Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
GENESIS 37:28KJVWhat does Genesis 37:28 mean?
Genesis 37:28 describes how Joseph’s brothers sold him to passing traders for twenty pieces of silver, and these traders then took Joseph to Egypt. This verse marks the moment Joseph is taken away from his family and begins his journey into slavery in a foreign land.
In this scene, Joseph’s brothers have thrown him into a pit, and a group of Midianite merchantmen pass by. The brothers pull Joseph out of the pit and sell him to the Ishmaelites, who are traveling to Egypt. This transaction sets in motion the events that will later lead to Joseph’s rise in Egypt and the eventual reunion with his family.
The Hebrew behind Genesis 37:28
- מִדְיָנִים (Midyanim, transliterated “Midianites”): This word refers to a group of traders, possibly distinct from the Ishmaelites mentioned later in the verse. The presence of both names hints at the mixed or overlapping identities of ancient trading groups.
- סֹחֲרִים (socharim, “merchantmen”): This word means traders or merchants, emphasizing that these were not just travelers but people engaged in commerce, likely dealing in goods and possibly slaves.
- כֶּסֶף (kesef, “silver”): The word for “silver” is often used for money in the Hebrew Bible. The price—twenty pieces—shows Joseph was sold as a slave, and the amount is typical for a young male slave at the time.
- מָכַר (makar, “sold”): This verb makes clear that Joseph’s brothers treated him as property, selling him for profit rather than simply abandoning him.
Why Genesis 37:28 matters
- Genesis 37:28 clarifies that Joseph’s brothers were motivated by profit and not just jealousy or anger, as they sold him for silver rather than leaving him to die.
- The verse highlights the involvement of both Midianites and Ishmaelites, which can help readers understand the complex networks of trade and people in the ancient Near East.
- This moment is a turning point in Joseph’s story, setting up his eventual rise to power in Egypt and the fulfillment of earlier dreams he had shared with his brothers.