Revised Literal Translation

Genesis 37

1And Jacobיַעֲקֹ֔בya.'a.KoH3290dweltוַיֵּ֣שֶׁבvai.Ye.shevH3427in the landבְּאֶ֖רֶץbe.'E.retzH776wherein his fatherאָבִ֑יו'a.VivH1was a strangerמְגוּרֵ֣יme.gu.ReiH4033,in the landבְּאֶ֖רֶץbe.'E.retzH776of Canaanכְּנָֽעַן׃ke.Na.'anH3667.

2These arethe generationsתֹּלְד֣וֹתto.le.DotH8435of Jacobיַעֲקֹ֗בya.'a.KoH3290.Josephיוֹסֵ֞ףyo.SefH3130, beingseventeenשְׁבַֽע־ עֶשְׂרֵ֤הshe.va'- 'es.RehH7651 H6240yearsשָׁנָה֙sha.NahH8141oldבֶּן־ben-H1121,was feedingרֹעֶ֤הro.'EhH7462the flockבַּצֹּ֔אןba.TzonH6629with his brethrenאֶחָיו֙'e.ChavH251;and the ladנַ֗עַרNa.'arH5288waswith the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Bilhahבִלְהָ֛הvil.HahH1090,and with the sonsבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121of Zilpahזִלְפָּ֖הzil.PahH2153,his father’sאָבִ֑יו'a.VivH1wivesנְשֵׁ֣יne.SheiH802:and Josephיוֹסֵ֛ףyo.SefH3130broughtוַיָּבֵ֥אvai.ya.Ve'H935unto his fatherאֲבִיהֶֽם׃'a.vi.HemH1their evilרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451reportדִּבָּתָ֥םdi.ba.TamH1681.

3Now Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗לve.Yis.ra.'ElH3478lovedאָהַ֤ב'a.HavH157Josephיוֹסֵף֙yo.SefH3130more than all his childrenבָּנָ֔יוba.NavH1121, because he wasthe sonבֶן־ven-H1121of his old ageזְקֻנִ֥יםze.ku.NimH2208:and he madeוְעָ֥שָׂהve.'A.sahH6213him a coatכְּתֹ֥נֶתke.To.netH3801of manycoloursפַּסִּֽים׃pa.SimH6446.

4And when his brethrenאֶחָ֗יו'e.ChavH251sawוַיִּרְא֣וּvai.yir.'UH7200that their fatherאֲבִיהֶם֙'a.vi.HemH1lovedאָהַ֤ב'a.HavH157him more than all his brethrenאֶחָ֔יו'e.ChavH251,they hatedוַֽיִּשְׂנְא֖וּvai.yis.ne.'UH8130him, and couldיָכְל֖וּya.khe.LuH3201not speakדַּבְּר֥וֹda.be.RoH1696peaceablyלְשָׁלֹֽם׃le.sha.LomH7965unto him.

5And Josephיוֹסֵף֙yo.SefH3130dreamedוַיַּחֲלֹ֤םvai.ya.cha.LomH2492a dreamחֲל֔וֹםcha.LomH2472,and he toldוַיַּגֵּ֖דvai.ya.GedH5046ithis brethrenלְאֶחָ֑יוle.'e.ChavH251:and they hatedשְׂנֹ֥אse.No'H8130him yet the moreוַיּוֹסִ֥פוּvai.yo.Si.fuH3254.

6And he saidוַיֹּ֖אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, Hearשִׁמְעוּ־shim.'u-H8085,I pray you, this dreamהַחֲל֥וֹםha.cha.LomH2472which I have dreamedחָלָֽמְתִּי׃cha.La.me.tiH2492:

7For, behold, we werebindingמְאַלְּמִ֤ים בְּת֣וֹךְme.'a.le.Mim be.TokhH8432 H481sheavesאֲלֻמִּים֙'a.lu.MimH485in the fieldהַשָּׂדֶ֔הha.sa.DehH7704,and, lo, my sheafאֲלֻמָּתִ֖י'a.lu.ma.TiH485aroseקָ֥מָהKa.mahH6965,and also stood uprightנִצָּ֑בָהni.Tza.vahH5324;and, behold, your sheavesאֲלֻמֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם'a.lu.Mo.tei.KhemH485stood round aboutתְסֻבֶּ֙ינָה֙te.su.Bei.nahH5437,and made obeisanceוַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖יןָva.tish.ta.cha.Vei.naH7812to my sheafלַאֲלֻמָּתִֽי׃la.'a.lu.ma.TiH485.

8And his brethrenאֶחָ֔יו'e.ChavH251saidוַיֹּ֤אמְרוּvai.Yo.me.ruH559to him, Shalt thou indeedהֲמָלֹ֤ךְha.ma.LokhH4427reignתִּמְלֹךְ֙tim.loKhH4427over us? or shalt thou indeedמָשׁ֥וֹלma.SholH4910have dominionתִּמְשֹׁ֖לtim.SholH4910over us? And they hatedשְׂנֹ֣אse.No'H8130him yet the moreוַיּוֹסִ֤פוּvai.yo.Si.fuH3254for his dreamsחֲלֹמֹתָ֖יוcha.lo.mo.TavH2472,and for his wordsדְּבָרָֽיו׃de.va.RavH1697.

9And he dreamedוַיַּחֲלֹ֥םvai.ya.cha.LomH2492yet anotherאַחֵ֔ר'a.CherH312dreamחֲל֣וֹםcha.LomH2472,and toldוַיְסַפֵּ֥רvay.sa.PerH5608it his brethrenלְאֶחָ֑יוle.'e.ChavH251,and saidוַיֹּ֗אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Behold, I have dreamedחָלַ֤מְתִּֽיcha.Lam.tiH2492a dreamחֲלוֹם֙cha.lOmH2472more; and, behold, the sunהַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁha.She.meshH8121and the moonוְהַיָּרֵ֗חַve.hai.ya.Re.achH3394and the elevenוְאַחַ֤ד עָשָׂר֙ve.'a.Chad 'a.SarH259 H6240starsכּֽוֹכָבִ֔יםko.kha.VimH3556made obeisanceמִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֖יםmish.ta.cha.VimH7812to me.

10And he toldוַיְסַפֵּ֣רvay.sa.PerH5608itto his fatherאָבִיו֮'a.VivH1,and to his brethrenאֶחָיו֒'e.ChavH251:and his fatherאָבִ֔יו'a.VivH1rebukedוַיִּגְעַר־vai.yig.'ar-H1605him, and saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto him, What isthis dreamהַחֲל֥וֹםha.cha.LomH2472that thou hast dreamedחָלָ֑מְתָּcha.La.me.taH2492?Shall I and thy motherוְאִמְּךָ֣ve.'i.me.KhaH517and thy brethrenוְאַחֶ֔יךָve.'a.Chei.khaH251indeedהֲב֣וֹאha.Vo'H935comeנָב֗וֹאna.Vo'H935to bow downלְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֥תle.hish.ta.cha.VotH7812ourselves to thee to the earthאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tzahH776?

11And his brethrenאֶחָ֑יו'e.ChavH251enviedוַיְקַנְאוּ־vay.kan.'u-H7065him; but his fatherוְאָבִ֖יוve.'a.VivH1observedשָׁמַ֥רsha.MarH8104the sayingהַדָּבָֽר׃ha.da.VarH1697.

12And his brethrenאֶחָ֑יו'e.ChavH251wentH3212to feedלִרְע֛וֹתlir.'otH7462their father’sאֲבִיהֶ֖ם'a.vi.HemH1flockצֹ֥אןtzonH6629in Shechemבִּשְׁכֶֽם׃bish.KhemH7927.

13And Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֜לYis.ra.'ElH3478saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto Josephיוֹסֵ֗ףyo.SefH3130,Do not thy brethrenאַחֶ֙יךָ֙'a.Chei.khaH251feedרֹעִ֣יםro.'ImH7462the flockin Shechemבִּשְׁכֶ֔םbish.KhemH7927?comeH3212,and I will send theeוְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָ֣ve.'esh.la.cha.KhaH7971unto them. And he saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, Here am I.

14And he saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559to him, GoH3212,I pray thee, seeרְאֵ֜הre.'EhH7200whether it be wellשְׁל֤וֹםshe.LomH7965with thy brethrenאַחֶ֙יךָ֙'a.Chei.khaH251,and wellשְׁל֣וֹםshe.LomH7965with the flocksהַצֹּ֔אןha.TzonH6629;and bringוַהֲשִׁבֵ֖נִיva.ha.shi.Ve.niH7725me wordדָּבָ֑רda.VarH1697againH7725.So he sentוַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֙הוּ֙vai.yish.la.Che.huH7971him out of the valeמֵעֵ֣מֶקme.'E.mekH6010of Hebronחֶבְר֔וֹןchev.RonH2275,and he cameוַיָּבֹ֖אvai.ya.Vo'H935to Shechemשְׁכֶֽמָה׃she.Khe.mahH7927.

15And a certain manאִ֔ישׁ'IshH376found himוַיִּמְצָאֵ֣הוּvai.yim.tza.'E.huH4672, and, behold, he waswanderingתֹעֶ֖הto.'EhH8582in the fieldבַּשָּׂדֶ֑הba.sa.DehH7704:and the manהָאִ֛ישׁha.'IshH376asked himוַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֧הוּvai.yish.'a.Le.huH7592,sayingלֵאמֹ֖רle.MorH559,What seekestתְּבַקֵּֽשׁ׃te.va.KeshH1245thou?

16And he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,I seekמְבַקֵּ֑שׁme.va.KeshH1245my brethrenאַחַ֖י'a.ChaiH251:tellהַגִּֽידָה־ha.gi.dah-H5046me, I pray thee, whereאֵיפֹ֖ה'ei.FohH375they feedרֹעִֽים׃ro.'ImH7462their flocks.

17And the manהָאִישׁ֙ha.'IshH376saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,They are departedנָסְע֣וּna.se.'UH5265henceמִזֶּ֔הmi.ZehH2088;for I heardשָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙sha.Ma'.tiH8085them sayאֹֽמְרִ֔ים'o.me.RimH559,Let us goH3212to Dothanדֹּתָ֑יְנָהdo.Ta.ye.nahH1886.And Josephיוֹסֵף֙yo.SefH3130wentH3212afterאַחַ֣ר'a.CharH310his brethrenאֶחָ֔יו'e.ChavH251,and foundוַיִּמְצָאֵ֖םvai.yim.tza.'EmH4672them in Dothanבְּדֹתָֽן׃be.do.TanH1886.

18And when they sawוַיִּרְא֥וּvai.yir.'UH7200him afar offמֵרָחֹ֑קme.ra.ChokH7350,even before he came nearיִקְרַ֣בyik.RavH7126unto them, they conspiredוַיִּֽתְנַכְּל֥וּvai.yit.na.ke.LuH5230against him to slayלַהֲמִיתֽוֹ׃la.ha.mi.ToH4191him.

19And they saidוַיֹּאמְר֖וּvai.yo.me.RuH559oneאִ֣ישׁ'ishH376to anotherאָחִ֑יו'a.ChivH251,Behold, thisהַלָּזֶ֖הha.la.ZehH1976dreamerבַּ֛עַל הַחֲלֹמ֥וֹתBa.'al ha.cha.lo.MotH2472 H1167comethבָּֽא׃Ba'H935.

20ComeH3212now therefore, and let us slayוְנַֽהַרְגֵ֗הוּve.na.har.Ge.huH2026him, and castוְנַשְׁלִכֵ֙הוּ֙ve.nash.li.Khe.huH7993him into someבְּאַחַ֣דbe.'a.ChadH259pitהַבֹּר֔וֹתha.bo.RotH953,and we will sayוְאָמַ֕רְנוּve.'a.Mar.nuH559,Some evilרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451beastחַיָּ֥הchai.YahH2416hath devouredאֲכָלָ֑תְהוּ'a.kha.La.te.huH398him: and we shall seeוְנִרְאֶ֕הve.nir.'EhH7200what will become of his dreamsחֲלֹמֹתָֽיו׃cha.lo.mo.TavH2472.

21And Reubenרְאוּבֵ֔ןre.'u.VenH7205heardוַיִּשְׁמַ֣עvai.yish.Ma'H8085it,and he deliveredוַיַּצִּלֵ֖הוּvai.ya.tzi.Le.huH5337him out of their handsמִיָּדָ֑םmi.ya.DamH3027;and saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,Let us not killנַכֶּ֖נּוּ נָֽפֶשׁ׃na.Ke.nu Na.feshH5315 H5221him.

22And Reubenרְאוּבֵן֮re.'u.VenH7205saidוַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto them, Shedתִּשְׁפְּכוּ־tish.pe.khu-H8210no bloodדָם֒damH1818, butcastהַשְׁלִ֣יכוּhash.Li.khuH7993him into this pitהַבּ֤וֹרha.BorH953that isin the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֔רba.mid.BarH4057,and layתִּשְׁלְחוּ־tish.le.chu-H7971no handוְיָ֖דve.YadH3027upon him; that he might ridהַצִּ֤ילha.TzilH5337him out of their handsמִיָּדָ֔םmi.ya.DamH3027,to deliverH7725him to his fatherאָבִֽיו׃'a.VivH1againH7725.

23And it came to pass, when Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130was comeבָּ֥אba'H935unto his brethrenאֶחָ֑יו'e.ChavH251,that they striptוַיַּפְשִׁ֤יטוּvai.yaf.Shi.tuH853 H6584Josephיוֹסֵף֙yo.SefH3130out ofH854his coatכֻּתָּנְתּ֔וֹku.ta.ne.ToH3801, hiscoatכְּתֹ֥נֶתke.To.netH3801of manycoloursהַפַּסִּ֖יםha.pa.SimH6446that was on him;

24And they tookוַיִּ֨קָּחֻ֔הוּvai.Yi.ka.Chu.huH3947him, and castוַיַּשְׁלִ֥כוּvai.yash.Li.khuH7993him into a pitהַבֹּ֑רָהha.Bo.rahH953:and the pitוְהַבּ֣וֹרve.ha.BorH953wasemptyרֵ֔קRekH7386, there wasno waterמָֽיִם׃Ma.yimH4325in it.

25And they sat downוַיֵּשְׁבוּ֮vai.ye.she.VuH3427to eatלֶֽאֱכָל־le.'e.khol-H398breadלֶחֶם֒le.ChemH3899:and they lifted upוַיִּשְׂא֤וּvai.yis.'UH5375their eyesעֵֽינֵיהֶם֙'ei.nei.HemH5869and lookedוַיִּרְא֔וּvai.yir.'UH7200,and, behold, a companyאֹרְחַ֣ת'o.re.ChatH736of Ishmeelitesיִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֔יםyish.me.'e.LimH3459cameבָּאָ֖הba.'AhH935from Gileadמִגִּלְעָ֑דmi.gil.'AdH1568with their camelsוּגְמַלֵּיהֶ֣םu.ge.ma.lei.HemH1581bearingנֹֽשְׂאִ֗יםno.se.'ImH5375spiceryנְכֹאת֙ne.khoTH5219and balmוּצְרִ֣יu.tze.RiH6875and myrrhוָלֹ֔טva.LotH3910,goingהוֹלְכִ֖יםhol.KhimH1980to carry itdownלְהוֹרִ֥ידle.ho.RidH3381to Egyptמִצְרָֽיְמָה׃mitz.Ra.ye.mahH4714.

26And Judahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559unto his brethrenאֶחָ֑יו'e.ChavH251,What profitבֶּ֗צַעBe.tza'H1215is itif we slayנַהֲרֹג֙na.ha.RogH2026our brotherאָחִ֔ינוּ'a.Chi.nuH251,and concealוְכִסִּ֖ינוּve.khi.Si.nuH3680his bloodדָּמֽוֹ׃da.MoH1818?

27ComeH3212,and let us sellוְנִמְכְּרֶ֣נּוּve.nim.ke.Re.nuH4376him to the Ishmeelitesלַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֗יםlai.yish.me.'e.LimH3459,and let not our handוְיָדֵ֙נוּ֙ve.ya.De.nuH3027be upon him; for he isour brotherאָחִ֥ינוּ'a.Chi.nuH251andour fleshבְשָׂרֵ֖נוּve.sa.Re.nuH1320.And his brethrenאֶחָֽיו׃'e.ChavH251were contentוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּvai.yish.me.'UH8085.

28Then there passedוַיַּֽעַבְרוּ֩vai.ya.'av.RuH5674by Midianitesמִדְיָנִ֜יםmid.ya.NimH4084merchantmenאֲנָשִׁ֨ים סֹֽחֲרִ֗ים'a.na.Shim so.cha.RimH5503 H582;and they drewוַֽיִּמְשְׁכוּ֙vai.yim.she.KhuH4900and lifted upוַיַּֽעֲל֤וּvai.ya.'a.LuH5927Josephיוֹסֵף֙yo.SefH3130out of the pitהַבּ֔וֹרha.BorH953,and soldוַיִּמְכְּר֧וּvai.yim.ke.RuH4376Josephיוֹסֵ֛ףyo.SefH3130to the Ishmeelitesלַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖יםlai.yish.me.'e.LimH3459for twentyבְּעֶשְׂרִ֣יםbe.'es.RimH6242piecesof silverכָּ֑סֶףKa.sefH3701:and they broughtוַיָּבִ֥יאוּvai.ya.Vi.'uH935Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130into Egyptמִצְרָֽיְמָה׃mitz.Ra.ye.mahH4714.

29And Reubenרְאוּבֵן֙re.'u.VenH7205returnedוַיָּ֤שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725unto the pitהַבּ֔וֹרha.BorH953;and, behold, Josephיוֹסֵ֖ףyo.SefH3130wasnot in the pitבַּבּ֑וֹרba.BorH953;and he rentוַיִּקְרַ֖עvai.yik.Ra'H7167his clothesבְּגָדָֽיו׃be.ga.DavH899.

30And he returnedוַיָּ֥שָׁבvai.Ya.shovH7725unto his brethrenאֶחָ֖יו'e.ChavH251,and saidוַיֹּאמַ֑רvai.yo.MarH559,The childהַיֶּ֣לֶדhai.Ye.ledH3206isnot; and I, whitherאָ֥נָה'A.nahH575shall I goבָֽא׃Va'H935?

31And they tookוַיִּקְח֖וּvai.yik.ChuH3947Joseph’sיוֹסֵ֑ףyo.SefH3130coatכְּתֹ֣נֶתke.To.netH3801,and killedוַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙vai.yish.cha.TuH7819a kidשְׂעִ֣ירse.'IrH8163of the goatsעִזִּ֔ים'i.ZimH5795,and dippedוַיִּטְבְּל֥וּvai.yit.be.LuH2881the coatהַכֻּתֹּ֖נֶתha.ku.To.netH3801in the bloodבַּדָּֽם׃ba.DamH1818;

32And they sentוַֽיְשַׁלְּח֞וּvay.sha.le.ChuH7971the coatכְּתֹ֣נֶתke.To.netH3801of manycoloursהַפַּסִּ֗יםha.pa.SimH6446,and they broughtוַיָּבִ֙יאוּ֙vai.ya.Vi.'uH935itto their fatherאֲבִיהֶ֔ם'a.vi.HemH1;and saidוַיֹּאמְר֖וּvai.yo.me.RuH559,This have we foundמָצָ֑אנוּma.Tza.nuH4672:knowהַכֶּר־ha.ker-H5234now whether it bethy son’sבִּנְךָ֛bin.KhaH1121coatהַכְּתֹ֧נֶתha.ke.To.netH3801or no.

33And he knew itוַיַּכִּירָ֤הּvai.ya.ki.RahH5234,and saidוַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merH559, It ismy son’sבְּנִ֔יbe.NiH1121coatכְּתֹ֣נֶתke.To.netH3801;an evilרָעָ֖הra.'AhH7451beastחַיָּ֥הchai.YahH2416hath devouredאֲכָלָ֑תְהוּ'a.kha.La.te.huH398him; Josephיוֹסֵֽף׃yo.SefH3130is without doubtטָרֹ֥ףta.RofH2963rent in piecesטֹרַ֖ףto.RafH2963.

34And Jacobיַעֲקֹב֙ya.'a.KoH3290rentוַיִּקְרַ֤עvai.yik.Ra'H7167his clothesשִׂמְלֹתָ֔יוsim.lo.TavH8071,and putוַיָּ֥שֶׂםvai.Ya.semH7760sackclothשַׂ֖קsakH8242upon his loinsבְּמָתְנָ֑יוbe.ma.te.NavH4975,and mournedוַיִּתְאַבֵּ֥לvai.yit.'a.BelH56for his sonבְּנ֖וֹbe.NoH1121manyרַבִּֽים׃ra.BimH7227daysיָמִ֥יםya.MimH3117.

35And all his sonsבָּנָ֨יוba.NavH1121and all his daughtersבְּנֹתָ֜יוbe.no.TavH1323rose upוַיָּקֻמוּ֩vai.ya.ku.MuH6965to comfortלְנַחֲמ֗וֹle.na.cha.MoH5162him; but he refusedוַיְמָאֵן֙vay.ma.'EnH3985to be comfortedלְהִתְנַחֵ֔םle.hit.na.ChemH5162;and he saidוַיֹּ֕אמֶרvai.Yo.merH559,For I will go downאֵרֵ֧ד'e.RedH3381into the graveשְׁאֹ֑לָהshe.'O.lahH7585unto my sonבְּנִ֛יbe.NiH1121mourningאָבֵ֖ל'a.VelH57.Thus his fatherאָבִֽיו׃'a.VivH1weptוַיֵּ֥בְךְּvai.Ye.vekH1058for him.

36And the Midianitesוְהַ֨מְּדָנִ֔יםve.Ha.me.da.NimH4092soldמָכְר֥וּma.khe.RuH4376him into Egyptמִצְרָ֑יִםmitz.Ra.yimH4714unto Potipharלְפֽוֹטִיפַר֙le.fo.ti.FarH6318,an officerסְרִ֣יסse.RisH5631of Pharaoh’sפַּרְעֹ֔הpar.'OhH6547, andcaptainשַׂ֖רsarH8269of the guardהַטַּבָּחִֽים׃ פha.ta.ba.ChimH2876.

Commentaries on Genesis 37