The Meaning of Genesis 37:8 Explained

Genesis 37:8

KJV: And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

YLT: And his brethren say to him, 'Dost thou certainly reign over us? dost thou certainly rule over us?' and they add still more to hate him, for his dreams, and for his words.

Darby: And his brethren said to him, Wilt thou indeed be a king over us? wilt thou indeed rule over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams and for his words.

ASV: And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? Or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And his brethren  said  to him, Shalt thou indeed  reign  over us? or shalt thou indeed  have dominion  over us? And they hated  him yet the more  for his dreams,  and for his words. 

What does Genesis 37:8 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 37:8 mean?

And said to him his brothers shall indeed you reign over us Or indeed shall you have dominion over us so even more they hated him for his dreams and for his words
וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לוֹ֙ אֶחָ֔יו הֲמָלֹ֤ךְ תִּמְלֹךְ֙ ؟ עָלֵ֔ינוּ אִם־ מָשׁ֥וֹל תִּמְשֹׁ֖ל ؟ בָּ֑נוּ וַיּוֹסִ֤פוּ עוֹד֙ שְׂנֹ֣א אֹת֔וֹ עַל־ חֲלֹמֹתָ֖יו וְעַל־ דְּבָרָֽיו

וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לוֹ֙  to  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
אֶחָ֔יו  his  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
הֲמָלֹ֤ךְ  shall  indeed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: מָלַךְ 
Sense: to be or become king or queen, reign.
תִּמְלֹךְ֙  you  reign 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָלַךְ 
Sense: to be or become king or queen, reign.
؟ עָלֵ֔ינוּ  over  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
מָשׁ֥וֹל  indeed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: מָשַׁל  
Sense: to rule, have dominion, reign.
תִּמְשֹׁ֖ל  shall  you  have  dominion 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָשַׁל  
Sense: to rule, have dominion, reign.
؟ בָּ֑נוּ  over  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
וַיּוֹסִ֤פוּ  so 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָסַף 
Sense: to add, increase, do again.
עוֹד֙  even  more 
Parse: Adverb
Root: עֹוד  
Sense: a going round, continuance adv.
שְׂנֹ֣א  they  hated 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׂנֵא  
Sense: to hate, be hateful.
חֲלֹמֹתָ֖יו  his  dreams 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: חֲלֹום  
Sense: dream.
וְעַל־  and  for 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
דְּבָרָֽיו  his  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.