Genesis 37:15
New International Version
a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”

New Living Translation
When he arrived there, a man from the area noticed him wandering around the countryside. “What are you looking for?” he asked.

English Standard Version
And a man found him wandering in the fields. And the man asked him, “What are you seeking?”

Berean Standard Bible
a man found him wandering in the field and asked, “What are you looking for?”

King James Bible
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

New King James Version
Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, “What are you seeking?”

New American Standard Bible
A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “What are you looking for?”

NASB 1995
A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “What are you looking for?”

NASB 1977
And a man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “What are you looking for?”

Legacy Standard Bible
And a man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “What are you seeking?”

Amplified Bible
Now a certain man found Joseph, and saw that he was wandering around and had lost his way in the field; so the man asked him, “What are you looking for?”

Christian Standard Bible
A man found him there, wandering in the field, and asked him, “What are you looking for? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
A man found him there, wandering in the field, and asked him, “What are you looking for?"”

American Standard Version
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

Contemporary English Version
and wandering through the fields, when a man asked, "What are you looking for?"

English Revised Version
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
a man found him wandering around in the open country. "What are you looking for?" the man asked.

Good News Translation
and was wandering around in the country when a man saw him and asked him, "What are you looking for?"

International Standard Version
a man found him wandering around in a field. So the man asked him, "What are you looking for?"

Majority Standard Bible
a man found him wandering in the field and asked, “What are you looking for?”

NET Bible
When Joseph reached Shechem, a man found him wandering in the field, so the man asked him, "What are you looking for?"

New Heart English Bible
And a man found him, and look, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, "What are you looking for?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And a certain man found him, and behold he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

World English Bible
A certain man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. The man asked him, “What are you looking for?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And a man finds him, and behold, he is wandering in the field, and the man asks him, saying, “What do you seek?”

Young's Literal Translation
And a man findeth him, and lo, he is wandering in the field, and the man asketh him, saying, 'What seekest thou?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And a man will find him, and behold, he wandered in the field. And the man will ask him, saying, What wilt thou seek?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And a man found him there wandering in the field, and asked what he sought.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And a man found him wandering in a field, and he asked him what he was seeking.

New American Bible
a man came upon him as he was wandering about in the fields. “What are you looking for?” the man asked him.

New Revised Standard Version
and a man found him wandering in the fields; the man asked him, “What are you seeking?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And a certain man found him while he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, and said to him, What are you seeking?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a man found him as he wandered in a field, and that man asked him and said to him, “What are you looking for?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying: 'What seekest thou?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And a man found him wandering in the field; and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joseph Sold by His Brothers
14Then Israel told him, “Go now and see how your brothers and the flocks are faring, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. And when Joseph arrived in Shechem, 15 a man found him wandering in the field and asked, “What are you looking for?” 16“I am looking for my brothers,” Joseph replied. “Can you please tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?”…

Cross References
Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? / And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. / In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Luke 15:4-7
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? / And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, / comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ ...

John 1:38
Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”

Acts 9:5-6
“Who are You, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” He replied. / “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Hebrews 11:8
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, without knowing where he was going.

1 Samuel 9:3-6
One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.” / So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but they did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them. / When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.” ...

1 Samuel 16:11
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.”

2 Kings 6:19
And Elisha told them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will take you to the man you are seeking.” And he led them to Samaria.

Jeremiah 50:6
My people are lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray, causing them to roam the mountains. They have wandered from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place.

Ezekiel 34:11-12
For this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Behold, I Myself will search for My flock and seek them out. / As a shepherd looks for his scattered sheep when he is among the flock, so I will look for My flock. I will rescue them from all the places to which they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

Isaiah 53:6
We all like sheep have gone astray, each one has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid upon Him the iniquity of us all.

Proverbs 3:6
in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Psalm 119:176
I have strayed like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.

Job 23:3
If only I knew where to find Him, so that I could go to His seat.

Exodus 2:15-17
When Pharaoh heard about this matter, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and settled in the land of Midian, where he sat down beside a well. / Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock. / And when some shepherds came along and drove them away, Moses rose up to help them and watered their flock.


Treasury of Scripture

And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seek you?

he was.

Genesis 21:14
And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.

What.

Judges 4:22
And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.

2 Kings 6:19
And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria.

John 1:38
Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

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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.














a man found him
The phrase "a man found him" introduces an unnamed figure who encounters Joseph. In Hebrew, the word for "man" is "ish," which can denote a person of significance or simply an ordinary individual. This encounter is pivotal, as it sets Joseph on the path to his destiny. The anonymity of the man suggests divine orchestration, where God uses seemingly random events and people to fulfill His purposes. This reflects the biblical theme that God is sovereign over all circumstances, guiding His people even when they are unaware.

wandering in the field
The word "wandering" in Hebrew is "ta'ah," which implies being lost or straying. Joseph's physical wandering symbolizes his spiritual and emotional state. He is searching for his brothers, unaware of the impending betrayal. The "field" represents the world, a place of uncertainty and potential danger. This imagery resonates with the Christian journey, where believers often find themselves navigating through life's uncertainties, relying on God's guidance to lead them to their purpose.

and asked
The act of asking signifies a moment of divine intervention. The Hebrew root "sha'al" means to inquire or seek information. This question is not merely about Joseph's immediate need but serves as a catalyst for the unfolding of God's plan. It reminds believers that God often uses questions and challenges to direct their paths and reveal His will.

What are you looking for?
This question, posed by the man, is profound and introspective. It invites Joseph to articulate his purpose and mission. In Hebrew, the phrase "mah tevakesh" can be translated as "What do you seek?" This echoes throughout Scripture, where seeking is a central theme. It challenges believers to examine their own desires and motivations, encouraging them to seek God's kingdom and righteousness above all else. This question is timeless, urging Christians to reflect on their spiritual journey and align their pursuits with God's divine plan.

Verses 15, 16. - And a certain man (or simply a man) found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field (obviously seeking some thing or person): and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren: - or, more emphatically, My Brethren I (sc. am) seeking - tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks - or, Where (are) they shepherding?

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
a man
אִ֔ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 582: Man, mankind

found him
וַיִּמְצָאֵ֣הוּ (way·yim·ṣā·’ê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present

wandering
תֹעֶ֖ה (ṯō·‘eh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 8582: To vacillate, reel, stray

in the field
בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה (baś·śā·ḏeh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7704: Field, land

and asked,
וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֧הוּ (way·yiš·’ā·lê·hū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7592: To inquire, to request, to demand

“What
מַה־ (mah-)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

are you looking for?”
תְּבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ (tə·ḇaq·qêš)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after


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OT Law: Genesis 37:15 A certain man found him and behold (Gen. Ge Gn)
Genesis 37:14
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