Joseph tells his brothers of a divine dream that foretells his future exaltation, foreshadowing their jealousy and his ultimate role in God’s plan.
He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had.” (Genesis 37:6)
At this point in Genesis, the narrative spotlights Joseph, who was the eleventh son of Jacob, also known as Israel. Historically, Jacob (whose approximate dates are around 2006 - 1859 BC) and his family were living in the land of Canaan, a region that stretches from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Here, Joseph receives divine dreams that foreshadow his future position of leadership and authority (Genesis 37:6-7). Having been favored by his father Jacob, who gave him a special coat (Genesis 37:3), Joseph tells his brothers of his dreams, in which they will bow down to him. This naturally fuels their jealousy, because it implies that Joseph—even though he is much younger—would be exalted above them.
When Genesis 37:6 says, “Please listen to this dream which I have had,” it reveals Joseph’s eagerness to share what God had impressed upon him. He is not yet aware of how his words might heighten his brothers’ envy. Because Joseph is favored by Jacob and apparently selected for a firstborn-like status (Genesis 37:5-7), his thinking is straightforward: God is communicating to him in dreams, and he wishes to tell his family about it. The setting is in Canaan, where Joseph’s brothers are out tending flocks. Joseph’s statement displays the resolute confidence of a seventeen-year-old (Genesis 37:2) with a deep sense of God’s providence over his life. Within the larger story, this dream lays the foundation for Joseph’s eventual betrayal by his brothers (Genesis 37:23-28), his providential rise to power in Egypt, and, ultimately, God’s plan to preserve Jacob’s family from famine (Genesis 50:20).
Joseph himself fits into the biblical timeline as a critical figure who prefigures Jesus. Like Christ, Joseph is a beloved son (Matthew 3:17), is betrayed by those closest to him (Matthew 26:47-50), and then suffers unjustly in a foreign land before being exalted at the right hand of power (Genesis 41:39-44). This dream narrative in Genesis 37:6 foreshadows much of Joseph’s story, underscoring God’s sovereignty in positioning His servants—even through suffering—for a greater kingdom purpose. Ultimately, Joseph’s dream points to salvation and rescue, as he will shepherd an entire nation (and his own family) through a time of great crisis.
It shows that God orchestrates human affairs, often communicating in cryptic ways that are only fully understood later, and it marks the beginning of Joseph’s journey to becoming a type or picture of the Messiah, a redeemer patiently awaiting the right time to fulfill God’s plan.
Joseph’s confident request to his brothers—“Please listen to this dream which I have had”—highlights his willingness to trust what God had revealed and to share it openly. His brothers’ reaction to his disclosure demonstrates the frailty of human nature and foreshadows the trials and triumphs ahead.
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Genesis 37:6 meaning
He said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have had.” (Genesis 37:6)
At this point in Genesis, the narrative spotlights Joseph, who was the eleventh son of Jacob, also known as Israel. Historically, Jacob (whose approximate dates are around 2006 - 1859 BC) and his family were living in the land of Canaan, a region that stretches from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. Here, Joseph receives divine dreams that foreshadow his future position of leadership and authority (Genesis 37:6-7). Having been favored by his father Jacob, who gave him a special coat (Genesis 37:3), Joseph tells his brothers of his dreams, in which they will bow down to him. This naturally fuels their jealousy, because it implies that Joseph—even though he is much younger—would be exalted above them.
When Genesis 37:6 says, “Please listen to this dream which I have had,” it reveals Joseph’s eagerness to share what God had impressed upon him. He is not yet aware of how his words might heighten his brothers’ envy. Because Joseph is favored by Jacob and apparently selected for a firstborn-like status (Genesis 37:5-7), his thinking is straightforward: God is communicating to him in dreams, and he wishes to tell his family about it. The setting is in Canaan, where Joseph’s brothers are out tending flocks. Joseph’s statement displays the resolute confidence of a seventeen-year-old (Genesis 37:2) with a deep sense of God’s providence over his life. Within the larger story, this dream lays the foundation for Joseph’s eventual betrayal by his brothers (Genesis 37:23-28), his providential rise to power in Egypt, and, ultimately, God’s plan to preserve Jacob’s family from famine (Genesis 50:20).
Joseph himself fits into the biblical timeline as a critical figure who prefigures Jesus. Like Christ, Joseph is a beloved son (Matthew 3:17), is betrayed by those closest to him (Matthew 26:47-50), and then suffers unjustly in a foreign land before being exalted at the right hand of power (Genesis 41:39-44). This dream narrative in Genesis 37:6 foreshadows much of Joseph’s story, underscoring God’s sovereignty in positioning His servants—even through suffering—for a greater kingdom purpose. Ultimately, Joseph’s dream points to salvation and rescue, as he will shepherd an entire nation (and his own family) through a time of great crisis.
It shows that God orchestrates human affairs, often communicating in cryptic ways that are only fully understood later, and it marks the beginning of Joseph’s journey to becoming a type or picture of the Messiah, a redeemer patiently awaiting the right time to fulfill God’s plan.
Joseph’s confident request to his brothers—“Please listen to this dream which I have had”—highlights his willingness to trust what God had revealed and to share it openly. His brothers’ reaction to his disclosure demonstrates the frailty of human nature and foreshadows the trials and triumphs ahead.