Genesis 37 · Verse 4

Genesis 37:4

And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
Genesis 37:4, King James Version

Genesis 37:4 in other translations

BSBWhen Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
WEBHis brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and couldn’t speak peaceably to him.
ASVAnd his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren; and they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
YLTand his brethren see that their father hath loved him more than any of his brethren, and they hate him, and have not been able to speak to him peaceably.
DARBYAnd his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, and they hated him, and could not greet him with friendliness.
BBEAnd because his brothers saw that Joseph was dearer to his father than all the others, they were full of hate for him, and would not say a kind word to him.
WebsterAnd when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him.

What does Genesis 37:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
4. could not speak peaceably unto him--did not say "peace be to thee" [Ge 43:23, &c.], the usual expression of good wishes among friends and acquaintances. It is deemed a sacred duty to give all this form of salutation; and the withholding of it is an unmistakable sign of dislike or secret hostility. The habitual refusal of Joseph's brethren, therefore, to meet him with "the salaam," showed how ill-disposed they were towards him. It is very natural in parents to love the youngest, and feel partial to those who excel in talents or amiableness. But in a family constituted as Jacob's--many children by different mothers--he showed great and criminal indiscretion.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 4 And could not speak peaceably unto him - Does not this imply, in our use of the term, that they were continually quarrelling with him? but this is no meaning of the original: ולא יכלו דברו לשלם velo yachelu dabbero leshalom, they could not speak peace to him, i. e., they would not accost him in a friendly manner. They would not even wish him well. The eastern method of salutation is, Peace be to thee! שלום לך shalom lecha, among the Hebrews, and salam, peace, or salam kebibi, peace to thee my friend, among the Arabs. Now as peace among those nations comprehends all kinds of blessings spiritual and temporal, so they are careful not to say it to those whom they do not cordially wish well. It is not an unusual thing for an Arab or a Turk to hesitate to return the salam, if given by a Christian, or by one of whom he has not a favorable opinion: and this, in their own country, may be ever considered as a mark of hostility; not only as a proof that they do not wish you well, but that if they have an opportunity they will do you an injury. This was precisely the case with respect to Joseph's brethren: they would not give him the salam, and therefore felt themselves at liberty to take the first opportunity to injure him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Genesis 37:1-4

In Joseph's history we see something of Christ, who was first humbled and then exalted. It also shows the lot of Christians, who must through many tribulations enter into the kingdom. It is a history that has none like it, for displaying the various workings of the human mind, both good and bad, and the singular providence of God in making use of them for fulfilling his purposes. Though Joseph was his father's…

Read the full comment on Genesis 37:1-4 →

Genesis 37:4 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.

וַיִּרְא֣וּvai.yir.'Uand they sawH7200
אֶחָ֗יו'e.Chavbrothers hisH251
כִּֽי\־ki-thatH3588
אֹת֞וֹ'o.To<obj.> himH853
אָהַ֤ב'a.Havhe lovedH157
אֲבִיהֶם֙'a.vi.Hemfather theirH1
מִכָּל\־mi.kolmore than allH3605
אֶחָ֔יו'e.Chavbrothers hisH251
וַֽיִּשְׂנְא֖וּvai.yis.ne.'Uand they hatedH8130
אֹת֑וֹ'o.To<obj.> himH853
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
יָכְל֖וּya.khe.Luthey were ableH3201
דַּבְּר֥וֹda.be.Roto speak to himH1696
לְשָׁלֹֽם\׃le.sha.Lomto welfareH7965

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

Cross references for Genesis 37:4

  • Genesis 27:41

    And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.

  • 1 John 4:20

    If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

  • 1 John 3:12

    Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

  • 1 John 2:11

    But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

  • Psalms 69:4

    They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.

  • Genesis 4:5

    But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

  • John 15:18-19

    If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

  • 1 Samuel 17:28

    And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

  • Genesis 37:5

    And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

  • Psalms 38:19

    But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied.

  • Genesis 37:18-24

    And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. …

  • Genesis 37:11

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

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
hated him.
5,11,18-24; 4:5; 27:41; 49:23; 1Sa 16:12,13; 17:28; Ps 38:19; 69:4
Joh 7:3-5; 15:18,19; Tit 3:3; 1Jo 2:11; 3:10,12; 4:20
and could not speak peaceably unto him.Or, rather, "and they could not speak peace to him," i.e., they would not accost him in a friendly manner: they would not even wish him well, in the eastern mode of salutation of, Peace be to thee! It is not an unusual thing for an Arab or Turk to hesitate to return the {salâm}, if given by a Christian, or by one of whom he has not a favourable opinion; and this may always be considered as an act of hostility.

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

Context

  • Genesis 37:3

    Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

  • Genesis 37:4

    And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

  • Genesis 37:5

    And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Read all of Genesis 37

Genesis 37:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y viendo sus hermanos que su padre lo amaba más que á todos sus hermanos, aborrecíanle, y no le podían hablar pacíficamente.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et ses frères virent que leur père l’aimait plus que tous ses frères; et ils le haïssaient, et ne pouvaient lui parler paisiblement.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als seine Brüder sahen, daß ihr Vater ihn lieber hatte als alle seine Brüder, da haßten sie ihn und vermochten nicht, ihn zu grüßen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Videntes autem fratres ejus quod a patre plus cunctis filiis amaretur, oderant eum, nec poterant ei quidquam pacifice loqui.