrow » From bereavement » Of jacob for joseph
Weeping » Instances of » Of jacob

Genesis 37:36 (show verse)

Meanwhile, in Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph [as a slave] to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the [royal] guard.

Bible stories for children » The boy captive who became prime minister
Captain » Of the guard
Commerce » Articles of » Slaves
Egypt » Exports of
Egypt » Imports of
Egyptians » Slaves bought by
Ishmaelites » Called midianites
Ishmaelites » Merchants of, buy joseph
Joseph » Son of jacob » Is bought by potiphar, an officer (lxx has "eunuch") of pharaoh
Midianites » Engaged in commerce
Midianites » Buy joseph and sell him to potiphar
Potiphar » Joseph's master
Servant » Bond » Bought and sold
Servant » Instances of » Joseph
Servants » Slaves or bond » By purchase