lectionary.com

Pentecost Season · Proper 14 · Year A

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Joseph Sold into Slavery

August 9, 2026

Joseph Sold by his Brothers, Giovanni Maria Bottalla
Joseph Sold by his Brothers, Giovanni Maria Bottalla, about 1640Musei Capitolini, Rome
The brothers hand the stripped young Joseph over to turbaned traders, the camels of the caravan waiting behind.When some Midianite traders passed by, they drew Joseph up, lifting him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver.Giovanni Maria BottallaA Genoese pupil of Pietro da Cortona, working in Baroque Rome.Musei Capitolini, RomePinacoteca Capitolina, Rome.Musei Capitolini, Rome
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMatt. 14:22-33Mt 14:22-33
EpistleRom. 10:5-15Rom 10:5-15
Old TestamentGen. 37:1-4, 12-28Gn 37:1-4, 12-28Alt. OT1 Kings 19:9-181 Kgs 19:9-18
PsalterPs. 105:1-6, 16-22, 45bPs 105:1-6, 16-22, 45bAlt. PsalmPs. 85:8-13Ps 85:8-13

Overview & Insights

"They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they took Joseph to Egypt." (Genesis 37:28)

Jacob favors Joseph with a special robe, provoking his brothers' jealousy; when Joseph comes to them they plot against him, throw him into a pit, and sell him to traders bound for Egypt.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Commentary

Working Preacher: Commentary on Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28Working Preacher: Commentary on Gn 37:1-4, 12-28 Working Preacher

Lutheran lectionary commentary on Joseph sold by his brothers for the semicontinuous track.

Enduring Word: Genesis 37Enduring Word: Gn 37 Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical notes on the whole chapter.

StudyLight: Genesis 37 CommentariesStudyLight: Gn 37 Commentaries StudyLight

Many complete commentaries on Genesis 37 gathered on one passage page.

BibleHub: Commentaries on Genesis 37:1BibleHub: Commentaries on Gn 37:1 BibleHub

Parallel classic commentaries keyed to the start of the Joseph story.

Background & Word Study

BibleProject: Genesis 12-50 OverviewBibleProject: Gn 12-50 Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of the ancestral narratives, including the Joseph cycle.

Sefaria: Genesis 37 (Hebrew)Sefaria: Gn 37 (Hebrew) Sefaria

Hebrew text with English and classical Jewish commentary on the chapter.

BibleHub: Genesis 37 InterlinearBibleHub: Gn 37 Interlinear BibleHub

Hebrew-English interlinear for word-level study of the chapter.

The Church Fathers

Catena: Genesis 37Catena: Gn 37 Catena

Patristic comments gathered verse by verse on Genesis 37.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Matthew 14:22-33
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.