The Meaning of Genesis 37:27 Explained

Genesis 37:27

KJV: Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content.

YLT: Come, and we sell him to the Ishmaelites, and our hands are not on him, for he is our brother -- our flesh;' and his brethren hearken.

Darby: Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites; but let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened to him.

ASV: Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened unto him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Come,  and let us sell  him to the Ishmeelites,  and let not our hand  be upon him; for he [is] our brother  [and] our flesh.  And his brethren  were content. 

What does Genesis 37:27 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 37:25-36 - Joseph Sold Into Egypt
It was not chance, but providence, that brought these Midianites to the pit at that hour. They had, of course, fixed their time of departure from their native land, the speed at which their camels were to travel, and the amount of time which they would spend at the fairs and markets en route, quite irrespectively of all other considerations but their own profit and convenience; yet quite unconsciously they were moving according to a divine timetable. Everything in life is directed, superintended and controlled by a divine forethought. Let us live in constant recognition of this! You may be in a pit of dark misery, but God knows that you are there, and times the moments. Only continue to trust and do not be afraid! Blessed are they that believe, to them there shall be a performance. Months ago a caravan started, which will arrive at the precise hour when intervention will best serve you. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 37

1  Joseph is loved by Jacob, but hated by his brothers
5  His dreams and the interpretation
12  Jacob sends him to his brothers, who counsel to slay him
21  At Reuben's desire they cast him into a pit;
25  and afterwards sell him to the Ishmaelites;
29  while Ruben grieves at not finding him
31  His coat, covered with blood, is sent to Jacob, who mourns him inordinately
36  Joseph is brought to Egypt and sold to Potiphar

What do the individual words in Genesis 37:27 mean?

come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and our hand not let be upon him for our brother [and] our flesh he [is] And listened his brothers
לְכ֞וּ וְנִמְכְּרֶ֣נּוּ לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֗ים וְיָדֵ֙נוּ֙ אַל־ תְּהִי־ ב֔וֹ כִּֽי־ אָחִ֥ינוּ בְשָׂרֵ֖נוּ ה֑וּא וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ אֶחָֽיו

לְכ֞וּ  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וְנִמְכְּרֶ֣נּוּ  and  let  us  sell  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative if contextual, first person common plural, third person masculine singular
Root: מָכַר  
Sense: to sell.
לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֗ים  to  the  Ishmaelites 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: יִשְׁמְעֵאלִי  
Sense: a descendant of Ishmael.
וְיָדֵ֙נוּ֙  and  our  hand 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
תְּהִי־  let  be 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, third person feminine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
ב֔וֹ  upon  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
אָחִ֥ינוּ  our  brother 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.
בְשָׂרֵ֖נוּ  [and]  our  flesh 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: בָּשָׂר  
Sense: flesh.
ה֑וּא  he  [is] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine singular
Root: הוּא 
Sense: he, she, it.
וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ  And  listened 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
אֶחָֽיו  his  brothers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine singular
Root: אָח  
Sense: brother.