Genesis 37 · Verse 12

Genesis 37:12

And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.
Genesis 37:12, King James Version

Genesis 37:12 in other translations

BSBSome time later, Joseph’s brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks near Shechem.
WEBHis brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.
ASVAnd his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.
YLTAnd his brethren go to feed the flock of their father in Shechem,
DARBYAnd his brethren went to feed their father's flock at Shechem.
BBENow his brothers went to keep watch over their father's flock in Shechem.
WebsterAnd his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.

What does Genesis 37:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem--The vale of Shechem was, from the earliest mention of Canaan, blest with extraordinary abundance of water. Therefore did the sons of Jacob go from Hebron to this place, though it must have cost them near twenty hours' travelling--that is, at the shepherd rate, a little more than fifty miles. But the herbage there was so rich and nutritious that they thought it well worth the pains of so long a journey, to the neglect of the grazing district of Hebron [Van De Velde].

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 37:12-22
How readily does Joseph wait his father's orders! Those children who are best beloved by their parents, should be the most ready to obey them. See how deliberate Joseph's brethren were against him. They thought to slay him from malice aforethought, and in cold blood. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, 1Jo 3:15. The sons of Jacob hated their brother because their father loved him. New occasions, as his dreams and the like, drew them on further; but this laid rankling in their hearts, till they resolved on his death. God has all hearts in his hands. Reuben had most reason to be jealous of Joseph, for he was the first-born; yet he proves his best friend. God overruled all to serve his own purpose, of making Joseph an instrument to save much people alive. Joseph was a type of Christ; for though he was the beloved Son of his Father, and hated by a wicked world, yet the Father sent him out of his bosom to visit us in great humility and love. He came from heaven to earth to seek and save us; yet then malicious plots were laid against him. His own not only received him not, but crucified him. This he submitted to, as a part of his design to redeem and save us.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Genesis 37:12 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֵּלְכ֖וּvai.ye.le.Khuand they wentH1980
אֶחָ֑יו'e.Chavbrothers hisH251
לִרְע֛וֹתlir.'otto pastureH7462
אֶׄתׄ\־'et-<obj.>H853
צֹ֥אןtzon[the] flock ofH6629
אֲבִיהֶ֖ם'a.vi.Hemfather theirH1
בִּשְׁכֶֽם\׃bish.Khemat ShechemH7927

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Genesis 37:12

  • Genesis 37:1

    And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

  • Genesis 33:18

    And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan–aram; and pitched his tent before the city.

  • Genesis 34:25-31

    And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males. And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword, and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house, and went out. The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister. They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
in Shechem.
1; 33:18; 34:25-31

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Genesis 37:11

    And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

  • Genesis 37:12

    And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.

  • Genesis 37:13

    And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

Read all of Genesis 37

Genesis 37:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y fueron sus hermanos á apacentar las ovejas de su padre en Sichêm.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ses frères allèrent paître le menu bétail de leur père à Sichem.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und seine Brüder gingen hin, um die Herde ihres Vaters zu weiden zu Sichem.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cumque fratres illius in pascendis gregibus patris morarentur in Sichem,