The Meaning of Genesis 37:4 Explained

Genesis 37:4

KJV: 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.

YLT: and 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.

Darby: And his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, and they hated him, and could not greet him with friendliness.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 37:4 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 37:4 mean?

But when saw his brothers that him loved their father more than all his brothers then they hated him and not could speak to him peaceably
וַיִּרְא֣וּ אֶחָ֗יו כִּֽי־ אֹת֞וֹ אָהַ֤ב אֲבִיהֶם֙ מִכָּל־ אֶחָ֔יו וַֽיִּשְׂנְא֖וּ אֹת֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יָכְל֖וּ דַּבְּר֥וֹ לְשָׁלֹֽם

וַיִּרְא֣וּ  But  when  saw 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֶחָ֗יו  his  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
כִּֽי־  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אָהַ֤ב  loved 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָהַב  
Sense: to love.
אֲבִיהֶם֙  their  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
מִכָּל־  more  than  all 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
אֶחָ֔יו  his  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
וַֽיִּשְׂנְא֖וּ  then  they  hated 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
וְלֹ֥א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יָכְל֖וּ  could 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: יָכֹל  
Sense: to prevail, overcome, endure, have power, be able.
דַּבְּר֥וֹ  speak  to  him 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבַר 
Sense: to speak, declare, converse, command, promise, warn, threaten, sing.
לְשָׁלֹֽם  peaceably 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלֹום  
Sense: completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.