“So now, come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams! ””
Introduction
Genesis 37:20 sits at a tense moment in the story of Joseph, when his brothers’ jealousy erupts into a plot of violent harm. The verse is short, edged with danger and deception, yet it opens a window into the moral and relational brokenness that runs through Genesis. As readers, we encounter a family crisis that reveals both the peril of envy and the stubborn hope that God’s purposes can still prevail even in dark circumstances. In this study, we will listen for the human cost of jealousy, and we will notice how the narrative sets the stage for God’s interventions in ways that will unfold across many chapters.
Historical-Cultural Context and Authorship
The passage belongs to the patriarchal narratives of Genesis, traditionally attributed to Moses as part of the Pentateuch. The setting is the late patriarchal period in the family of Jacob (also called Israel) and his twelve sons. Jealousy among brothers, particularly toward a favored son, was a familiar human dynamic, yet the specific plan to kill Joseph reflects a severe rupture in family ethics. The motive—envy over Joseph’s dreams and his favored status—highlights themes the book will explore: divine sovereignty vs. human rebellion, blessing vs. betrayal, and the fragile beginnings of a people chosen to carry forward God’s promises. In this story, a pit and a plot become a hinge on which providence will turn, reminding readers that God’s plans often work through imperfect, even dangerous, human actions.
Characters and Places
- Joseph: the favored son whose dreams point to future leadership. - The brothers: a group driven by jealousy and anger, capable of harming their own kin. - The pit: a physical place of confinement that becomes a symbol of danger and uncertainty. - The potential animals: a threat used as a deceitful cover for their crime. The scene is set within a family landscape, with the echo of pastoral life in Canaan and the looming presence of God’s larger purposes that will unfold beyond the immediate act. While the text names no city or external leader in this moment, the characters and setting convey the tension between familial loyalty and the pull of personal ambition.
Explanation and Meaning of the Text
Genesis 37:20 records a chilling moment where Joseph’s brothers plot to kill him and fabricate a death by animal attack as a cover story. The verse exposes several core realities: the volatility of human emotion when envy takes root, the moral danger of acting on plans to harm another, and the lie that can accompany sinful intent. Yet, embedded in the harshness is the book’s overarching question about how God will fulfill promises given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The “dreams” Joseph has—interpreted later as divine revelations about leadership and salvation—stand in tension with the brothers’ decision to destroy the dreamer. The narrative invites readers to reflect on what it means to trust God’s timing even when human circumstances appear to be irreconcilable with mercy and justice. It also foreshadows God’s providence transforming human harm into a conduit for blessing, reminding us that God’s purposes often move forward through unlikely means.
Devotional
- In the sound of risk and broken trust, we are reminded that the Lord sees what is hidden in the human heart. When jealousy and fear spring up, God’s mercy can still awaken within us a path of repentance and renewal. May we choose to guard our hearts against envy, to value each person as a child of God, and to trust the Lord with unresolved outcomes, knowing He guides all things toward good for those who love Him.
- Lord, grant me the grace to respond to conflict with integrity and faith. Help me to name and confess envy when it arises, to seek reconciliation where there is hurt, and to hold fast to Your promises even when the path is uncertain. May Joseph’s story deepen my awareness of Your sovereignty and strengthen my longing to live in a way that honors You, especially in moments when the human heart betrays fidelity and mercy.