Gen 37:36 | NET2full | STEP | Now in Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar , one of Pharaoh’s officials , the captain of the guard .

‏ Genesis 37:36

36 Now ^{▼▼tn The disjunctive clause formally signals closure for this episode of Joseph’s story, which will be resumed in Gen 39.} in Egypt the Midianites ^{▼▼tc The MT spells the name of the merchants as מְדָנִים (medanim, “Medanites”) rather than מִדְיָנִים (midyanim, “Midianites”) as in v. 28. It is likely that the letter י (yod) was accidentally omitted in the MT. The LXX, Vulgate, Smr, and Syriac read “Midianites” here. Some prefer to read “Medanites” both here and in v. 28, but Judg 8:24, which identifies the Midianites and Ishmaelites, favors the reading “Midianites.”} sold Joseph ^{▼▼tn Heb “him”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.} to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. ^{▼▼sn The expression captain of the guard might indicate that Potiphar was the chief executioner. The noun “guard” derives from a verb meaning to slaughter.}