Genesis 37:10Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The father, aware of his sons' envy towards him, chastised his child.

The elder man possesses great skill and is recognized for his exceptional wisdom. He comprehends the significance of visions; however, he warns the youth, asking, 'Shall I, your mother, and your brothers come to bow down to you?' It raises a thought—how insightful and essential is this admonition! It nobly prevents envy among the listeners and serves to temper the young man, who may be overtaken by excessive pride, calling him instead to humility. This counsel discourages the youth from mocking his siblings due to his dream-filled aspirations, while also ensuring he respects his father's honor and does not seize future recognition prematurely. Observe how carefully he directs the potential of visions toward a specific outcome.

They mocked his visions, questioning, ‘Will Rachel, who has passed away, come to honor him?’ However, they were unaware that a husband and wife are united as one flesh. When Jacob, symbolized by the sun, bowed atop Joseph’s staff (Genesis 47:31), Rachel, depicted as the moon, also bowed within that context, even though she did not physically bow.

What does it indicate but the obstinacy of the Israelites, from whom Christ, in human form, originates, yet they fail to acknowledge Him as God and refuse to honor Him as Lord, viewing Him merely as one raised among them (cf. Matt. 13:54-57; Jn. 6:22)? They listen to His responses but do not grasp their meaning; they read that even the sun and moon exalt Him (Ps. 148:3), yet they are unwilling to accept that this refers to Christ. Thus, while James may have misinterpreted the figure that symbolizes another, his devotion was not misplaced. His paternal affection was genuine, reflecting the sentiments of a people who felt wronged.

Upon hearing this, Joseph's father reprimanded him, asking, "What does this dream signify? Are your mother and I, along with your brothers, expected to bow down to you?" The father reprimanded him primarily to maintain appearances, wishing to protect his son from his brothers' fury.

The father, upon hearing the account of his son's dream, interrupted him with a question: “What is this dream you have had? Will your mother and brothers bow down to you?” This wise and spiritually attuned father halted his son's narrative, not because he deemed the dream to be mere folly or self-created, nor due to any inflated pride, but rather to safeguard the young man's spirit from the dangers of arrogance. Simultaneously, he aimed to quell any potential jealousy or animosity among his brothers with a firm assertion. Similarly, Christian ascetic teachers advise against placing undue emphasis on all sensory experiences perceived by the soul and body; they promote a prudent detachment and beneficial caution towards such occurrences.

Mother. With Rachel having passed away at this point, some interpret this term to refer to Leah, as the primary wife of Jacob, while others attribute it to Bilhah, viewing her as the caretaker of Joseph. However, it could also pertain to Rachel, suggesting that Jacob’s statement indicates the impossibility of Joseph's dreams coming to fruition. 'Shall I and thy mother, who is already deceased, bow down to you?' The fulfillment of Joseph's dream during the Israelites' movement into Egypt under his reign is well-known. The question remains regarding which mother the moon symbolizes. Leah also died in the land of Canaan (Genesis 49:31), and the accounts of Jacob’s other wives do not mention them specifically (Genesis 46:26). Should Leah have died just prior to the migration, she, along with Jacob, would have already honored Joseph through her sons when they sought out sustenance from him (Genesis 18:28).