This verse underscores Joseph’s faithful pursuit of his father’s will and God’s larger plan.
“A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, ‘What are you looking for?’” (v.15)
In this verse, Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob (the patriarch who lived around the early 19th century BC), has obediently traveled from his home in Hebron in search of his brothers (Genesis 37:14). As “A man found him” (v.15), we see Joseph straying onto an empty landscape, highlighting both his youth and his dedication. Translation from the Hebrew suggests he was uncertain of where to go, perhaps anxious about his next steps. The stranger’s question, “What are you looking for?” (v.15), underscores the tension rising in Joseph’s life; he is looking not only for his brothers, but also, symbolically, for his place in God’s unfolding plan. In the bigger picture, Joseph’s obedient spirit sets the stage for the significant journey of trials and triumph that will soon follow (Genesis 37:28, 39:1-2).
The setting of this passage is the region near Shechem in central Israel. Shechem rests roughly 30 to 35 miles north of Hebron and often served as a central meeting place or waypoint in the patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12:6). By the time of Joseph’s youth, this area was somewhat rugged. For Joseph to be “wandering in the field” (v.15) there reveals a moment of isolation, away from the community and protection of his father Jacob’s household. This isolation foreshadows Joseph’s coming challenges: he is separated from familial protection and soon to be thrust into life-altering adversity that will take him from Canaan to Egypt. The man who comes upon Joseph almost seems divinely placed, and his dialogue with Joseph displays how God often uses even small encounters to direct His people.
“And the man asked him, ‘What are you looking for?’” (v.15) can also speak to us spiritually. The question pierces our own hearts when we consider what we are seeking in life, reminding us to look to God in confusing moments. In the broader biblical narrative, Joseph's wandering in Shechem leads to extraordinary circumstances—eventually to slavery in Egypt and, much later, to a position of authority through which he will save many (Genesis 50:20). Through Joseph’s obedience and faith, we see that God’s hand is at work even when events appear uncertain.
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Genesis 37:15 meaning
“A man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, ‘What are you looking for?’” (v.15)
In this verse, Joseph, the beloved son of Jacob (the patriarch who lived around the early 19th century BC), has obediently traveled from his home in Hebron in search of his brothers (Genesis 37:14). As “A man found him” (v.15), we see Joseph straying onto an empty landscape, highlighting both his youth and his dedication. Translation from the Hebrew suggests he was uncertain of where to go, perhaps anxious about his next steps. The stranger’s question, “What are you looking for?” (v.15), underscores the tension rising in Joseph’s life; he is looking not only for his brothers, but also, symbolically, for his place in God’s unfolding plan. In the bigger picture, Joseph’s obedient spirit sets the stage for the significant journey of trials and triumph that will soon follow (Genesis 37:28, 39:1-2).
The setting of this passage is the region near Shechem in central Israel. Shechem rests roughly 30 to 35 miles north of Hebron and often served as a central meeting place or waypoint in the patriarchal narratives (Genesis 12:6). By the time of Joseph’s youth, this area was somewhat rugged. For Joseph to be “wandering in the field” (v.15) there reveals a moment of isolation, away from the community and protection of his father Jacob’s household. This isolation foreshadows Joseph’s coming challenges: he is separated from familial protection and soon to be thrust into life-altering adversity that will take him from Canaan to Egypt. The man who comes upon Joseph almost seems divinely placed, and his dialogue with Joseph displays how God often uses even small encounters to direct His people.
“And the man asked him, ‘What are you looking for?’” (v.15) can also speak to us spiritually. The question pierces our own hearts when we consider what we are seeking in life, reminding us to look to God in confusing moments. In the broader biblical narrative, Joseph's wandering in Shechem leads to extraordinary circumstances—eventually to slavery in Egypt and, much later, to a position of authority through which he will save many (Genesis 50:20). Through Joseph’s obedience and faith, we see that God’s hand is at work even when events appear uncertain.