The story of Joseph receiving a coat of many colors from his father Jacob is found in Genesis 37:3-4: “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.”
There are a few key reasons why Jacob likely gave Joseph this special coat:
1. Favoritism
The text indicates that Joseph was Jacob’s favorite son because he was born in Jacob’s old age. Jacob had 12 sons total, with Joseph being one of the younger ones born through Rachel, Jacob’s most beloved wife. Since Joseph was a favorite, Jacob gave him a special gift in the form of this ornate robe to show favoritism.
Genesis 37:3 says “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons…” Showing preferential treatment through special gifts was a clear sign of Jacob’s greater affection for Joseph compared to his other sons. This favoritism bred jealousy and resentment from the other brothers (Genesis 37:4).
2. Status Symbol
In the ancient Near Eastern culture, giving a son a special garment like this demonstrated a high status in the family. It set Joseph apart from the others as the primary heir. The royal clothing reflected Jacob’s plans to pass down the birthright blessings to Joseph.
Thomas Constable notes, “Jacob evidently considered Joseph his firstborn heir at this time even though Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, and others were older. Customarily the father gave a special coat to his principal heir.”
The narrator mentions Joseph’s robe three times in the passage, emphasizing its significance as a major status symbol elevating him above his brothers.
3. Reward
Jacob likely also intended the robe to be a reward for Joseph. Earlier in Genesis 37, Joseph brought a “bad report” about his brothers to their father (v.2). Even at a young age, Joseph was honest, righteous, and faithful to Jacob. The coat served as a reward for Joseph’s obedience and upright character.
Constable notes, “Jacob evidently rewarded Joseph for his faithfulness by giving him the coat.” Joseph was clearly Jacob’s top choice for the next family leader based on his exemplary behavior. The robe Distinguished Joseph as deserving of premier treatment.
4. Foreshadowing
On a prophetic level, the coat of many colors serves as a foreshadowing of Joseph’s rise to power in Egypt and the jealousy it created. The robe symbolically points forward to a day when Joseph would be uniquely elevated among his family and cause envy among his brothers.
Joseph later told his brothers in Genesis 50:20, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” The coat represents how God’s favor distinguishes Joseph for greater purpose.
5. Identity Marker
Finally, the distinctive coat designated Joseph’s identity as the favorite son whom Jacob intended to be the head of the family. When the jealous brothers stripped Joseph of the robe and dipped it in goat’s blood to trick Jacob (Genesis 37:31-32), it represented robbing Joseph of this special identity.
Jacob immediately recognized the robe and declared Joseph had been torn to pieces. Seeing the robe triggered Jacob’s anguish over losing his beloved son. The robe became a representation of Joseph’s identity.
In summary, Jacob giving Joseph a coat of many colors displayed favoritism, elevated Joseph’s status, rewarded him, foreshadowed the future, and served as an identity marker. The robe distinguished Joseph as the preeminent son in a tangible, visible way that bred resentment and jealousy, yet also pointed ahead to God’s greater plans.
Additional Details on Joseph’s Coat
Beyond the symbolic significance, let’s explore some additional details about the physical robe itself that Jacob gave Joseph:
Fine Materials
The robe or tunic was likely made of expensive dyed fabrics and high-quality materials. The term used in Hebrew (passim) implies ornamentation, embroidery, and vivid colors.
Clarke’s Commentary notes, “The passim, or coat of divers colours, such as royal and noble persons wore, imported splendor and dignity, and most certainly designation to some office of the highest trust and honor.” The costly materials made this a luxury garment.
Sleeves
Based on archaeological finds and biblical descriptions, the robe probably had long sleeves extending to the wrists, in contrast to the typical short sleeves of common tunics. Having long sleeves was symbolic of a person of leisure who did not need free movement for manual labor.
Length
The robe would have been an ankle-length garment, in line with tunics worn by those with high status in society at the time. The longer hems distinguished governing authorities from the shorter tunics of the working class.
Ornate Embellishments
Along with being multi-colored from various dyes, the robe was ornately embellished. Decorative needlework, embroidered designs, and other regal accents made this a one-of-a-kind garment befitting Joseph’s position.
Unique Fabric
Goat hair or wool were common materials at the time, so Joseph’s robe likely utilized more exclusive textiles from Egypt, Canaan, or other foreign regions accessible to Jacob’s trading caravans.
The monetary value, status, and visual prominence of the robe matched Joseph’s rank as Jacob’s preeminent heir. The coat set Joseph apart in appearance just as the favoritism did socially.
Jacob’s Motivation
In examining Jacob’s motivation for giving Joseph the ornate robe, we see a complex mix of paternal love, foolish favoritism, prophetic insight, and shortsightedness regarding the consequences.
On the positive side, Jacob was motivated by:
- Love for Rachel and her son Joseph
- Appreciation of Joseph’s righteous character
- Spiritual foresight into God’s purpose for Joseph’s life
Negatively, Jacob was also motivated by:
- The selfishness of favoring one wife and one son above the others
- Lack of wisdom in breeding family discord and jealousy
- Failure to consider how this special treatment impacted the other sons
Like all biblical patriarchs, Jacob was a complex figure who sometimes failed as a father despite genuine godly intentions. Yet God used his decisions to orchestrate His divine plans.
Joseph’s Brothers’ Reaction
Genesis 37:4 describes the negative reaction from Joseph’s brothers: “But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him.”
Jacob’s preferential treatment through the robe caused great jealousy, resentment, and hatred. The brothers despised the visible reminder of Joseph’s elevated status. They could not even be civil with Joseph, indicating the depth of their envy.
This animosity turned murderous when the brothers later conspired to kill Joseph, then decided to sell him into slavery instead (Genesis 37:18-28). The robe played a key role in their cruel deception of Jacob using its blood.
Charles Spurgeon commented, “When his father made him that coat of many colors, it was probably that act which stirred up the envy that burned in the hearts of the other sons of Jacob.” The robe was a gift that sadly fueled division.
Lessons for Us
The account of Joseph’s coat of many colors provides some valuable lessons and applications for families and parents today:
- Avoid obvious favoritism between siblings – This breeds jealousy and discord in a family.
- Focus on inner character more than outward appearance – The robe represented misplaced values.
- Celebrate each child’s uniqueness – Emphasize equality even in diversity of gifts and personalities.
- Be cautious about rewards and praise – What builds up one child may discourage another.
- Allow natural consequences – Jacob failed to anticipate how the robe would impact the brothers.
- Trust God’s sovereignty – He used Jacob’s parenting flaws for His redemptive plans.
In Christ, we are all equal before God, valued for our identity in Him more than any outward status symbol. As parents and leaders, we must point to God’s love as the source of worth, not our imperfect love.
Through Joseph’s journey, we see how God takes what is meant for evil and uses it for saving good (Genesis 50:20). His grace overcomes our human failures when we look to Him.
Conclusion
Jacob’s gift of a special coat of many colors to Joseph represented favoritism that drove a wedge within his family. Yet God redeemed it to initiate Joseph’s journey to Egypt where he would save countless lives. Our human intentions often miss the mark, but God’s perfect plans always prevail.
Rather than vie for position, we must rely fully on God who “raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap” (Psalm 113:7). He exalts the humble who recognize their sole worth comes from Him.
