Home > Torah - Genesis Stories in the Quran
The Bible tells the story in Genesis 37:18-36 and the Quran in Surah 12:8-20. There are a multitude of differences!
Who intervenes? - The Bible names Reuben and Judah, while the Quran just says “one of them”
What was Joseph thrown into? - The Bible says it was a dry pit, while the Quran says, “bottom of the well”.
Who sold Joseph into slavery? - The Bible says the brothers sold him directly to Ishmaelites/Midianites, while the Quran says that travellers find him, conceal him, and then sell him for little money.
The Bible mentions Joseph being sold for 20 shekels of silver (weight). The Quran says the payment was dirhams (coins), as being the payment when Joseph was sold into slavery. This is, however, a severe historical error since the very first coins were only invented several centuries after his time. It also shows the Quran writer is willing to change the “previous scriptures” to suit his audience.
Joseph’s bloody garment- The Bible says it was dipped in a goat’s blood. The Quran says it was “false blood”.
| Feature | Genesis 37 (Biblical) | Surah 12 (Quranic) |
|---|---|---|
| Currency | 20 Shekels of silver (Historically accurate). | Dirhams (Anachronistic/Error). |
| The Pit | A silent trial of faith and suffering. | A place of immediate divine revelation. |
| Discovery | Spotted by the brothers and sold by them. | Found by a water-drawer from a caravan. |
| Typology | Foreshadows Christ sold for silver. | A general story of a Prophet's protection. |