Genesis 37:5

ยถ And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told [it] his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

And Joseph {H3130} dreamed {H2492} a dream {H2472}, and he told {H5046} it his brethren {H251}: and they hated {H8130} him yet the more {H3254}.

Yosef had a dream which he told his brothers, and that made them hate him all the more.

Then Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him even more.

And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Commentary

Genesis 37:5 marks a pivotal moment in the life of Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, setting the stage for the dramatic events that will unfold in his story and impact the entire family of Israel.

Context

This verse immediately follows an introduction to Joseph's youth and the existing animosity from his older brothers. Joseph was only seventeen years old (Genesis 37:2), and his father Jacob's preferential treatment, symbolized by the famous "coat of many colours" (Genesis 37:3), had already fueled his brothers' jealousy and hatred (Genesis 37:4). In this charged atmosphere, Joseph, perhaps naively, shares a dream that clearly portends his future elevation above them, further intensifying their resentment.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation through Dreams: God frequently communicated His will and future plans through dreams in the Old Testament, as seen with figures like Abraham, Jacob, and later, Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar. Joseph's dream is not merely a product of his subconscious but a prophetic insight into the divine plan for his life and, by extension, for the nascent nation of Israel. This is the first of two significant dreams Joseph has in this chapter; the second is recorded in Genesis 37:9.
  • Sibling Rivalry and Jealousy: The brothers' hatred was already established, but Joseph's dream, which depicted their sheaves bowing down to his, escalated their animosity to a dangerous level. This theme of sibling conflict is recurrent in Genesis, from Cain and Abel to Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau.
  • Foreshadowing of Future Authority: The dream is a clear premonition of Joseph's future position of power and authority in Egypt, where his brothers would indeed bow before him for sustenance during a famine. This dream, seemingly a cause of his immediate troubles, was actually a divine promise of his ultimate role in God's redemptive plan.
  • God's Sovereignty and Providence: Despite the human malice and jealousy, God's sovereign plan was unfolding. The brothers' actions, though wicked, ultimately served to position Joseph exactly where God intended him to be for the preservation of Jacob's family, illustrating how God can use evil intentions for good purposes.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "dreamed a dream" is a direct translation of a common Hebrew idiom, chalam chalom (ื—ึธืœึทื ื—ึฒืœื•ึนื), which simply emphasizes the act of dreaming. It's not redundant but a typical construction in biblical Hebrew to express the verbal action and its direct object. The phrase "hated him yet the more" powerfully conveys the intensifying and escalating nature of their animosity, showing their deep-seated resentment.

Practical Application

Joseph's story reminds us that divine revelation, while true, can sometimes be misunderstood or provoke negative reactions from others, especially if shared without wisdom or discernment. It also highlights the reality of human sin, particularly jealousy, and its destructive potential within families. Most importantly, it underscores the profound truth of God's unwavering providence. Even when circumstances seem dire or unfair, God is sovereignly working behind the scenes to accomplish His purposes, often using human actions, both good and bad, to bring about His ultimate will. This gives believers hope that even through trials, God is at work for good.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 28:12 (8 votes)

    And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

  • John 17:14 (5 votes)

    I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

  • Genesis 42:9 (5 votes)

    And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them, Ye [are] spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come.

  • Joel 2:28 (5 votes)

    ยถ And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

  • Daniel 4:5 (5 votes)

    I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.

  • Genesis 37:4 (4 votes)

    And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

  • Numbers 12:6 (4 votes)

    And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, [I] the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, [and] will speak unto him in a dream.