Genesis 37:10
New International Version
When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, “What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?”

New Living Translation
This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?”

English Standard Version
But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?”

Berean Standard Bible
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?”

King James Bible
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?

New King James Version
So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?”

New American Standard Bible
He also told it to his father as well as to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Am I and your mother and your brothers actually going to come to bow down to the ground before you?”

NASB 1995
He related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?”

NASB 1977
And he related it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers actually come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And he recounted it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers really come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?”

Amplified Bible
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?”

Christian Standard Bible
He told his father and brothers, and his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had? ” he said. “Am I and your mother and your brothers really going to come and bow down to the ground before you? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He told his father and brothers, but his father rebuked him. “What kind of dream is this that you have had?” he said. “Are your mother and brothers and I going to come and bow down to the ground before you?”

American Standard Version
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?

Contemporary English Version
When he told his father about this dream, his father became angry and said, "What's that supposed to mean? Are your mother and I and your brothers all going to come and bow down to you?"

English Revised Version
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?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When he told his father and his brothers, his father criticized him by asking, "What's this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers come and bow down in front of you?"

Good News Translation
He also told the dream to his father, and his father scolded him: "What kind of a dream is that? Do you think that your mother, your brothers, and I are going to come and bow down to you?"

International Standard Version
When Joseph told his father about this, his father rebuked him and asked him, "What kind of dream is that? Will I, your mother, and your brothers really come to you and bow down to the ground in front of you?"

Majority Standard Bible
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??

NET Bible
When he told his father and his brothers, his father rebuked him, saying, "What is this dream that you had? Will I, your mother, and your brothers really come and bow down to you?"

New Heart English Bible
When he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, "What is this dream that you had? Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come and bow down to the ground in front of you?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said to 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?

World English Bible
He told it to his father and to his brothers. His father rebuked him, and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to the earth before you?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And he recounts to his father, and to his brothers; and his father pushes against him, and says to him, “What [is] this dream which you have dreamed? Do we certainly come, I, and your mother, and your brothers—to bow ourselves to you, to the earth?”

Young's Literal Translation
And he recounteth unto his father, and unto his brethren; and his father pusheth against him, and saith to him, 'What is this dream which thou hast dreamt? do we certainly come -- I, and thy mother, and thy brethren -- to bow ourselves to thee, to the earth?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will recount to his father and to his brethren. And his father will rebuke him, and will say to him, What this dream which thou didst dream? Coming, shall I and thy mother and thy brethren come to worship to thee upon the earth?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when he had told this to his father and brethren, his father rebuked him, and said: What meaneth this dream that thou hast dreamed? shall I and thy mother, and thy brethren worship thee upon the earth?

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when he had related this to his father and brothers, his father rebuked him, and he said: “What does it mean to you, this dream that you have seen? Should I, and your mother, and your brothers reverence you upon the earth?”

New American Bible
When he told it to his father and his brothers, his father reproved him and asked, “What is the meaning of this dream of yours? Can it be that I and your mother and your brothers are to come and bow to the ground before you?”

New Revised Standard Version
But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, “What kind of dream is this that you have had? Shall we indeed come, I and your mother and your brothers, and bow to the ground before you?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him, and said to him, What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow down ourselves to the ground to you?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he related it to his father and to his brothers, and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Truly, will we come, I and your mother and your brothers, to worship you on the ground?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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 to thee to the earth?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And his father rebuked him, and said to him, What is this dream which thou hast dreamed? shall indeed both I and thy mother and thy brethren come and bow before thee to the earth?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph's Dreams
9Then Joseph had another dream and told it to his brothers. “Look,” he said, “I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10He 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?” 11And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.…

Cross References
Genesis 42:6-9
Now Joseph was the ruler of the land; he was the one who sold grain to all its people. So when his brothers arrived, they bowed down before him with their faces to the ground. / And when Joseph saw his brothers, he recognized them, but he treated them as strangers and spoke harshly to them. “Where have you come from?” he asked. “From the land of Canaan,” they replied. “We are here to buy food.” / Although Joseph recognized his brothers, they did not recognize him. ...

Genesis 50:18-21
His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!” / But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? / As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. ...

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the Child with His mother Mary, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and frankincense and myrrh.

Luke 2:34-35
Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary: “Behold, this Child is appointed to cause the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, / so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”

John 19:27
Then He said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” So from that hour, this disciple took her into his home.

Acts 7:9-10
Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him / and rescued him from all his troubles. He granted Joseph favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and all his household.

Philippians 2:10-11
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Revelation 5:13
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”

Genesis 41:39-43
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. / You shall be in charge of my house, and all my people are to obey your commands. Only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” / Pharaoh also told Joseph, “I hereby place you over all the land of Egypt.” ...

Genesis 45:8-11
Therefore it was not you who sent me here, but God, who has made me a father to Pharaoh—lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt. / Now return quickly to my father and tell him, ‘This is what your son Joseph says: God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me without delay. / You shall settle in the land of Goshen and be near me—you and your children and grandchildren, your flocks and herds, and everything you own. ...

Exodus 4:13-16
But Moses replied, “Please, Lord, send someone else.” / Then the anger of the LORD burned against Moses, and He said, “Is not Aaron the Levite your brother? I know that he can speak well, and he is now on his way to meet you. When he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. / You are to speak to him and put the words in his mouth. I will help both of you to speak, and I will teach you what to do. ...

Numbers 12:1-8
Then Miriam and Aaron criticized Moses because of the Cushite woman he had married, for he had taken a Cushite wife. / “Does the LORD speak only through Moses?” they said. “Does He not also speak through us?” And the LORD heard this. / Now Moses was a very humble man, more so than any man on the face of the earth. ...

1 Samuel 2:35
Then I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest. He will do whatever is in My heart and mind. And I will build for him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed one for all time.

1 Samuel 16:11-13
And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” / So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.” / So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

2 Samuel 7:12-16
And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. / I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And he told it to his father, and to his brothers: and his father rebuked him, and said to him, What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow down ourselves to you to the earth?

Shall I.

Genesis 27:29
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.

Isaiah 60:14
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.

Philippians 2:10,11
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; …

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Genesis 37
1. Joseph is loved by Jacob, but hated by his brothers.
5. His dreams and the interpretation.
12. Jacob sends him to his brothers, who counsel to slay him.
21. At Reuben's desire they cast him into a pit;
25. and afterwards sell him to the Ishmaelites;
29. while Ruben grieves at not finding him.
31. His coat, covered with blood, is sent to Jacob, who mourns him inordinately.
36. Joseph is brought to Egypt and sold to Potiphar.














But when he told his father and brothers
This phrase sets the stage for the familial dynamics at play. Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, shares his dream with his family, which is a significant act given the cultural context. In ancient Near Eastern societies, dreams were often considered divine messages. Joseph's willingness to share his dream indicates his youthful confidence and perhaps naivety. The Hebrew root for "told" (נָגַד, nagad) implies a declaration or announcement, suggesting that Joseph was not merely sharing but proclaiming something he believed to be significant.

his father rebuked him
The act of rebuke here is crucial. Jacob, also known as Israel, responds with a reprimand. The Hebrew word for "rebuked" (גָּעַר, ga'ar) conveys a strong disapproval or correction. This response highlights the tension between divine revelation and human understanding. Jacob, despite his own experiences with dreams and divine encounters, struggles to accept the implications of Joseph's dream. This rebuke reflects a common biblical theme where God's plans are often beyond human comprehension.

and said, 'What is this dream that you have had?'
Jacob's question underscores his incredulity and perhaps his concern for the implications of the dream. The phrase "What is this dream" suggests a challenge to the validity or interpretation of the dream. In the Hebrew context, dreams were often seen as significant, yet Jacob's question indicates skepticism. This skepticism can be seen as a protective measure, as Jacob might be wary of the potential discord the dream could sow among his sons.

Will your mother and brothers and I actually come
This rhetorical question reveals Jacob's disbelief and the perceived absurdity of the dream. The mention of "your mother" is intriguing, as Rachel, Joseph's mother, had already passed away. This could imply Leah or Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant, who raised Joseph. The phrase "actually come" (בּוֹא, bo) in Hebrew suggests a future event, emphasizing the prophetic nature of the dream. Jacob's question reflects a struggle to reconcile the dream's implications with the current family hierarchy.

and bow down to the ground before you?'
The act of bowing down signifies submission and honor, which in the cultural and historical context, would be unusual for a father and elder brothers to do before the youngest son. The Hebrew word for "bow down" (שָׁחָה, shachah) is often used in the context of worship or deep respect. This phrase foreshadows the future events in Egypt, where Joseph's family will indeed bow before him, fulfilling the dream. This prophetic element highlights God's sovereignty and the unfolding of His divine plan, despite human skepticism and familial discord.

(10) His father rebuked him.--In making the sun and moon bow down before him. Joseph's dream seemed to violate the respect due to parents. As Jacob probably regarded his son's dreams as the result of his letting his fancy dwell upon ideas of self-exaltation, he rightly rebuked him; while, nevertheless, "observing his saying." (Comp. Luke 2:51.)

Thy mother.--Rachel was certainly dead, as Joseph had at this time eleven brethren. Nor did Leah ever bow down before him; for she died at Hebron (Genesis 49:31). The enumeration of "sun, moon, and stars," means Jacob, his wives, and his children, that is, the whole family, elders and juniors, were to make obeisance to Joseph. It is a general phrase, like that in Genesis 35:26, and is not to be too literally interpreted. But as the handmaids were both of them younger than either Rachel or Leah, they may have gone down with Jacob into Egypt; and probably Bilhah had done a mother's part by Joseph after Rachel's death.

Verse 10. - And he told it to his father, and to his brethren - whom it manifestly concerned, as, for the like reason, he had reported the first dream only to his brethren. That he does not tell it to his mother may be an indication that Rachel was by this time dead. And his father rebuked him, - either to avoid irritating his brethren (Calvin), or to repress an appearance of pride in Joseph (Lange, Murphy, Inglis), or to express his own surprise (Candlish) or irritation (Keil), or sense of the absurdity of the dream (Lawson), which he further demonstrated when he added - and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed! Shall I and thy mother -

(1) "Rachel, who was neither forgotten nor lost" (Keil), who may possibly have been living at the date of the dream ('Speaker's Commentary'), though then Joseph could not 'have had eleven brothers; who, being dead, was referred to in order to show the impossibility of its ever being fulfilled (Kalisch, Pererius); or

(2) Leah, as the chief mistress of Jacob's household (Willet, Hughes, Inglis); or

(3) Bilhah, Rachel,s maid, who had probably acted as Joseph s mother after Rachel's death (Jewish interpreters, Grotius, and others); or, what seems more probable, . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
He told
וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר (way·sap·pêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5608: To count, recount, relate

his father
אָבִיו֮ (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

and brothers,
אֶחָיו֒ (’e·ḥāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

but his father
אָבִ֔יו (’ā·ḇîw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1: Father

rebuked him.
וַיִּגְעַר־ (way·yiḡ·‘ar-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1605: To rebuke

“What
מָ֛ה (māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

is this dream
הַזֶּ֖ה (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

that
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you have had?”
הַחֲל֥וֹם (ha·ḥă·lō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2472: A dream

he said.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Will your mother
וְאִמְּךָ֣ (wə·’im·mə·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 517: A mother, )

and brothers
וְאַחֶ֔יךָ (wə·’a·ḥe·ḵā)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 251: A brother, )

and I
אֲנִי֙ (’ă·nî)
Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

actually
הֲב֣וֹא (hă·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

come
נָב֗וֹא (nā·ḇō·w)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

and bow down
לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֥ת (lə·hiš·ta·ḥă·wōṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

to the ground
אָֽרְצָה׃ (’ā·rə·ṣāh)
Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

before you?”
לְךָ֖ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


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OT Law: Genesis 37:10 He told it to his father (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 37:9
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