What does Genesis 37:8 mean?

Already hated by his ten older half-brothers (Genesis 37:4–5), Joseph has just related a wild dream he had. While farming, his brothers' bundles of wheat bowed down to his bundle in a field, as subjects would bow down to a ruler. The brothers react with pointed questions about what Joseph thinks his dream means. Of course, the symbolism of this dream is clear. Does he believe he will reign and rule over them? Their hatred, already seething, rises another notch because of his dreams and what he says about them.

This reaction might have been because the brothers are already afraid of what the dream suggested. The richly ornamented tunic given to Joseph by their father (Genesis 37:3) might have implied he was inclined to favor Joseph with a greater portion of the inheritance. This, despite Joseph being the youngest son other than his baby brother Benjamin (Genesis 35:16–18). From their perspective, Joseph is practically bragging that his dream was predicting he would become head of their clan.

While this is not exactly how the prophecy will be fulfilled, there will come a time when Joseph's brothers will all bow before him in submission (Genesis 42:6).