The Meaning of Genesis 37:7 Explained

Genesis 37:7

KJV: 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.

YLT: that, lo, we are binding bundles in the midst of the field, and lo, my bundle hath arisen, and hath also stood up, and lo, your bundles are round about, and bow themselves to my bundle.'

Darby: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the fields, and lo, my sheaf rose up, and remained standing; and behold, your sheaves came round about and bowed down to my sheaf.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Genesis 37:7 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 37:7 mean?

And there we were binding sheaves in the field and behold arose my sheaf and stood upright and indeed stood all around your sheaves and bowed down to my sheaf
וְ֠הִנֵּה אֲנַ֜חְנוּ מְאַלְּמִ֤ים אֲלֻמִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֛ה קָ֥מָה אֲלֻמָּתִ֖י וְגַם־ נִצָּ֑בָה וְהִנֵּ֤ה תְסֻבֶּ֙ינָה֙ אֲלֻמֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖יןָ לַאֲלֻמָּתִֽי

וְ֠הִנֵּה  And  there 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
מְאַלְּמִ֤ים  were  binding 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Participle, masculine plural
Root: אָלַם 
Sense: to bind.
אֲלֻמִּים֙  sheaves 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural
Root: אֲלֻמָּה  
Sense: sheaf (as something bound).
הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה  the  field 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׂדֶה 
Sense: field, land.
וְהִנֵּ֛ה  and  behold 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
קָ֥מָה  arose 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
אֲלֻמָּתִ֖י  my  sheaf 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אֲלֻמָּה  
Sense: sheaf (as something bound).
נִצָּ֑בָה  stood  upright 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person feminine singular
Root: הֻצַּב 
Sense: to stand, take one’s stand, stand upright, be set (over), establish.
וְהִנֵּ֤ה  and  indeed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interjection
Root: הִנֵּה  
Sense: behold, lo, see, if.
תְסֻבֶּ֙ינָה֙  stood  all  around 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: סָבַב  
Sense: to turn, turn about or around or aside or back or towards, go about or arou nd, surround, encircle, change direction.
אֲלֻמֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם  your  sheaves 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, second person masculine plural
Root: אֲלֻמָּה  
Sense: sheaf (as something bound).
וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖יןָ  and  bowed  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hitpael, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine plural
Root: שָׁחָה  
Sense: to bow down.
לַאֲלֻמָּתִֽי  to  my  sheaf 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: אֲלֻמָּה  
Sense: sheaf (as something bound).