The Meaning of Genesis 37:11 Explained

Genesis 37:11

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

YLT: and his brethren are zealous against him, and his father hath watched the matter.

Darby: And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying.

ASV: And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Genesis 37:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 37:1-11 - Joseph Loved And Hated His Dreams
It is a mistake for parents to show favoritism; but we can hardly wonder at Jacob's partiality for the lad, who reminded him so vividly of the beloved Rachel. Besides, there were a purity and an elevation of spirit in Joseph that stood out in welcome contrast to the coarse brutality and impurity of the others. He was separate from his brethren, Genesis 49:26. The coat of many colors was, as r.v. margin indicates, a long garment of delicate texture, with sleeves, that was the dress of the young princes or nobles, who were not called to the menial toil of the field or household. The dreams of youth are proverbial and prophetic. In this case it would have been wiser for the lad to have kept his secrets locked in his own heart, though it was a tribute to his simplicity and ingenuousness that he must needs disclose them. The suggestion of coming greatness aroused his brothers' sharpest envy, but the hands of the Mighty One upheld the lad, Genesis 49:23. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 37

1  Joseph is loved by Jacob, but hated by his brothers
5  His dreams and the interpretation
12  Jacob sends him to his brothers, who counsel to slay him
21  At Reuben's desire they cast him into a pit;
25  and afterwards sell him to the Ishmaelites;
29  while Ruben grieves at not finding him
31  His coat, covered with blood, is sent to Jacob, who mourns him inordinately
36  Joseph is brought to Egypt and sold to Potiphar

What do the individual words in Genesis 37:11 mean?

and envied him his brothers but his father kept - the matter [in mind]
וַיְקַנְאוּ־ ב֖וֹ אֶחָ֑יו וְאָבִ֖יו שָׁמַ֥ר אֶת־ הַדָּבָֽר

וַיְקַנְאוּ־  and  envied 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: קָנָא  
Sense: to envy, be jealous, be envious, be zealous.
אֶחָ֑יו  his  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
וְאָבִ֖יו  but  his  father 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
שָׁמַ֥ר  kept 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַדָּבָֽר  the  matter  [in  mind] 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.