This chapter begins to record the account of Jacob's sons. The rest of the book of Genesis focuses on Jacob's sons, especially Joseph. This chapter also references Jacob as "Israel" beginning in this chapter.
Jacob's favoritism became a great problem for his sons. They are always jealous of Joseph because he is the favorite son. The beautiful garment Jacob gave to Joseph greatly strained the relationship between Joseph and his brothers. Joseph dreams he will rule all of his brothers, even though he is not the oldest son. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#favor)
The account of Joseph focuses on the power of God. God is able to protect his people despite the evil actions of some. He also is able to continue to bless them despite their circumstances. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#peopleofgod and /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#bless)
"in the land of Canaan where his father had lived"
This sentence introduces the account of Jacob's children in Genesis 37:1-50:26. Here "Jacob" refers to his whole family. Alternate translation: "This is the account of Jacob's family" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
"17 years old" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
This is the name of Rachel's female servant. See how you translated this name in Genesis 29:29. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This is the name of Leah's female servant. See how you translated this name in Genesis 29:24. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
These women were servants of Leah and Rachel whom they had given to Jacob to produce children.
"a bad report about his brothers"
This word is used here to mark a change from the story to background information about Israel and Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#writing-background)
This refers to brotherly love or love for a friend or family member. This is natural human love between friends or relatives.
This means that Joseph was born when Israel was an old man. Alternate translation: "who was born when Israel was an old man" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"Israel made Joseph"
"a beautiful robe"
"could not speak in a courteous manner to him"
This is a summary of the events that will happen in 37:6-11.
"And Joseph's brothers hated him even more than they hated him before"
"Please listen to this dream that I had"
Joseph tells his brothers about his dream.
The word "behold" here alerts us to pay attention to the surprising information that follows.
The word "we" refers to Joseph and includes all of his brothers. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)
When grain is reaped it is tied into bundles and stacked until it is time to separate the grain from the straw.
Here the word "behold" here shows that Joseph was surprised by what he saw.
Here the bundles of grain are standing and kneeling as if they were people. These bundle represent Joseph and his brothers. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-personification)
Both of these phrases mean basically the same thing. Joseph's brothers are using questions to mock Joseph. They can be written as statements. Alternate translation: "You will never be our king, and we will never bow down to you!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-parallelism and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
The word "us" refers to Joseph's brothers but not Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-exclusive)
"because of his dreams and what he said"
"Joseph had another dream"
"11 stars" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
"Israel scolded him, saying"
Israel uses questions to correct Joseph. This can be written as statements. Alternate translation: "This dream you had is not real. Your mother, brothers, and I will not bow down before you!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
This means being angry because someone else is successful or more popular.
The means that he kept thinking about the meaning of Joseph's dream. Alternate translation: "kept thinking about what the dream might mean" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
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Israel uses a question to begin a conversation. This can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "You brothers are tending the flock in Shechem." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
Here it is implied that Israel is asking Joseph to prepare himself to leave and go see his brothers. Alternate translation: "Get ready" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
He is ready to leave. "I am ready to go" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"Israel said to Joseph"
Israel wants Joseph to come back and tell him about how his brother and flocks are doing. Alternate translation: "come tell me what you find out" or "give me a report" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"from the Valley"
"A certain man found Joseph wandering in a field"
This marks the beginning of another event in the larger story. It may involve different people than the previous events. Your language may have a way of doing this.
"What are you looking for?"
"Please tell me where"
"shepherding their flock"
This is the name of a place that is about 22 kilometers from Shechem. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"Joseph's brothers saw him while he was far away"
"they made plans to kill him"
"here comes the one who has the dreams"
This wording shows that the brothers acted upon their plans. Alternate translation: "So now" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"dangerous animal" or "ferocious animal"
to eagerly have eaten
His brothers planned to kill him, therefore it is ironic that they would speak of his dream coming true, since he would be dead. Alternate translation: "That way we will make sure his dreams do not come true" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-irony)
"heard what they were saying"
The phrase "their hand" refers to the brothers' plan to kill him. Alternate translation: "from them" or "from their plans" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
The phrase "take his life" is a euphemism for killing someone. Alternate translation: "Let us not kill Joseph" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
The negation can be placed on the verb. Also, "shedding blood" is a euphemism for killing someone. Alternate translation: "Do not spill any blood" or "Do not kill him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-litotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
This can be translated as a new sentence: "Rueben said this so that he might rescue Joseph"
The phrase "their hand" refers to the brothers' plan to kill him. Alternate translation: "from them" or "from their plans" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"and return him"
This phrase is used here to mark an important event in the story. If your language has a way for doing this, you could consider using it here.
"they tore his beautiful garment off of him"
"beautiful robe." See how you translated this in Genesis 37:3.
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"Bread" represents food in general. Alternate translation: "They sat down to eat food" or "Joseph's brothers sat down to eat" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
Here looking up is spoken of as if a person literally lifted up his eyes. Also, the word "behold" is used here to draw the reader's attention to what the men saw. Alternate translation: "They looked up and they suddenly saw a caravan" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
carrying
seasonings
an oily substance with a sweet smell used for healing and protecting skin. "medicine"
"bringing them down to Egypt." This can be made more explicit. Alternate translation: "bringing them down to Egypt to sell them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
This can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: "We do not gain a profit by killing our brother and covering up his blood" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
This is a figure of speech referring to hiding Joseph's death. Alternate translation: "hide his murder" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
"to these men who are descendants of Ishmael"
This means not to harm or injure him. Alternate translation: "not hurt him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
The word "flesh" is a metonym that stands for a relative. Alternate translation: "he is our blood relative" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"Judah's brothers listened to him" or "Judah's brothers agreed with him"
Both names refer to the same group of traders that Joseph's brothers meet.
"for the price of 20 pieces of silver" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
"took Joseph to Egypt"
"Reuben returned to the pit, and was surprised to see that Joseph was not there." The word "behold" here shows that Reuben was surprised to find out Joseph was gone.
This is an act of deep distress and grief. This can be written more clearly. Alternate translation: "He was so grieved that he tore his clothes" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Reuben uses questions for emphasis the problem that Joseph was missing. These can be written as statements. Alternate translation: "The boy is gone! I cannot go back home now!" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
This refers to the beautiful garment that his father made for him.
"the goat's blood"
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"has eaten him"
Jacob thinks that a wild animal has torn Joseph's body apart. Alternate translation: "It has certainly torn Joseph to pieces" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
This is an act of deep distress and grief. This can be written more clearly. Alternate translation: "Jacob was so grieved that he tore his garments" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Here "loins" refers to the middle part of the body or the waist. Alternate translation: "put on sackcloth" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
Here the childrens' coming to their father is spoke of as "rising up." Alternate translation: "came to him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "but he would not let them comfort him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
The means that he be mourning from now until when he dies. Alternate translation: "Indeed when I die and go down to Sheol I will still be mourning" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"The Midianites sold Joseph"
"the leader of the soldiers who guarded the king"