Verse Lens · Context pointer
Genesis 37:16 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 16. 16And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Role in This Section
Joseph says he is seeking his brothers and asks where they are pasturing. His answer continues the search but does not yet locate them.
Read It With
- Genesis 37:12–36
Read verses 15–17 together. The man's question, Joseph's request, and the report about Dothan form one short exchange.
Why It Needs Context
The verse names Joseph's goal, not the man's identity, Joseph's motive beyond the mission, or the brothers' coming response.
Read Genesis 37:12–17 together
Why these verses belong together: The brothers' location, Jacob's welfare mission, Joseph's readiness, and the unnamed man's direction to Dothan form one complete journey scene.
Verse 12. 12 And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.
Verse 13. 13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
Verse 14. 14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
Verse 15. 15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?
Verse 16. 16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.
Verse 17. 17 And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read Genesis 37:12–36 — Joseph Is Sold and Jacob Is DeceivedSources used for this context pointer
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Displayed text, whole-story responsibility, remembered anguish, and later providence.
Exact location: Genesis 37:12–36; 39:1; 42:21; 45:4–8; 50:15–20 in the pinned standardized 1769 KJV
Open source ↗hebrew text morphology and lemma data
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible — Genesis
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible Project
Open Scriptures, Version 2.2 released 2021; repository inspected 2026
Supports: Shalom, master of dreams, pit, profit, flesh, unstated verb subjects, recognition, Sheol, and court-title forms.
Exact location: WLC Genesis 37:12–36, especially vv. 14, 19, 22, 26–28, 32, 35–36
Open source ↗