Genesis 37:18
◄  Genesis 37:18  ►
New International Version (©2011)
But they saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

New Living Translation (©2007)
When Joseph's brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him.

English Standard Version (©2001)
They saw him from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
They saw him in the distance, and before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him.

International Standard Version (©2012)
Now as soon as they saw him approaching from a distance, before he arrived they plotted together to kill him.

NET Bible (©2006)
Now Joseph's brothers saw him from a distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
They saw him from a distance. Before he reached them, they plotted to kill him.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

American King James Version
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near to them, they conspired against him to slay him.

American Standard Version
And they saw him afar off, and before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when they saw him afar off, be- fore he came nigh them, they thought to kill him.

Darby Bible Translation
And when they saw him from afar, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to put him to death.

English Revised Version
And they saw him afar off, and before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near to them, they conspired against him to slay him.

World English Bible
They saw him afar off, and before he came near to them, they conspired against him to kill him.

Young's Literal Translation
And they see him from afar, even before he draweth near unto them, and they conspire against him to put him to death.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

37:12-22 How readily does Joseph wait his father's orders! Those children who are best beloved by their parents, should be the most ready to obey them. See how deliberate Joseph's brethren were against him. They thought to slay him from malice aforethought, and in cold blood. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer, 1Jo 3:15. The sons of Jacob hated their brother because their father loved him. New occasions, as his dreams and the like, drew them on further; but this laid rankling in their hearts, till they resolved on his death. God has all hearts in his hands. Reuben had most reason to be jealous of Joseph, for he was the first-born; yet he proves his best friend. God overruled all to serve his own purpose, of making Joseph an instrument to save much people alive. Joseph was a type of Christ; for though he was the beloved Son of his Father, and hated by a wicked world, yet the Father sent him out of his bosom to visit us in great humility and love. He came from heaven to earth to seek and save us; yet then malicious plots were laid against him. His own not only received him not, but crucified him. This he submitted to, as a part of his design to redeem and save us.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - And when (literally, and) they saw him afar off, even (or, and) before he came near unto them, they (literally, and they) conspired against him (or, dealt with him fraudulently) to slay him

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when they saw him afar off,.... They knew him as soon as they saw him, by his stature, his gesture or manner of walking, and especially by his coat of various colours he now had on, Genesis 37:23,

even before he came near unto them; the distance he was from them when they first spied him is particularly remarked and repeated, not to show the quickness of their sight, but for the sake of what follows; to observe how soon their passions were raised, how intense and prepense their malice, and which put them upon devising ways and means to destroy him, for it follows:

they conspired against him, to slay him; they entered into a consultation, and devised the most crafty methods they could think of to take away his life, and yet conceal the murder.

Wesley's Notes on the Bible

37:18 And when they saw him afar off they conspired against him - It was not in a heat, or upon a sudden provocation, that they thought to slay him, but from malice propense, and in cold blood.

Genesis 37:18 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Joseph Sold by his Brothers
…17And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brothers, and found them in Dothan. 18And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near to them, they conspired against him to slay him. 19And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer comes. …

Mark 14:1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him.
John 11:53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
Acts 23:12 The next morning some Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul.
Genesis 37:19 "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to each other.
Psalm 31:13 For I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side!" They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
Psalm 37:12 The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them;
Psalm 37:32 The wicked lie in wait for the righteous, intent on putting them to death;