Genesis 37:11

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Complete Jewish Bible:

His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

Berean Standard Bible:

And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.

American Standard Version:

And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And his brethren^{H251} envied^{H7065} him; but his father^{H1} observed^{H8104} the saying^{H1697}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Genesis 37:11

**Themes:**
Genesis 37:11 touches on several key themes:

1. **Favoritism and Jealousy:** The verse reflects the recurring theme of favoritism within families, as Jacob clearly prefers Joseph over his other sons, leading to jealousy among the brothers.
2. **Family Dynamics:** It highlights the complex relationships within a family, particularly the tension between siblings, which is a common motif throughout the Book of Genesis.
3. **Divine Plan:** The narrative suggests that Joseph's dreams are part of a larger, divine plan, which his brothers fail to recognize, setting the stage for future events.
4. **Communication and Misunderstanding:** The verse underscores the importance of communication and the dangers of misunderstanding, as Joseph's father, Jacob, notices the implications of his sons' words and actions, while the brothers' envy blinds them.

**Historical Context:**
The historical context of Genesis 37:11 is set within the patriarchal narratives of the Book of Genesis, which describe the lives and experiences of the ancestors of Israel. This period is characterized by nomadic lifestyles, with the family of Jacob (Israel) being central to the narrative. The verse is part of the story of Joseph, who is one of Jacob's sons and will later play a crucial role in the family's survival during a severe famine.

During this time, the family is living in the land of Canaan, and the social structure is tribal. The story of Joseph occurs before the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt, which will happen to Jacob's descendants after Joseph's generation. The narrative reflects the cultural norms of the time, including the importance of familial birthright and inheritance, which contribute to the brothers' jealousy of Joseph.

In summary, Genesis 37:11 is set within a familial and historical context where tribal dynamics, favoritism, and divine providence intersect, setting the stage for the broader narrative of Joseph's journey from favored son to influential leader in Egypt.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H251
   There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָח
   Transliteration: ʼâch
   Pronunciation: awkh
   Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7065
   There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: קָנָא
   Transliteration: qânâʼ
   Pronunciation: kaw-naw'
   Description: a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) zealous, i.e. (in a bad sense) jealous or envious; (be) envy(-ious), be (move to, provoke to) jealous(-y), [idiom] very, (be) zeal(-ous).
   
3. Strong's Number: H1
   There are 15773 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָב
   Transliteration: ʼâb
   Pronunciation: awb
   Description: a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application; chief, (fore-) father(-less), [idiom] patrimony, principal. Compare names in 'Abi-'.
   
4. Strong's Number: H8104
   There are 440 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁמַר
   Transliteration: shâmar
   Pronunciation: shaw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.; beward, be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark, look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save (self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
   
5. Strong's Number: H1697
   There are 1290 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: דָּבָר
   Transliteration: dâbâr
   Pronunciation: daw-baw'
   Description: from דָבַר; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause; act, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dearth, decree, deed, [idiom] disease, due, duty, effect, [phrase] eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-) ness, [phrase] glory, [phrase] harm, hurt, [phrase] iniquity, [phrase] judgment, language, [phrase] lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, [idiom] ought, [idiom] parts, [phrase] pertaining, [phrase] please, portion, [phrase] power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, [idiom] (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, [phrase] sign, [phrase] so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, [phrase] song, speech, [idiom] spoken, talk, task, [phrase] that, [idiom] there done, thing (concerning), thought, [phrase] thus, tidings, what(-soever), [phrase] wherewith, which, word, work.