Genesis 37:10

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?”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joseph recounts his second vision to his father and brothers immediately after describing the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing to him. His father responds by rebuking him and questioning the literal fulfillment of the dream.

The words — וַ/יְסַפֵּ֣ר (va/y.sa.Per) = "and he recounted" and וַ/יִּגְעַר־ (va/i.yig.'ar-) = "and he rebuked". These verbs structure the exchange: Joseph reports the vision, while his father issues a corrective rebuke.

The thread — The bowing motif echoes the patriarchal blessing in Genesis 27:29 and recalls the sheaf vision in Genesis 37:7, while Isaiah 60:14 later repeats the image of enemies bowing down. This thread traces how familial dreams of supremacy intersect with broader covenantal patterns.

Why it lands — The text records a father's skepticism toward a son's claim of future authority, requiring the reader to observe how divine claims are initially met with human resistance and parental discipline before fulfillment.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיְסַפֵּ֣רva/y.sa.Perand/ he recounted [it]אֶל־'el-to אָבִיו֮'a.Vi/vfather/ his וְאֶל־ve./'el-and/ to אֶחָיו֒'e.Cha/vbrothers/ his וַיִּגְעַר־va/i.yig.'ar-and/ he rebukedבּ֣וֹb/o<in> <the>/ himאָבִ֔יו'a.Vi/vfather/ his וַיֹּ֣אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he saidל֔וֹl/oto <the>/ himמָ֛הmahwhat?הַחֲל֥וֹםha./cha.Lom[is] the/ dream הַזֶּ֖הha./Zeh<the>/ this אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich חָלָ֑מְתָּcha.La.me.tayou have dreamed הֲב֣וֹאha./Vo'¿/ really <come>נָב֗וֹאna.Vo'will we come אֲנִי֙'a.NiI וְאִמְּךָ֣ve./'i.me./Khaand/ mother/ your וְאַחֶ֔יךָve./'a.Chei./khaand/ brothers/ your לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹ֥תle./hish.ta.cha.Votto/ bow downלְךָ֖le./Khato <the>/ youאָֽרְצָה׃'A.re.tza/h[the] ground/ towards

King James 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?

Cross-references

Genesis 27:29 May peoples serve you and nations bow down to you. May you be the master of your brothers, and may the sons of your mother bow down to you. May those who curse you be cursed, and those who bless you be blessed.”
Genesis 37:7 We were binding sheaves of grain in the field, and suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to mine.”
Isaiah 60:14 The sons of your oppressors will come and bow down to you; all who reviled you will fall facedown at your feet and call you the City of the LORD, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,