And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
What does Genesis 37:8 mean?
God gave Joseph betimes the prospect of his advancement, to support and comfort him under his long and grievous troubles. Joseph dreamed of his preferment, but he did not dream of his imprisonment.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside Genesis 37:5-8 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on Genesis 37:8
And his brethren said unto him,.... After he had told his dream, being highly offended with him, understanding the dream, and the meaning of it, better than he did: shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shall thou indeed have dominion over us? denying that he ever should, and reproving him for his vanity, in concluding from hence that he would have the dominion over them. So the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan, dost thou think, suppose, or imagine that thou shall rule over us?
Key words
- for his words
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for his words. And his brethren said unto him,....
- for his words
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for his words.
Context in Genesis 37
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Genesis 37 belongs to the middle movement of the book, especially the section often described as the family line through Isaac and Jacob. Genesis opens the whole Bible with creation, fall, flood, Babel, and the long patriarchal story that carries the reader from Eden to Egypt. Read this chapter with the wider themes of creation, fall, and covenant in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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A collection of passages on hope under pressure, future inheritance, resurrection expectation, and confidence in God’s final faithfulness.