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Joseph's coat?

B

BM

New Member
Do you think Josephs coat in Gen. 37 was really many different colors? I had read some where that it was white where most coats in those days were a darker color. I would like to do a story on Joseph for my youth at church and wanted to make sure I get it right!

Thanks for your help **Becky**
 
L

LeBuick

New Member
I can only go by what scripture says which is his coat had many colors. I've never seen that point argued. We do know Jacob was the favored and loved Son of Israel (Jacob) which was why the coat was given to him. Plain white???
 
Scarlett O.

Scarlett O.

Moderator
Moderator
Different Bible versions will give slightly different descriptions:
  • many colors
  • richly ornate
  • heavily embroidered
  • long sleeved
  • highly decorative
I've never seen any Bible version or any commentary that claimed the coat was all white.

I believe that the coat was ornate in some way. Pieces of different colors (not bright and loud) sewn together or with some type of special insignia sewn on the sleeves or the hem or waistband.

It was just a coat that signified by its ornateness that Joseph was the favored son and, in Jacob's eyes, was more important than the other brothers.

And this insulted the other brothers who were older and should have been in authority over Joseph. Especially after their father had not done anything to avenge his daughter, Dinah's rape.

All Jacob seemed to care about was that his son's hotheaded attack on her rapist's people was that his name was tarnished. He didn't seem to care that, as the brothers said, "Our sister was treated as a whore."

So the coat of many colors or the coat of rich ornateness just added fuel to the fire and was the last nail in the coffin that solidifed Jacob's intense partiality to Joseph.

Yet, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree. Jacob had been a favored child, himself. So had Isaac.

Giving Joseph the coat was an unwise move on Jacob's part.

Giving their hearts over to jealously was an unwise move on the brother's part.

Yet, despite the foolishness of mankind, God moved his plan right along......

 
pinoybaptist

pinoybaptist

Active Member
Site Supporter
While the KJV says of Joseph's coat that it was of many colors, some say that it meant a coat of many ornaments.

The Bible account said that the brothers of Joseph became extremely jealous AFTER they saw that Joseph was gifted this coat (Genesis 37:3-4).

Apparently, it signified favor, or a preference.

Nothing much to add to that.
 
J

Jarthur001

Active Member
BM said:
Do you think Joseph's coat in Gen. 37 was really many different colors? I had read some where that it was white where most coats in those days were a darker color. I would like to do a story on Joseph for my youth at church and wanted to make sure I get it right!

Thanks for your help **Becky**
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I believe it was one coat...many colors. However some say it could read many coats, many colors.

The point is, he was set apart from the others, as in the showing of grace. There are many stories to be seen here.

As believers our Heavenly Father sets us apart from the world and blesses us, just as Joseph's father did with Joseph's brothers. Eph 1.

Also, we do not look like the world, as Joseph did not look as his brothers.

Also Joseph was saved from a pit, with his brothers still near, he could not help himself by getting out of that pit. Just as we cannot save ourself. We too are lost in the pit of sin.

The pit was empty...just as all men without God are left with a empty feeling.

The pit was without water. Christ says He is the Water of Life (John 4:1-15)

God sent Ishmeelites as a way out of the pit. God sent Christ to save sinners.

Joseph was sold for silver. Christ was sold for pieces of silver.

NOW THIS IS THE BEST PART OF THE STORY.

Why would God allow this to happen to one He loves? Well...God was behind it all along.

Look in chapter 45.

4And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

5Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

6For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.

7And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
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Now that is a story. :)
 
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npetreley

New Member
It was a coat with long sleeves. This type of coat was given to the appointed heir of the family. Joseph was obviously not supposed to be the heir, not being the firstborn, which is why this gift caused so much consternation among his brothers.
 
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Tom Butler

New Member
I read one writer who said Joseph's coat was a symbol not only of Jacob's favoritism, but also of Joseph's authority over his brothers. The writer, whose name I can't remember, says that was what the brothers resented most--a young whippersnapper being given authority over them.

Whether this story is valid or not, consider the irony. Jacob himself was his mother's favorite, and Esau was Isaac's. You'd think Jacob would have learned a lesson from that experience. And Abraham favored Isaac over Ishmael. Can you say dysfunctional families?
 
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npetreley

New Member
I found what I had written in several places, even an SDA children's story of Joseph! (Now THAT surprised me - grin.) I don't endorse all the denominations or sources where you'll find this information, but it's fairly common knowledge among those who study ancient Eastern customs that the coat/shirt of long sleeves was a symbol that denoted the recipient as the heir.

In the overall plan of the LORD, many of the covenant promises were destined to be fulfilled in the ultimate descendants of Joseph, and it is significant that in Genesis 37 we read of Jacob/Israel giving to his son Joseph a special coat, the famous so-called 'coat of many colours'. In actual fact, here we have an old Eastern custom. The Bedouin sheikh or chief wears a long Kamise, a shirt with long sleeves, and the heir is also distinguished by a similar garment. It was this shirt, not a coloured coat, that Jacob gave to Joseph, hence the jealousy of his brethren. They knew that the birthright promises were to be continued through Joseph, all, that is, except the promise of 'kings', which particular promise would be fulfilled through Judah, see 1 Chronicles 5:1-2.
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http://www.ensignmessage.com/archives/Tellme.html
 
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TCGreek

New Member
npetreley said:
I found what I had written in several places, even an SDA children's story of Joseph! (Now THAT surprised me - grin.) I don't endorse all the denominations or sources where you'll find this information, but it's fairly common knowledge among those who study ancient Eastern customs that the coat/shirt of long sleeves was a symbol that denoted the recipient as the heir.



http://www.ensignmessage.com/archives/Tellme.html
Click to expand...

Good stufff. I always appreciate those ANE customs and how they illuminate our understanding of Scripture. :thumbs:
 
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