Genesis 37:3–4
Jacob's favoritism toward Joseph stirs his brothers' hatred
Study it word by word3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a long robe.
4His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him and could not speak to him in peace.
In its context
1Jacob dwelt in the land where his father had resided as an alien, in the land of Canaan.
2These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; he was a young man with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought bad reports about them to their father.
…
5Joseph dreamed a dream and told it to his brothers, and they hated him even more.
6He said to them, “Listen, please, to this dream that I have dreamed:
Its words in the original
- יִשְׂרָאֵלyisrael· Israel
Israel, the new name Jacob received from God, explained as "you have striven with God" (Genesis 32:28); then the name of the people that came from him and, after the division, of the northern kingdom.
- אָהַבahav· love
Love, have affection for someone: a parent for a child, a husband for a wife, a friend for a friend, a person for God; also like, desire.
- יוֹסֵףyosef· Joseph
Joseph, a name borne by several Israelites, above all the son of Jacob and Rachel, sold into Egypt, who became ruler there and saved his family; his sons Ephraim and Manasseh became tribes. The name means "may he add".
- בָּנָיbanay· son
Son. In the plural it can include sons and daughters, and also grandsons and descendants. "Son of..." also says what group someone belongs to ("sons of Israel" = Israelites).
- זְקֻנִיםzekunim· old age
Old age.
- עָשָׂהasa· do, make
Do, make, in the widest sense: build, produce, carry out, keep (a command), prepare.
- כְּתֹנֶתketonet· tunic, robe
Tunic, robe: a long garment covering the body.
- פַּסִּיםpasim· long robe
A word of uncertain meaning describing a special tunic: long, reaching to the hands and feet, or of many colors.
- יִּרְאוּyiru· see
See. Also look, observe, notice, consider; in some forms, "appear" or "show".
- אֶחָיechay· brother
Brother; also a close relative, or someone of the same people.
- אֲבִיavi· father
Father; also ancestor ("our fathers"), and the founder or head of a family or group.
- יִּשְׂנְאוּyisnu· hate
Hate. In Hebrew it ranges from the hatred of an enemy to simply "loving less". "Those who hate you" are enemies.
- יָכְלוּyachlu· be able, can
Be able, can; also prevail, overcome.
- דַּבְּרdabr· speak
Speak, talk, say; also promise or command.
- שָׁלֹםshalom· peace, well-being
"Shalom": peace in a wide sense; not only the absence of war, but being whole and well: health, safety, good relations. It is also the Hebrew greeting.