Genesis 37:11 — Word Study
WLCוַיְקַנְאוּ־ ב֖וֹ אֶחָ֑יו וְאָבִ֖יו שָׁמַ֥ר אֶת־ הַדָּבָֽר׃
BSAAnd his brothersʼâch [male siblings, close relatives] were jealousqânâʼ▸ [envied, resentful] but his fatherʼâb [parent, patriarch] kept in mindshâmar■ [watched, protected, remembered, pondered] what he had saiddâbâr [spoken, uttered]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וַיְקַנְאוּ־ | and they were jealous | Verb, Piel, sequential imperfect third person masculine plural |
| ב֖וֹ | of him | Preposition, suffix |
| אֶחָ֑יו | brothers his | Noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְאָבִ֖יו | and father his | Conjunction, noun common masculine singular construct, suffix |
| שָׁמַ֥ר | he kept | Verb, Qal, perfect third person masculine singular |
| אֶת־ | the object marker | Particle |
| הַדָּבָֽר׃ | the matter | Particle, noun common masculine singular absolute |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said. |
| KJV | And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. |
| ASV | And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind. |
| YLT | and his brethren are zealous against him, and his father hath watched the matter. |
| WEB | His brothers envied him, but his father kept this saying in mind. |
| BBE | And his brothers were full of envy; but his father kept his words in mind. |
Where they part company is in the rendering of the brothers' jealousy — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by a subordinate clause, which adds depth to the narrative by contrasting the brothers' jealousy with the father's contemplative response.
6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbקָנָא
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — Genesis 37:11
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Story of Josephgenerated
Genesis 37:11 describes the jealousy of Joseph's brothers towards him because of their father's favoritism and Joseph's dreams. This jealousy sets the stage for future events in Joseph's life, illustrating the complex family dynamics and foreshadowing the trials that Joseph will face. The verse serves as a pivotal moment in the narrative, contrasting the brothers' resentment with their father's contemplation of Joseph's words.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 26:14–16 | He owned so many flocks and herds and servants that the Philistines envied him. |
| 2 | Psalm 106:16 | In the camp they envied Moses, as well as Aaron, the holy one of the LORD. |
| 3 | Ecclesiastes 4:4 | I saw that all labor and success spring from a man’s envy of his neighbor. This too is futile and a pursuit of the wind. |
| 4 | Isaiah 11:13 | Then the jealousy of Ephraim will depart, and the adversaries of Judah will be cut off. Ephraim will no longer envy Judah, nor will Judah harass Ephraim. |
| 5 | Isaiah 26:11 | O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them! |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 16 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — קָנָא, vay.kan.'u-generated
The verb קָנָא (kana') is in the Piel stem, indicating a more intense form of jealousy or envy. It is used here to express the brothers' feelings towards Joseph, which are driven by rivalry and perceived threats to their status within the family.
This word appears 34 times in the Hebrew Bible, often in contexts that highlight negative emotions and the consequences of jealousy, such as in the stories of Cain and Abel. The brothers' jealousy leads to significant actions later in the narrative.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
All translations agree that Joseph's brothers were jealous of him.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The sentence is structured around two main verbs: וַיְקַנְאוּ (and they were jealous) and שָׁמַר (he kept). The first verb introduces the subject of the brothers' jealousy, while the second verb focuses on the father's action of remembering.
The word order places emphasis on the brothers' jealousy first, highlighting the conflict, followed by the father's reflective response, which serves as a counterbalance to the brothers' emotions.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates קָנָא as ἐζήλωσαν, which carries the same sense of jealousy but may also imply a more zealous or fervent emotion. This choice reflects the translators' understanding of the intensity of the brothers' feelings.
The Greek translation shows a continuity of meaning but also a slight shift in nuance, suggesting a more passionate response to the perceived favoritism.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
Genesis 37:11 tells us that Joseph's brothers were jealous of him because their father favored him. This jealousy leads to conflict in the family, while their father remembers what Joseph had said about his dreams, indicating a deeper understanding of the situation.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means they felt envious and resentful towards Joseph, likely due to their father's favoritism and Joseph's dreams that implied he would hold a higher status.
Their father kept Joseph's words in mind as he pondered their significance, possibly recognizing the implications of Joseph's dreams for the family's future.
Jealousy often leads to conflict and division, as seen in the stories of Cain and Abel, and later in Joseph's relationship with his brothers.
The verse illustrates how favoritism can create jealousy among siblings, leading to significant consequences in their relationships and actions.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- How can jealousy impact my relationships with others?
- What are some ways I can avoid fostering jealousy in my family or friendships?
- In what situations have I seen jealousy lead to conflict, and how could those situations have been handled differently?
- What can I learn from the father's response to Joseph's dreams in terms of understanding and reflection?
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on Genesis 37:11 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd his brethren envied him,.... Notwithstanding all the precaution Jacob took to prevent it; they suspecting and fearing that these dreams portended the pre-eminence of Joseph over them, or however
Read John Gill on Genesis 37 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on Genesis 37 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleThe words of Joseph; or the thing, the dream which he told; well knowing that God did frequently at that time signify his mind by dreams, and perceiving something singular and extraordinary in this dream, and especially in the doubling of it.
Read Matthew Poole on Genesis 37 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New TestamentsGenesis 37:11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.Ver. 11. And his brethren envied him.] Envy is a filthy fruit of the flesh and the devil; who is called, the envious man; and such wisdom is said to be "devilish." The Pharisees, envying our Saviour, did the devil’ s work. So did Cain, the devil’ s patriarch, when he laid his cruel club on the innocent head of his brother Abel. And Saul, when, seized upon by the evil spirit more than a melancholy humour, he envied David, and sought his death. For, this vice, as it makes the heart to boil with hellish venom, so it blisters out at the tongue, as here; "They could not speak peaceably to Joseph," but scoff, and…
Read John Trapp on Genesis 37 →CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges11. envied] This is the envy of malice rather than of jealousy: it denotes resentment against Joseph for being favoured, and a desire to see him deprived of his privileges. kept the saying in mind] Lit. “kept the word.” LXX διετήρησεν. Lat. rem tacitus considerabat. This phrase is the origin of the words in Luke 2:51, “kept all these sayings in her heart.” Jacob rebuked Joseph, but evidently was so deeply impressed with the remarkable and seemingly improbable character of the twice repeated dream, that he secretly cherished a presentiment of its fulfilment (Genesis 42:6).
Read Cambridge on Genesis 37 →Daniel Denison Whedon1808–1885Whedon's Commentary on the Bible11. But his father observed the saying — “So strange and mysterious. So Mary ‘pondered’ and ‘kept in her heart’ the strange sayings of Jesus, which others understood not. Luke 2:50-51.” — Newhall.
Read Daniel Denison Whedon on Genesis 37 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.
His brothers envied him, but his father kept this saying in mind.
And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what he had said.
His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept in mind what Joseph said.
Tyndale line
And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind.
And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind.
And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.
And his brethren enuied him, but his father noted the saying.
Strictly literal
And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying.
and his brethren are zealous against him, and his father hath watched the matter.
And his brothers are zealous against him, and his father has watched the matter.
And his brothers envied him; but his father noted the matter [in his mind].
His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.
From the Latin
His brethren therefore envied him: but his father considered the thing with himself.
Simplified
Joseph's brothers became jealous of him, but his father puzzled over the meaning of the dream.
And his brothers were full of envy; but his father kept his words in mind.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Samaritan Pentateuch agree word for word in this verse, indicating a strong textual consistency. The Septuagint matches six of the seven words, though its word order and structure differ, reflecting the translators' interpretative choices.
וַיְקַנְאוּ־ ב֖וֹ אֶחָ֑יו וְאָבִ֖יו שָׁמַ֥ר אֶת־ הַדָּבָֽר׃
6 of the 7 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
ויקנאו בו אחיו ואביו שׁמר את הדבר
Agrees with the Masoretic Text here, word for word.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in Genesis 37:11
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
The Hebrew word קָנָא (qana') is a verb that conveys meanings related to jealousy and zeal. It can mean to be jealous, envious, or zealous, and can also imply provoking jealousy or anger. The entries highlight its use in different forms, particularly the Piel and Hiphil stems, indicating both personal feelings and actions that incite jealousy.
[קָנָא] vb. denom.
Pi. be jealous, zealous
be jealous of
be envious of
be zealous for
excite to jealous anger
Hiph. provoke to jealous anger
base
H7065 קָנָא vb. denom. Pi. be jealous, zealous
7065 qana' kaw-naw'
a primitive root; to be (causatively, make) zealous, i.e. (in
a bad sense) jealous or envious:--(be) envy(-ious), be (move
to, provoke to) jealous(-y), X very, (be) zeal(-ous).
קָנָא (qa.na) — be jealous.
1) to envy, be jealous, be envious, be zealous
1a) (Piel)
1a1) to be jealous of
1a2) to be envious of
1a3) to be zealous for
1a4) to excite to jealous anger
1b) (Hiphil) to provoke to jealous anger, cause jealousy
Conj | V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3mp — Verb · Piel · sequential imperfect third person masculine pluralHc/Vpw3mp
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHRd/Sp3ms
אָח (ach) means 'brother' and encompasses a broad range of relationships, including literal siblings, half-brothers, and metaphorical kinship. It can refer to any male relative or compatriot, and it may also imply resemblance or reciprocal relationships. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Old Testament, highlighting both familial and figurative connections.
אָח 630 n.m. brother
brother, born of same mother (& father)
indef. = relative
fig. of resemblance
in phr. one … another
base
H251 אָח brother
251 'ach awkh
a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of
literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance
(like 1)):--another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other.
Compare also the proper names beginning with "Ah-" or "Ahi-".
see HEBREW for 01
אָח (ach) — brother: male-sibling.
: male-sibling
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: male-relative.
: male-relative
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
אָח (ach) — brother: compatriot.
: compatriot
1) brother
1a) brother of same parents
1b) half-brother (same father)
1c) relative, kinship, same tribe
1d) each to the other (reciprocal relationship)
1e) (fig.) of resemblance
N-mp | Suff — Noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHNcmpc/Sp3ms
אָב (av) means 'father' and encompasses various roles such as the literal father of an individual, God as the father of His people, and the head of a household or clan. It can also refer to an ancestor, originator of a profession, or a figure of respect and protection. Notably, it can imply a ruler or chief in later contexts.
אָב 1101 n.m. father
father of individual
of God as father of his people
head of household, family or clan
ancestor
originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
fig. of producer, generator
fig. of benevolence & protection
term of respect & honor
specif., ruler, chief (late)
base
H1 אָב father . father of individual
. of God as father of his people
. head of household, family or clan
. ancestor
. originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
. fig. of producer, generator
. fig. of benevolence & protection
. term of respect & honor
. specif., ruler, chief (late)
1 'ab awb
a primitive word; father, in a literal and immediate, or
figurative and remote application):--chief,
(fore-)father(-less), X patrimony, principal. Compare names
in "Abi-".
אָב (av) — father.
1) father of an individual
2) of God as father of his people
3) head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan
4) ancestor
4a) grandfather, forefathers - of person
4b) of people
5) originator or patron of a class, profession, or art
6) of producer, generator (fig.)
7) of benevolence and protection (fig.)
8) term of respect and honour
9) ruler or chief (spec.)
Also means: av (אַב "father" H0002)
אָב (av) — (Huram)-abi.
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ki.7.13; also called Huram-abi (KJV: "Huram my father's") at 2Ch.2.13; 4.16;
Combined with chi.ram (חִירָם "Hiram" H2438H)
אָב (av) — father of.
The father of Gibeon, also known as Abiel - a man of the tribe of Benjamin living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.9.1;
son of: Zeror (H6872C); married to Maacah (H4601N);
Conj | N-ms | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine singular construct · suffixHC/Ncmsc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word שָׁמַר (*shamar*) is a primitive root meaning to keep, guard, or observe. It encompasses a wide range of actions including protecting, waiting for, and celebrating obligations like the Sabbath. The verb appears in various forms, indicating nuances such as being on guard or refraining from certain actions. It is used extensively in the Old Testament, reflecting both physical and moral vigilance.
שָׁמַר 465 vb. keep, watch, preserve
Qal 425
keep, have charge of
keep, guard, captives
hence, watch for, wait for
watch, observe
keep, retain, of storing up (food)
keep within bounds, restrain
observe, celebrate
keep sabbath
of other obligations
observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
sts. י׳ subj.
keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
Niph.
36be on one's guard
keep oneself, refrain, abstain
be kept, guarded
Pi. those paying regard to false vanities
Hithp. I kept myself from
base
H8104 שָׁמַר keep, watch, preserve .. . keep, have charge of
. keep, guard, captives
. hence, watch for, wait for
. watch, observe
. . keep, retain, of storing up (food)
. keep within bounds, restrain
. . observe, celebrate
. keep sabbath
. of other obligations
. observe = follow dictates of (prudence, justice, kindness, wisdom)
. sts. י׳ subj.
. keep, reserve, weeks of harvest
. . be on one's guard
. keep oneself, refrain, abstain
. be kept, guarded
. those paying regard to false vanities
. I kept myself from
8104 shamar shaw-mar'
a primitive root; properly, to hedge about (as with thorns),
i.e. guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc.:--beward,
be circumspect, take heed (to self), keep(-er, self), mark,
look narrowly, observe, preserve, regard, reserve, save
(self), sure, (that lay) wait (for), watch(-man).
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: obey.
: obey/observe
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
1a3) to watch for, wait for
1a4) to watch, observe
1a5) to keep, retain, treasure up (in memory)
1a6) to keep (within bounds), restrain
1a7) to observe, celebrate, keep (sabbath or covenant or commands), perform (vow)
1a8) to keep, preserve, protect
1a9) to keep, reserve
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be on one's guard, take heed, take care, beware
1b2) to keep oneself, refrain, abstain
1b3) to be kept, be guarded
1c) (Piel) to keep, pay heed
1d) (Hithpael) to keep oneself from
שָׁמַר (sha.mar) — to keep: guard.
: guard
1) to keep, guard, observe, give heed
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to keep, have charge of
1a2) to keep, guard, keep watch and ward, protect, save life
1a2a) watch, watchman (participle)
V-Qal-Perf-3ms — Verb · Qal · perfect third person masculine singularHVqp3ms
אֵת (eth) is primarily a grammatical marker in Hebrew, indicating the definite direct object of a verb. It is not translated into English and typically precedes nouns that are definite. The word is derived from a demonstrative sense of entity, related to the Hebrew word for 'self.' Its Aramaic equivalent is יָת (yat).
אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
base
H853 אֵת the mark of the accusative, prefixed as a rule only to nouns that are definite
853 'eth ayth
apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of
entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more
definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or
namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).
see HEBREW for 0226
אֵת (et) — [Obj.].
sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative
Aramaic equivalent: yat (יָת "whom" H3487)
HTo — ParticleHTo
דָּבָר (dabar) means 'word' or 'speech' and encompasses a range of meanings including discourse, saying, and matter. It can refer to anything spoken or a topic of discussion, extending to concepts like business or affairs. The entries consistently highlight its use in various contexts, but do not indicate any significant disagreement among lexicographers.
דָּבָר 1439 n.m. speech, word
sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
sg. a word, words
sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
base
H1697 דָּבָר speech, word . sg. speech, discourse, saying, word, as the sum of that which is spoken
. sg. saying, utterance, sentence, as a section of a discourse
. sg. a word, words
. sg. matter, affair, thing about which one speaks
1697 dabar daw-baw'
from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or
thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X
any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case,
cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X
commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, +
dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, +
eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt,
+ iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter,
message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, +
please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose,
question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said,
sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness),
somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that,
X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings,
what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.
see HEBREW for 01696
דָּבָר (da.var) — word.
: word/speech/command
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: speaking.
: speaking
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: thing.
: thing/matter
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: promised.
: promised/duty
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
1a) speech
1b) saying, utterance
1c) word, words
1d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
דָּבָר (da.var) — word: deed.
: deed
Art | N-ms — Particle · noun common masculine singular absoluteHTd/Ncmsa
mat'-er: This word being a very general term may express various ideas. the Revised Version (British and American) therefore frequently changes the reading of the King James Version in order to state more definitely the meaning of the context (compare Ex 24:14; 1Sa 16:18; 1Ki 8:59; 2Sa 11:19; Es 3:4; Ps 35:20; 64:5; Pr 16:20; 18:13). dabhar, and the Greek logos, both meaning "word," are very frequently translated by "matter." hule, "wood," is rendered "matter" in