Genesis 37:16

16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?”

Genesis 37:16 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
16 And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks.
English Standard Version (ESV)
16 "I am seeking my brothers," he said. "Tell me, please, where they are pasturing the flock."
New Living Translation (NLT)
16 “I’m looking for my brothers,” Joseph replied. “Do you know where they are pasturing their sheep?”
The Message Bible (MSG)
16 "I'm trying to find my brothers. Do you have any idea where they are grazing their flocks?"
American Standard Version (ASV)
16 And he said, I am seeking my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they are feeding [the flock].
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
16 Joseph replied, "I'm looking for my brothers. Please tell me where they're taking care of their flocks."
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
16 "I'm looking for my brothers," Joseph said. "Can you tell me where they are pasturing [their flocks]?"
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
16 He replied, "I'm looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are taking care of their flocks?"

Genesis 37:16 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:16

And he said, I seek my brethren
Whom, no doubt, he described to the man, and told him who they were, and to whom they belonged; or otherwise the man would have been at a loss to know who he meant, and what further to say to him, and without which Joseph would never have made the following request to him:

tell me, I pray thee, where they feed [their flocks];
in what part of the country they are, what field they are in, how far to it, and which the way.

Genesis 37:16 In-Context

14 So he said to him, “Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me.” Then he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. When Joseph arrived at Shechem,
15 a man found him wandering around in the fields and asked him, “What are you looking for?”
16 He replied, “I’m looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are grazing their flocks?”
17 “They have moved on from here,” the man answered. “I heard them say, ‘Let’s go to Dothan.’ ” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan.
18 But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.
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