What is the significance of Joseph’s coat of many colours?

Joseph’s coat of many colours shows his father Jacob’s special love for him. Joseph was the son of Jacob’s old age and of his beloved wife, so Jacob set him apart with this rich garment. The coat marks Joseph as favored and points ahead to his unique role in the family. But it also stirs up his brothers’ jealousy and hatred. Such a small outward sign becomes the spark for deep family conflict, reminding us how unfair favoritism can wound and tempt people toward bitter sin.

Why did Joseph’s brothers hate him so strongly in this passage?

Joseph’s brothers hated him for several reasons that built on each other. First, their father clearly loved Joseph more and showed it with the special coat. Second, Joseph brought back an evil report about their behavior, which exposed their wrong. Then Joseph told them his dreams that pictured him being honored above them. They heard these dreams as claims that he would rule over them. Instead of repenting or asking what God might be saying, they let jealousy grow into hatred, so strong that they could not even speak kindly to him.

What do Joseph’s dreams about sheaves and stars mean?

In Joseph’s first dream, his sheaf of grain stands upright while his brothers’ sheaves bow down to it. In the second, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bow to him. His family rightly understands these as pictures of Joseph being lifted up above them. The dreams are not just his wishes; they are God’s way of showing ahead of time that Joseph will one day be in a place where his family will come to him for help and bow before him. The dreams also prepare Joseph for hard trials by pointing to God’s future plan.

Why did Jacob rebuke Joseph for his second dream but still keep it in mind?

When Joseph told the dream about the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowing to him, Jacob rebuked him, asking if he and Joseph’s mother and brothers would really bow to the ground before him. In front of the angry brothers, Jacob speaks sharply, likely to calm things down and guard against pride. Yet the passage says he “observed the saying,” meaning he kept thinking about it. He seems to sense that God is speaking through these dreams, even if he does not yet understand how it will unfold in their family’s life.

Why did Jacob send Joseph to check on his brothers in Shechem and Dothan?

Jacob sends Joseph from the valley of Hebron to see if it is well with his brothers and the flocks. This shows Jacob’s trust in Joseph’s character and his concern for the rest of his sons, who are in a place linked with their past violence. Joseph obeys at once and even goes beyond Shechem to Dothan after asking a stranger for help. His ready obedience and diligence stand in sharp contrast to his brothers’ hatred. Joseph walks into danger out of duty and love, not knowing their plot against him.

Why did Joseph’s brothers throw him into a pit and then sell him?

When the brothers see Joseph coming, they plan to kill him and blame it on a wild animal. Reuben persuades them not to shed blood but to throw him into a dry pit, hoping to rescue him later. They strip off his coat and cast him in. While they eat, traders pass by, and Judah suggests selling Joseph for silver instead of killing him, saying he is their own flesh. Their plan shifts from murder to slavery, but their hearts are still hard. Yet through their sin, God is moving Joseph toward Egypt for His larger purpose.

What does this passage teach about God’s providence in suffering and betrayal?

On the surface, this chapter is full of painful things: unfair favoritism, jealousy, lies, and a young man betrayed and sold by his own brothers. Yet beneath all this, God is quietly at work. He gives Joseph dreams that point to a future rescue of the family. He restrains the brothers from killing Joseph, moves Reuben to intervene, and brings traders by at just the right time. Joseph’s descent into the pit and then into Egypt is not random. God is using even human sin and bitterness to bring about a plan to preserve His people.

How should readers today respond to the jealousy and favoritism in this story?

This story warns us how favoritism and jealousy can grow into deep sin. Jacob’s open preference for Joseph hurts the family, and the brothers choose bitterness instead of dealing with their hearts. For readers today, it calls parents to be fair and careful in how they show love. It also urges all of us to confess envy early, before it hardens. Joseph’s obedience and willingness to serve those who hate him point us toward a better way: loving our enemies, trusting God to see and to work, even when others treat us unjustly.

Gen.37.1

Genesis 37:1

ICB

Jacob lived in the land of Canaan, where his father had lived.

Joseph’s Dreams

1 Jacob lived in the land of Canaan, where his father had lived.

This is the family history of Jacob. Joseph was a young man, 17 years old. He and his brothers cared for the flocks. His brothers were the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s wives. Joseph gave his father bad reports about his brothers.

Joseph was born when his father Israel, also called Jacob, was old. So Israel loved Joseph more than his other sons. He made Joseph a special robe with long sleeves.

Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than he loved them. So they hated their brother and could not speak to him politely.

One time Joseph had a dream. When he told his brothers about it, they hated him even more.

Joseph said, “Listen to the dream I had.

We were in the field tying bundles of wheat together. My bundle stood up, and your bundles of wheat gathered around mine. Your bundles bowed down to mine.”

His brothers said, “Do you really think you will be king over us? Do you truly think you will rule over us?” His brothers hated him even more now. They hated him because of his dreams and what he had said.

Then Joseph had another dream. He told his brothers about it also. He said, “Listen, I had another dream. I saw the sun, moon and 11 stars bowing down to me.”

Joseph also told his father about this dream. But his father scolded him, saying, “What kind of dream is this? Do you really believe that your mother, your brothers and I will bow down to you?”

Joseph’s brothers were jealous of him. But his father thought about what all these things could mean.

Joseph Sold into Egypt

One day Joseph’s brothers went to Shechem to herd their father’s sheep.

Jacob said to Joseph, “Go to Shechem. Your brothers are there herding the sheep.” Joseph answered, “I will go.”

His father said, “Go and see if your brothers and the sheep are all right. Then come back and tell me.” So Joseph’s father sent him from the Valley of Hebron. When Joseph came to Shechem,

a man found him wandering in the field. He asked Joseph, “What are you looking for?”

Joseph answered, “I am looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are herding the sheep?”

The man said, “They have already gone. I heard them say they were going to Dothan.” So Joseph went to look for his brothers and found them in Dothan.

Joseph’s brothers saw him coming from far away. Before he reached them, they made a plan to kill him.

They said to each other, “Here comes that dreamer.

Let’s kill him and throw his body into one of the wells. We can tell our father that a wild animal killed him. Then we will see what will become of his dreams.”

But Reuben heard their plan and saved Joseph. He said, “Let’s not kill him.

Don’t spill any blood. Throw him into this well here in the desert. But don’t hurt him!” Reuben planned to save Joseph later and send him back to his father.

So when Joseph came to his brothers, they pulled off his robe with long sleeves.

Then they threw him into the well. It was empty. There was no water in it.

While Joseph was in the well, the brothers sat down to eat. When they looked up, they saw a group of Ishmaelites. They were traveling from Gilead to Egypt. Their camels were carrying spices, balm and myrrh.

Then Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and hide his death?

Let’s sell him to these Ishmaelites. Then we will not be guilty of killing our own brother. After all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” And the other brothers agreed.

So when the Midianite traders came by, the brothers took Joseph out of the well. They sold him to the Ishmaelites for eight ounces of silver. And the Ishmaelites took him to Egypt.

Reuben was not with his brothers when they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites. When Reuben came back to the well, Joseph was not there. Reuben tore his clothes to show he was sad.

Then he went back to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there! What will I do?”

Jacob Mourns Joseph

The brothers killed a goat and dipped Joseph’s long-sleeved robe in its blood.

Then they brought the robe to their father. They said, “We found this robe. Look it over carefully. See if it is your son’s robe.”

Jacob looked it over and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some savage animal has eaten him. My son Joseph has been torn to pieces!”

Then Jacob tore his clothes and put on rough cloth to show that he was sad. He continued to be sad about his son for a long time.

All of Jacob’s sons and daughters tried to comfort him. But he could not be comforted. Jacob said, “I will be sad about my son until the day I die.” So Jacob cried for his son Joseph.

Meanwhile the Midianites who had bought Joseph had taken him to Egypt. There they sold him to Potiphar. Potiphar was an officer to the king of Egypt and captain of the palace guard.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.