Genesis 37:28

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When the Midianite merchants passed by, they pulled Joseph up out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיַּֽעַבְרוּ֩ אֲנָשִׁ֨ים מִדְיָנִ֜ים סֹֽחֲרִ֗ים וַֽיִּמְשְׁכוּ֙ וַיַּֽעֲל֤וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִן־הַבּ֔וֹר וַיִּמְכְּר֧וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֛ף לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים כָּ֑סֶף וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃

Transliteration

And wə-yaʿaḇrû ʾănāšîm miḏyānîm sōḥărîm, and wə-yimšəḵû and wə-yaʿălû ʾeṯ-yôsēp̄ from-the min-ha-bbôr and wə-yimkərû ʾeṯ-yôsēp̄ to the la-yyišməʿēlîm for twenty kāsep̄; and wə-yāḇîʾû ʾeṯ-yôsēp̄ miṣrāyəmâ

Grammar Details

• *wə-yaʿaḇrû*: waw-consecutive with qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - 'and they passed by'
• *ʾănāšîm*: noun, masculine plural - 'men'
• *miḏyānîm*: proper noun, masculine plural - 'Midianites'
• *sōḥărîm*: qal participle, masculine plural - 'merchants/traders'
• *wə-yimšəḵû*: waw-consecutive with qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - 'and they drew up'
• *wə-yaʿălû*: waw-consecutive with hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine plural - 'and they brought up'
• *min-ha-bbôr*: preposition with definite article and noun, masculine singular - 'from the pit'
• *wə-yimkərû*: waw-consecutive with qal imperfect 3rd masculine plural - 'and they sold'
• *la-yyišməʿēlîm*: preposition with definite article and proper noun, masculine plural - 'to the Ishmaelites'
• *kāsep̄*: noun, masculine singular - 'silver/money'
• *wə-yāḇîʾû*: waw-consecutive with hiphil imperfect 3rd masculine plural - 'and they brought'
• *miṣrāyəmâ*: proper noun with directional heh - 'to Egypt'

Word Meanings

• *yaʿaḇrû*: passed by/crossed over
• *yimšəḵû*: drew/pulled/dragged

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  Then Midianite merchants passed by; and they drew and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And there passed{H5674} by Midianites,{H4084} merchantmen;{H582} and they drew{H4900} and lifted up{H5927} Joseph{H3130} out of the pit,{H953} and sold{H4376} Joseph{H3130} to the Ishmaelites{H3459} for twenty{H6242} pieces of silver.{H3701} And they brought{H935} Joseph{H3130} into Egypt.{H4714}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  Then there passed{H5674}{(H8799)} by Midianites{H4084} merchantmen{H582}{H5503}{(H8802)}; and they drew{H4900}{(H8799)} and lifted up{H5927}{(H8686)} Joseph{H3130} out of the pit{H953}, and sold{H4376}{(H8799)} Joseph{H3130} to the Ishmeelites{H3459} for twenty{H6242} pieces of silver{H3701}: and they brought{H935}{(H8686)} Joseph{H3130} into Egypt{H4714}.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Than as the Madianites marchaunt men passed by they drewe Ioseph out of the pytt and sold him vnto the Ismaelites for.xx. peces of syluer. And they brought him into Egipte.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And as the Madianites marchaunt men wente by, they drew Ioseph out of the pytt, and solde him vnto the Ismaelites (for twetye syluer pens) which brought him in to Egipte.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Then the Midianites marchant men passed by, and they drewe foorth, and lift Ioseph out of the pit, and solde Ioseph vnto the Ishmeelites for twentie pieces of siluer: who brought Ioseph into Egypt.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  Then as the Madianites marchaunt men passed by, they drewe and lyft Ioseph out of the pit, and solde him vnto the Ismaelites for twentie peeces of syluer. And they brought Ioseph into Egypt.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And Midianite merchantmen pass by and they draw out and bring up Joseph out of the pit, and sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty silverlings, and they bring Joseph into Egypt.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And some traders from Midian went by; so pulling Joseph up out of the hole, they gave him to the Ishmaelites for twenty bits of silver, and they took him to Egypt.

• World English Bible (2000)

  Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Joseph into Egypt.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So when the Midianite merchants passed by, Joseph’s brothers pulled him out of the cistern and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites then took Joseph to Egypt.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 105:17 : 17 He sent a man ahead of them—Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
• Acts 7:9 : 9 Because they were jealous of Joseph, the patriarchs sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him.
• Gen 45:4-5 : 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, 'Please come closer to me.' They came closer, and he said, 'I am Joseph, your brother, the one you sold into Egypt.' 5 Now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves for selling me here, because God sent me ahead of you to preserve life.
• Judg 6:1-3 : 1 The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord handed them over to Midian for seven years. 2 Midian's power overwhelmed Israel, and because of Midian, the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the east would come up and attack them.
• Gen 25:2 : 2 She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
• Gen 37:25 : 25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were loaded with spices, balm, and myrrh, and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.
• Gen 37:36 : 36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard.
• Isa 60:6 : 6 A multitude of camels will cover you, the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba will come. They will bring gold and frankincense and will proclaim the praises of the Lord.
• Zech 11:12-13 : 12 I said to them, 'If it seems good to you, give me my wages; but if not, keep them.' So they weighed out my wages—thirty pieces of silver. 13 Then the LORD said to me, 'Throw it to the potter—the splendid price at which they valued me!' So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the LORD to the potter.
• Matt 26:15 : 15 and said, "What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him over to you?" So they counted out thirty pieces of silver for him.
• Matt 27:9 : 9 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 'They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on Him by the people of Israel,'
• Judg 8:22 : 22 The Israelites said to Gideon, 'Rule over us—you, your son, and your grandson—because you have saved us from the hand of Midian.'
• Judg 8:24 : 24 Then Gideon said to them, 'I have one request—that each of you give me an earring from your share of the plunder.' (It was the custom of the Ishmaelites to wear gold earrings.)
• Ps 83:9 : 9 Even Assyria has joined them; they have strengthened the descendants of Lot. Selah.
• Exod 2:16 : 16 Now a priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father's flock.
• Num 25:15 : 15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a family in Midian.
• Num 25:17 : 17 ‘Treat the Midianites as enemies and strike them down.
• Num 31:2-3 : 2 Take vengeance on the Midianites for the people of Israel. Afterward, you will be gathered to your people. 3 So Moses said to the people, 'Arm some of your men for battle, to go against Midian and execute the LORD's vengeance on Midian.'
• Num 31:8-9 : 8 Among the slain, they killed the kings of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. 9 The Israelites captured the women of Midian and their children, and they took all their livestock, all their goods, and all their wealth as plunder.