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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Joseph narrates a dream to his brothers, describing a field scene where their sheaves gather around his and bow to it. He delivers this account immediately after introducing the dream's premise to his siblings.

The words — The Hebrew noun אֲלֻמִּים ('a.lu.Mim) refers to the bound sheaves of grain that form the dream's central image. The repeated particle וְהִנֵּה (ve./hi.Neh) marks the sudden, dramatic appearance of these sheaves.

The thread — This vision of bowing sheaves tracks forward to Joseph's brothers physically bowing before him in Egypt (Genesis 43:26; Genesis 44:14) and acknowledging his authority over the regional grain distribution (Genesis 42:6).

Why it lands — The verse records a prophetic sequence that demands recognition of a future reversal in family hierarchy, establishing that the dream's imagery points to a concrete shift in authority.

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

וְ֠הִנֵּהVe./hi.nehand/ there!אֲנַ֜חְנוּ'a.Nach.nuwe מְאַלְּמִ֤יםme.'a.le.Mim[were] binding אֲלֻמִּים֙'a.lu.Mimsheaves בְּת֣וֹךְbe./Tokhin/ [the] middle of הַשָּׂדֶ֔הha./sa.Dehthe/ field וְהִנֵּ֛הve./hi.Nehand/ there!קָ֥מָהKa.mahit arose אֲלֻמָּתִ֖י'a.lu.ma.T/isheaf/ my וְגַם־ve./gam-and/ also נִצָּ֑בָהni.Tza.vahit stood upright וְהִנֵּ֤הve./hi.Nehand/ there!תְסֻבֶּ֙ינָה֙te.su.Bei.nahthey gathered round אֲלֻמֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם'a.lu.Mo.tei./Khemsheaves/ your וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖יןָva./tish.ta.cha.Vei.naand/ they bowed down לַאֲלֻמָּתִֽי׃la./'a.lu.ma.T/ito/ sheaf/ my

King James Version

For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

Cross-references

Genesis 42:6 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.
Genesis 44:14 When Judah and his brothers arrived at Joseph’s house, he was still there, and they fell to the ground before him.
Genesis 43:26 When Joseph came home, they presented him with the gifts they had brought, and they bowed to the ground before him.
Genesis 42:9 Joseph remembered his dreams about them and said, “You are spies! You have come to see if our land is vulnerable.”
Genesis 44:19 My lord asked his servants, ‘Do you have a father or a brother?’
Philippians 2:10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
Colossians 1:18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.