EGW → Biblical Foundation
Select an Ellen White book from the sidebar to see each passage mapped to the Bible verses it amplifies, cites, or echoes.
Scripture Index
Ellen White & Bible Cross-Reference
Genesis 37:2
"These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report."
"A shepherd boy, tending his father's flocks, Joseph's pure and simple life had favored the development of both physical and mental power. By communion with God through nature and the study of the great truths handed down as a sacred trust from father to son, he had gained strength of mind and firmness of principle. Ed 52.2 In the crisis of his life, when making that terrible journey from his childhood home in Canaan to the bondage which awaited him in Egypt, looking for the last time on the hills that hid the tents of his kindred, Joseph remembered his father's God. He remembered the lessons of his childhood, and his soul thrilled with the resolve to prove himself true—ever to act as became a subject of the King of heaven. Ed 52.3"
Both passages refer to Joseph as a shepherd boy tending his father's flocks. The EGW passage elaborates on the impact of this experience on Joseph's development, drawing a clear connection to the biblical narrative.
Genesis 37:3
"Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours."
"heart was bound up in this child of his old age. He “loved Joseph more than all his children.” PP 209.1"
The EGW passage directly quotes and references Genesis 37:3, highlighting Jacob's favoritism towards Joseph.
"The father's injudicious gift to Joseph of a costly coat, or tunic, such as was usually worn by persons of distinction, seemed to them another evidence of his partiality, and excited a suspicion that he intended to pass by his elder children, to bestow the birthright upon the son of Rachel. Their malice was still further increased as the boy one day told them of a dream that he had had. “Behold,” he said, “we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.” PP 209.4"
The EGW passage directly references the 'coat of many colors' and the dream of the sheaves, both of which are central to Genesis 37:3 and the subsequent verses. This is a clear and direct allusion.
Genesis 37:4
"And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him."
"But even this affection was to become a cause of trouble and sorrow. Jacob unwisely manifested his preference for Joseph, and this excited the jealousy of his other sons. As Joseph witnessed the evil conduct of his brothers, he was greatly troubled; he ventured gently to remonstrate with them, but only aroused still further their hatred and resentment. He could not endure to see them sinning against God, and he laid the matter before his father, hoping that his authority might lead them to reform. PP 209.2"
EGW directly references the events described in Genesis 37:4, including the brothers' hatred stemming from Jacob's favoritism. While not a direct quote, the connection is explicit and central to the narrative.
Genesis 37:8
"And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words."
"“Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?” exclaimed his brothers in envious anger. PP 210.1"
The EGW passage is a direct quote from Genesis 37:8, making it an explicit allusion.
Genesis 37:9
"And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me."
"Soon he had another dream, of similar import, which he also related: “Behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.” This dream was interpreted as readily as the first. The father, who was present, spoke reprovingly—“What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?” Notwithstanding the apparent severity of his words, Jacob believed that the Lord was revealing the future to Joseph. PP 210.2"
EGW directly quotes and paraphrases Genesis 37:9, making it an explicit allusion.
Genesis 37:13
"And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I."
"With a joyful heart, Joseph parted from his father, neither the aged man nor the youth dreaming of what would happen before they should meet again. When, after his long and solitary journey, Joseph arrived at Shechem, his brothers and their flocks were not to be found. Upon inquiring for them, he was directed to Dothan. He had already traveled more than fifty miles, and now an additional distance of fifteen lay before him, but he hastened on, forgetting his weariness in the thought of relieving the anxiety of his father, and meeting the brothers, whom, despite their unkindness, he still loved. PP 210.5"
EGW is retelling the story from Genesis 37, specifically alluding to Jacob sending Joseph to Shechem.
Genesis 37:13-14
"And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I. And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem."
"The brothers were obliged to move from place to place to secure pasturage for their flocks, and frequently they were absent from home for months together. After the circumstances just related, they went to the place which their father had bought at Shechem. Some time passed, bringing no tidings from them, and the father began to fear for their safety, on account of their former cruelty toward the Shechemites. He therefore sent Joseph to find them, and bring him words as to their welfare. Had Jacob known the real feeling of his sons toward Joseph, he would not have trusted him alone with them; but this they had carefully concealed. PP 210.4"
EGW recounts the events described in Genesis 37:13-14, including Jacob sending Joseph to check on his brothers in Shechem. This is a clear retelling of the biblical narrative.
Genesis 37:19
"And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh."
"His brothers saw him approaching; but no thought of the long journey he had made to meet them, of his weariness and hunger, of his claims upon their hospitality and brotherly love, softened the bitterness of their hatred. The sight of the coat, the token of their father's love, filled them with frenzy. “Behold, this dreamer cometh,” they cried in mockery. Envy and revenge, long secretly cherished, now controlled them. “Let us slay him,” they said, “and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” PP 210.6"
EGW directly quotes Genesis 37:19, making it an explicit allusion.
Genesis 37:20
"Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams."
"His brothers saw him approaching; but no thought of the long journey he had made to meet them, of his weariness and hunger, of his claims upon their hospitality and brotherly love, softened the bitterness of their hatred. The sight of the coat, the token of their father's love, filled them with frenzy. “Behold, this dreamer cometh,” they cried in mockery. Envy and revenge, long secretly cherished, now controlled them. “Let us slay him,” they said, “and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” PP 210.6"
The EGW passage directly quotes and elaborates on Genesis 37:20, making it an explicit allusion rather than just a thematic parallel.
Genesis 37:21
"And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him."
"brother, and proposed that Joseph be cast alive into a pit, and left there to perish; secretly intending, however, to rescue him and return him to his father. Having persuaded all to consent to this plan, Reuben left the company, fearing that he might fail to control his feelings, and that his real intentions would be discovered. PP 211.1"
The EGW passage directly refers to Reuben's plan to save Joseph, as described in Genesis 37:21.
Genesis 37:23-24
"And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it."
"Joseph came on, unsuspicious of danger, and glad that the object of his long search was accomplished; but instead of the expected greeting, he was terrified by the angry and revengeful glances which he met. He was seized and his coat stripped from him. Taunts and threats revealed a deadly purpose. His entreaties were unheeded. He was wholly in the power of those maddened men. Rudely dragging him to a deep pit, they thrust him in, and having made sure that there was no possibility of his escape, they left him there to perish from hunger, while they “sat down to eat bread.” PP 211.2"
The EGW passage closely follows the narrative of Genesis 37:23-24, describing the stripping of Joseph's coat and his being thrown into the pit. The details are consistent and clearly allude to the biblical account.
Genesis 37:24
"And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it."
"Joseph came on, unsuspicious of danger, and glad that the object of his long search was accomplished; but instead of the expected greeting, he was terrified by the angry and revengeful glances which he met. He was seized and his coat stripped from him. Taunts and threats revealed a deadly purpose. His entreaties were unheeded. He was wholly in the power of those maddened men. Rudely dragging him to a deep pit, they thrust him in, and having made sure that there was no possibility of his escape, they left him there to perish from hunger, while they “sat down to eat bread.” PP 211.2"
The EGW passage directly recounts the biblical narrative of Joseph being cast into the pit, mirroring the details provided in Genesis 37:24. The phrase 'sat down to eat bread' is a direct lift.
Genesis 37:26-27
"And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content."
"But some of them were ill at ease; they did not feel the satisfaction they had anticipated from their revenge. Soon a company of travelers was seen approaching. It was a caravan of Ishmaelites from beyond Jordan, on their way to Egypt with spices and other merchandise. Judah now proposed to sell their brother to these heathen traders instead of leaving him to die. While he would be effectually put out of their way, they would remain clear of his blood; “for,” he urged, “he is our brother and our flesh.” To this proposition all agreed, and Joseph was quickly drawn out of the pit. PP 211.3"
The EGW passage directly recounts the events described in Genesis 37:26-27, including Judah's proposal to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites and the reasoning behind it ('he is our brother and our flesh'). The language and narrative are closely aligned.
Genesis 37:28
"Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt."
"time the 430 years began, when Abraham was seventy-five years old ( chapter 12:4 ), while the 400 years of the prophecy of Genesis 15:13 began thirty years later, when Abraham was 105 and his son Isaac five years old ( Chapter 21:5 ). At that time Ishmael, who “was born after the flesh persecuted him [Isaac] that was born after the Spirit” ( Galatians 4:29 ; Genesis 21:9-11 ), beginning a time of affliction of Abraham's seed which intermittently would be continued until the time of the Exodus. Isaac had not only troubles with his half brother Ishmael, but also with the Philistines ( Genesis 26:15, 20, 21 ); Jacob fled for his life from Esau ( Genesis 27:41-43 ), and later from Laban ( Genesis 31:21 ), and then was again in jeopardy from Esau ( Genesis 32:8 ); Joseph was sold into slavery by his brethren ( Genesis 37:28 ), and the children of Israel were oppressed by the Egyptians for many decades ( Exodus 1:14 ). PP 759.3"
Ellen White directly references Genesis 37:28 in this passage.
"As he saw the merchants the dreadful truth flashed upon him. To become a slave was a fate more to be feared than death. In an agony of terror he appealed to one and another of his brothers, but in vain. Some were moved with pity, but fear of derision kept them silent; all felt that they had now gone too far to retreat. If Joseph were spared, he would doubtless report them to the father, who would not overlook their cruelty toward his favorite son. Steeling their hearts against his entreaties, they delivered him into the hands of the heathen traders. The caravan moved on, and was soon lost to view. PP 211.4"
The EGW passage directly recounts and expands upon the events described in Genesis 37:28, including the selling of Joseph to merchants.
"In early life, just as they were passing from youth to manhood, Joseph and Daniel were separated from their homes and carried as captives to heathen lands. Especially was Joseph subject to the temptations that attend great changes of fortune. In his father's home a tenderly cherished child; in the house of Potiphar a slave, then a confidant and companion; a man of affairs, educated by study, observation, contact with men; in Pharaoh's dungeon a prisoner of state, condemned unjustly, without hope of vindication or prospect of release; called at a great crisis to the leadership of the nation—what enabled him to preserve his integrity? Ed 51.2"
The EGW passage directly references Joseph's captivity and journey to Egypt, which is described in Genesis 37:28. It expands on the circumstances of his life, but the core event is clearly derived from the biblical narrative.
"Next in age to Reuben were Simeon and Levi. They had been united in their cruelty toward the Shechemites, and they had also been the most guilty in the selling of Joseph. Concerning them it was declared — PP 235.7"
The passage mentions Simeon and Levi's guilt in selling Joseph, which is a direct reference to the events in Genesis 37:28.
Genesis 37:30
"And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?"
Reuben returned to the pit, but Joseph was not there. In alarm and self-reproach he rent his garments, and sought his brothers, exclaiming, “The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?” Upon learning the fate of Joseph, and that it would now be impossible to recover him, Reuben was induced to unite with the rest in the attempt to conceal their guilt. Having killed a kid, they dipped Joseph's coat in its blood, and took it to their father, telling him that they had found it in the fields, and that they feared it was their brother's. “Know now,” they said, “whether it be thy son's coat or no.” They had looked forward to this scene with dread, but they were not prepared for the heart-rending anguish, the utter abandonment of grief, which they were compelled to witness. “It is my son's coat,” said Jacob; “an evil beast hath devoured him. Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.” Vainly his sons and daughters attempted to comfort him. He “rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, …
The EGW passage directly quotes Genesis 37:30 and recounts the events surrounding it.