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Genesis 37:10

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And he told [it] to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What [is] this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

And he told {H5608} it to his father {H1}, and to his brethren {H251}: and his father {H1} rebuked {H1605} him, and said {H559} unto him, What is this dream {H2472} that thou hast dreamed {H2492}? Shall I and thy mother {H517} and thy brethren {H251} indeed {H935} come {H935} to bow down {H7812} ourselves to thee to the earth {H776}?

He told his father too, as well as his brothers, but his father rebuked him: "What is this dream you have had? Do you really expect me, your mother and your brothers to come and prostrate ourselves before you on the ground?"

He told his father and brothers, but his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream that you have had? Will your mother and brothers and I actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”

And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?

Commentary

Genesis 37:10 captures a critical moment in the unfolding narrative of Joseph, detailing the immediate reactions of his father Jacob and his brothers to Joseph's second highly provocative dream. This verse underscores the deep-seated family tensions and sets the stage for the dramatic events that follow.

Context

This verse is situated within the complex family life of Jacob, where Joseph, as the son of Jacob's beloved Rachel, was openly favored by his father. Joseph had already shared a previous dream where sheaves representing his brothers bowed down to his own sheaf. This second dream, where the sun, moon, and eleven stars (representing Jacob, his mother, and his eleven brothers) bowed to him, was even more audacious. In the ancient Near East, dreams were often considered significant vehicles for divine communication or prophetic insight, making Joseph's recounting of such visions highly impactful and, in this case, deeply unsettling to his family. The existing resentment among the brothers, fueled by Jacob's clear favoritism (see Genesis 37:3), intensified significantly upon hearing this dream.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation and Prophecy: Joseph's dreams were not mere fantasies but genuine prophetic messages from God, foretelling his future position of authority and provision over his family. Despite the family's initial disbelief, God's sovereign plan was being unveiled.
  • Family Conflict and Jealousy: The dream served to exacerbate the already strained relationship between Joseph and his brothers, leading to increased envy and animosity. Jacob's reaction, a direct rebuke, indicates his concern over the dream's implications for family hierarchy and harmony. However, the text notes in the subsequent verse that Jacob "observed the saying" (Genesis 37:11), suggesting he might have recognized a deeper, perhaps divine, significance.
  • Human Misunderstanding vs. Divine Sovereignty: Jacob's incredulous question, "Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?", highlights the human inability to grasp the full scope of God's plans. This very scenario, however, would literally come to pass years later, demonstrating God's unfailing ability to bring His purposes to fruition despite human resistance and unforeseen circumstances.

Significance and Application

This verse is foundational to understanding Joseph's entire life story and his eventual role in preserving the lineage of Israel. The dreams, though initially leading to Joseph's suffering and separation from his family, were ultimately fulfilled when famine forced his brothers, and eventually Jacob, to bow down to Joseph in Egypt as he administered the nation's food supply.

From this passage, we can draw several enduring lessons:

  • God's divine plans often unfold in ways that are initially perplexing or even offensive to human understanding.
  • The destructive power of envy and jealousy is clearly illustrated through the brothers' reaction, which ultimately led to their treacherous plot against Joseph.
  • Despite human opposition, misunderstanding, or seemingly insurmountable obstacles, God's sovereign purposes will ultimately prevail. Joseph's arduous journey was an intricate part of God's larger plan to preserve his family and the future nation of Israel.
  • We are called to exercise patience and trust in God's perfect timing, even when circumstances appear to contradict His promises.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Genesis 27:29 (5 votes)

    Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed [be] every one that curseth thee, and blessed [be] he that blesseth thee.

  • Philippians 2:10 (2 votes)

    That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;

  • Philippians 2:11 (2 votes)

    And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

  • Genesis 37:7 (2 votes)

    For, behold, we [were] binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

  • Isaiah 60:14 (2 votes)

    The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.